Digital replica of Auschwitz created due to growing interest from filmmakers

Published connected 07/06/2025 - 9:17 GMT+2•Updated 13:40

Due to conservation protection, shooting films astatine nan Auschwitz tract is not possible.

In bid to meet nan needs of filmmakers, nan Auschwitz Museum has made a integer replica, which was created "out of nan increasing liking of board successful nan history of nan German camp," explains Bartosz Bartyzel, a spokesperson for nan museum, successful an question and reply pinch Euronews Culture.

Euronews Culture: Where did nan thought to create a integer replica of Auschwitz travel from?

Bartosz Bartyzel: The Auschwitz Museum has been moving pinch filmmakers for galore years - some documentary filmmakers and characteristic movie directors. However, owed to nan conservation protection of nan authentic Memorial Site, it is not imaginable to sprout characteristic films astatine nan site. The thought to create a integer replica was calved retired of nan request to respond to nan increasing liking successful nan history of nan Auschwitz German campy successful cinema and nan regular acquisition of dealing pinch nan movie industry. This instrumentality offers an opportunity to create this practice successful a new, responsible and ethical formula.

Why is simply a replica necessary?

B.B.: The regulations successful unit astatine nan Memorial preclude nan anticipation of shooting characteristic films connected nan authentic and protected tract of nan erstwhile camp. However, filmmakers - particularly those who want to scope for much communicative forms - request a abstraction that allows them to show nan communicative faithfully. With a integer replica, they tin do this without compromising nan integrity of nan historical site.

Were filmmakers consulted pinch earlier nan implementation?

B.B.: In fact, it was nan day-to-day collaboration pinch filmmakers and nan accumulation needs and challenges they reported that inspired nan project. The thought was not detached from reality - connected nan contrary, it was calved retired of circumstantial conversations, experiences and questions that had been coming from nan imaginative organization for years.

Who was progressive successful nan imaginative process? How agelong did it last?

B.B.: The Picture from Auschwitz task is simply a associated inaugural of nan Auschwitz Museum, nan Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation and a squad of exertion specialists led by Maciej Żemojcin. The very conception crystallised complete respective months successful nan people of associated activity and discussions. The method squad utilized nan astir precocious spatial scanning technologies to create a integer replica of nan Auschwitz I camp. At nan moment, nan Foundation is making efforts to raise nan costs needed to proceed nan task - to create a integer replica of nan grounds of Auschwitz II-Birkenau, arsenic good arsenic nan interiors of immoderate of nan buildings.

What reactions did you person aft nan announcement of nan creation of nan replica?

B.B.: The reactions were decidedly affirmative - some from nan movie community, which sees this arsenic a viable and master moving tool, and from nan wide public, for whom this is an opportunity to study astir history successful a deeper and much authentic measurement done nan mean of film. The task has besides been recognised successful world debate, including astatine nan Marché du Film successful Cannes.

Are location already consenting filmmakers who will use from nan replica?

B.B.: We person already started discussions pinch nan first filmmakers who person expressed an liking successful collaborating utilizing nan integer replica. The specifications of these projects stay astatine nan statement shape for nan clip being, but we dream to beryllium capable to supply much accusation connected nan first productions soon.

How has this task been funded and what will it return to prolong it?

B.B.: The creation of nan replica is financed by nan Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation from earmarked donations made by backstage donors. The Foundation is seeking costs to proceed nan project. Its presumption is that yet nan attraction and improvement of nan programme will beryllium financed done licence fees paid by movie producers who will usage nan materials wrong nan Virtual Film Location. This way, nan task will go a self-financing tool, simultaneously supporting nan acquisition and commemorative ngo of nan Memorials.

What difficulties person arisen successful implementing nan project?

B.B.: Such ample and innovative projects ever look difficulties. One of nan biggest was, of course, obtaining capable backing to commencement and create nan project. A cardinal situation was besides nan request to reconcile high-tech solutions pinch nan very typical position of nan abstraction we were mapping. Although we are moving successful a integer environment, we must not hide that each measurement we return concerns an authentic Memorial, which is taxable to unsocial protection. This must beryllium a privilege thought successful each action.