French contemporary artist and 2011 TED Prize winner JR has given us a glimpse at his forthcoming short film ‘ELLIS’, starring Robert De Niro. The short film (14min) was written by Academy Award winner Eric Roth.
JR whose Unframed art installations in the abandoned Ellis Island hospital complex serves as the set for this powerful and timely film.
“When I started working on ‘Ellis,’ the refugee crisis had not yet reached its current peak,” JR said.
Following its opening in 1902, approximately 1.2 million people passed through the facility, where the Statue of Liberty can be seen from the windows. Languishing in a sort of purgatory awaiting their fate, many were never discharged.
ELLIS IS FREE ON ITUNES !
After nearly 800 screenings all over the world, ELLIS is now available for free on iTunes in over 85 countries!
If you would like to organize your own screening, download the film on iTunes & be sure to send our team pictures of your event! Subtitles in 13 languages. Click here to download.
You can read more about the Unframed project in Melena’s; ‘Shadows Return to Ellis Island,’ SEPT. 24, 2014, NYTimes article. Hard hat visits of the abandoned hospital to book here
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