We are delighted to share some exciting news from Nigel Canin (Jago 1976 - 1987)! He has produced a feature-length film called Survivor

We caught up with Nigel and this is what he had to say

Q. When did you attend Solihull School?

A. I began life at Solihull School as a J1 pupil, in 1976, and Mrs Instone was my Form Tutor. Highlights looking back were cricket matches all the way through to my final year in 1987, I remain a proud member of Jago to this day and it’s fantastic to still be connected with the school.

Q. What have you gone on to do since?

A. I qualified as a teacher but eventually decided that my skills might be put to better use elsewhere, so I started an educational software company called 2Simple. That continues to keep me very busy. Our software and resources are now used by over 2 million learners in over 11,000 schools, in more than 74 countries worldwide. Later I started up Lemon Soul Publishing along with my great friend Jonny Zucker, an inspirational teacher and author, who is sadly no longer alive. Jonny’s vision was to create a publishing house that would be awesome and fair, and they continue to be guiding principles for us in all we do.

Q. What is the focus of Lemon Soul Publishing?

A. Our focus is on books that have an important or positive message to share with the world. Lemon Soul is mostly a campaigns-based publishing house. Our first book Get the Children Out! - Unsung Heroes of the Kindertransport shines a light on people who may have otherwise be less well remembered. After hearing author Mike Levy give a talk on Dr. Rabbi Schonfeld, who is a truly unsung hero, we were excited and honoured to publish it.

Q. Tell us a bit about how one of your publications has led to your latest project.

A. Last year we published Chicken Soup Under the Tree, the compelling testimony of Ivor Perl BEM. Ivor is an Auschwitz survivor, and it has been a great honour to publish his words. The book has been very received, with plaudits coming from far and wide, and its success has given rise to our latest collaboration with the phenomenal, generational talent this is Zoom Rockman.

Zoom met 92-year-old Ivor in the summer of 2023 and it left a lasting impression on him, inspiring him to share Ivor’s story through his unique animation style using paper puppets. Survivor follows 12-year-old Ivor, from a small village in Hungary to the gates of Auschwitz, Kaufering, Allach, and Dachau, as he experiences the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust.

Q. What’s next for Survivor, the feature length film?

A. Survivor will be screened for the first time at MIPCOM Cannes, the global market for media content, on 22 October 2024. Nigel along with the other producers, Zoom and the composer Erran Baron Cohen, will be presenting Survivor to a variety of distribution platforms, with the ambition for the film to be seen whenever and however the viewer wants. Survivor’s official charity partner is March of the Living, and the first joint event is on 28th November at a central London cinema.

For more details on media coverage and screening see https://survivorfilm.com/