Bernhard Rammerstorfer
Bernhard Rammerstorfer (born 1968 in Austria) is an author and film producer.
Publications
Since 1994, Bernhard Rammerstorfer, has conducted intensive research that has enabled him to produce a historically accurate record of Nazi concentration camp survivor Leopold Engleitner’s life that has appeared in a number of publications and films in various languages and countries. Rammerstorfer wrote Engleitner's biography, Unbroken Will: The Extraordinary Courage of an Ordinary Man-The story of Nazi Concentration Camp Survivor Leopold Engleitner, born 1905 (in German: Ungebrochener Wille), and produced an accompanying film documentary. The book was translated in French (2007) and Russian (2009).
He also produced an educational DVD "Unbroken Will" which contains material on the Holocaust for the use in schools in English, German, Italian, and Spanish.
In 2006, he produced the documentary “Unbroken Will Captivates the United States” which was premiered at the Laemmle's Music Hall 3 Theatre in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.
In 2009, Rammerstorfer produced the documentary “Unbroken Will USA Tour” which was premiered in the U.S. at the Laemmle's Sunset 5 Theatre in West Hollywood, Los Angeles.
In 2012, Bernhard Rammerstorfer and A. Ferenc Gutai produced the documentary "LADDER in the LIONS' DEN - Freedom Is a Choice, Nazi Concentration Camp Survivor Leopold Engleitner: A 107-Year-Old Eyewitness Tells His Story."
The U.S. premiere took place at Laemmle's Town Center 5 in Encino in November 2012 with Leopold Engleitner present.
The German version "LEITER in der LÖWENGRUBE" was released in Austria in March 2013.
In April 2013 the film was awarded "Best Documentary Short" by the Fallbrook International Film Festival 2013, of Fallbrook, California, and "Best Short Documentary" by the Rincón International Film Festival 2013, of Rincón, Puerto Rico.
Lecture tours with Leopold Engleitner
Since 2009 Rammerstorfer has given many lectures with Engleitner at various universities, schools and memorial sites in Austria, Germany, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, and the United States of America.
Europe
- Bern University, Switzerland
- Dresden University, Germany
- Graz University, Austria
- Salzburg University, Austria
- Vienna University, Austria
- Castello Sforzesco, Italy
- Frankfurt Book Fair 2008 and 2009, the world’s largest book fair, Germany
- Moscow Central Journalist House, Russia
- Bookstore “BIBLIO-GLOBUS” in Moscow, Russia
United States
2004:
- US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC
- Austrian Embassy in Washington DC
- Columbia University in New York
- Austrian Consulate General in New York
- Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles
2006:
- Stanford University in Palo Alto (San Francisco Bay)
- Georgetown University in Washington DC
- Columbia University in New York
- Harold Washington College in Chicago
- Library of Congress in Washington DC
- Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois in Skokie
- Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
2009:
- Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida
- Palladium Theater at St. Petersburg College, Florida
- Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, California
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- Moorpark College, California
- Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, California
The song "Unbroken Will"
In May 2009, the songwriters Mark David Smith and Rex Salas from California wrote the song "Unbroken Will" for Leopold Engleitner. On May 22, 2009, Leopold Engleitner was presented the song during an event at Moorpark College. The singer Phillip Ingram interprets "Unbroken Will".
International film awards for the documentary Unbroken Will and notable events
- Winner of the Golden Bear at the 31st Festival of Nations from over 500 films from 37 countries and five continents, Austria.
- First prize and best film in Category A at the film competition Upper Austria in Film 2003, Austria
- English translation “Unbroken Will” premiered in the Laemmle’s Monica 4-plex Theatre in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Italian translation “Mai e poi mai” premiered in Castello Sforzesco in Milan, Italy
International film awards for the documentary LADDER in the LIONS’ DEN
- —Winner: Best Documentary Short at the Fallbrook International Film Festival 2013, Fallbrook, California, USA
- —Winner: Best Short Documentary at the Rincón International Film Festival 2013, Rincón, Puerto Rico
- —Winner: Audience Choice Award for a Documentary at the Marina del Rey Film Festival 2013, Los Angeles County, California, USA
- —Winner: Best International Feature Documentary at the Laughlin International Film Festival 2013, Laughlin, Nevada, USA
- —Official Selection: Festival of Tolerance: 7th Zagreb International Jewish Film Festival 2013, Zagreb, Croatia
- —Official Selection: Festival of Tolerance: 1st Rijeka International Jewish Film Festival 2013, Rijeka, Croatia
- —Official Selection: Chagrin Documentary Film Festival 2013, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA
- —Official Selection: Life Fest Film Festival 2014, Hollywood, California, USA
- —Official Selection: Green Bay Film Festival 2014, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
- —Winner: Special Jury Mention at the European International Film Festival 2016, St. Petersburg, Russia
International film awards for the documentary TAKING THE STAND
- —Nomination: Best Documentary at the Long Island International Film Expo 2016, Long Island, New York, USA
- —Winner: Alan Fortunoff Humanitarian Award at the Long Island International Film Expo 2016, Long Island, New York, USA
- —Winner: Best Short Documentary Film at the Laughlin International Film Festival 2016, Laughlin, Nevada, USA
Award
In 2006, Rammerstorfer was awarded the Elfriede Grünberg Prize by the Wels, Upper Austria, Initiative Against Fascism (Antifa).
Late recognition
Rammerstorfer’s extraordinary commitment has brought Leopold Engleitner, the world’s oldest male Nazi concentration camp survivor, widespread recognition as his story has resonated far beyond the borders of Austria with a message of peace and tolerance to ensure that the past would never be forgotten.