Before the world knew Anne Frank, her father, Otto Frank, fought alone, rejected again and again by publishers who didn’t want to touch a ‘Jewish girl’s diary.’ This movie reveals the untold story of one man’s love, grief, and courage... and how he saved a voice that would speak for generations.
Help Me Bring This Lost Chapter of Anne Frank's Story to Life: A Film That Celebrates Hope, Resilience, and Courage while Overcoming Antisemitism
My name is Sam, and I am on a mission to reacquire the rights to my feature film screenplay, "Keeper of the Diary." This screenplay tells the remarkable true story of how "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank was almost never published. It is a poignant tale of hope and resilience, following a father's unwavering dedication to making his daughter's dream of becoming a published author a reality while facing the devastating effects of antisemitism. This story is about Otto Frank's determination to ensure that Anne Frank was not merely a footnote in history, but a voice that would endure forever.
The Script
This screenplay was recently voted one of the top 5 un-produced screenplays written over the past 10 years by Hollywood agents and managers. Everyone who has read it has been moved to tears. I have been passionately working to tell this story since I first discovered it over 30 years ago when I was just 17.
The Obstacle I Need to Overcome
Currently, the screenplay is owned by a movie studio that plans to make significant changes to it, which will tear apart the essence of my script. With the help of the Writers Guild of America, I now have a limited window of two (2) weeks to raise the necessary funds to purchase the script back. This will allow me to reacquire the rights to my original screenplay and tell my story in the way it was originally intended: as a story focused on a father’s fight to keep his daughter’s memory alive.
The Plan
Reacquiring the screenplay will allow me to take the next steps in bringing this story to life on the big screen as I have an A-list actor who is deeply passionate about portraying Otto Frank and an independent production-finance company ready to fund the film's production budget. However, those are both contingent on my securing the intellectual property rights.
And, to do that I need your help in raising $594,018.
Why Your Support Matters
Every dollar counts, and every contribution will play a crucial role in sharing Otto’s moving story with the world. I am seeking passionate partners—friends, family, and supporters like you—to join me on this meaningful journey. PLS NOTE: If, for any reason, I am unable to secure sufficient support, any funds raised will be donated to charity.
Perks for Supporters*
The Listener – $10
- Your name listed on our official campaign thank-you page
- Access to exclusive backer-only updates & behind-the-scenes insights
The Witness – $25
- All the above perks, plus:
- Digital wallpaper featuring quotes inspired by Anne’s diary
- A thank-you message from the filmmakers
The Page Turner – $50
- All the above perks, plus:
- Digital version of the film’s poster
The Archivist – $100
- All the above perks, plus:
- Your name in the film’s end credits under "Special Thanks"
The Advocate – $500
- All the above perks, plus:
- Signed digital copy of the screenplay (PDF)
- Invitation to a virtual Q&A with the original screenwriters
The Curator – $1,000
- All the above perks, plus:
- Limited edition printed postcard inspired by Anne’s diary and the film’s visuals
The Torchbearer – $2,500
- All the above perks, plus:
- Collector’s edition printed script, signed by the writers and producers
- PDF booklet: The Journey of The Diary — historical timeline of how "Keeper of the Diary" the screenplay was conceived and written
The Keeper – $5,000
- All the above perks, plus:
- Special “Keeper of the Diary” commemorative pin or medallion
- Personalized thank-you video from the screenwriters
The Testimony – $10,000
- All the above perks, plus:
- “Consulting Producer” credit (IMDb listing included)
- Invite to a private, virtual rough-cut screening
- Film poster signed by the creators
The Legacy – $18,000+
- All the above perks, plus:
- “Associate Producer” credit (IMDb listing included)
- A Legacy-exclusive Zoom meeting with the creators and historical consultants
Additional Information: The Untold Story Behind Anne Frank’s Diary
Anne Frank dreamed of becoming a published author. Tragically, she perished at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp just days before its liberation. However, her diary was spared thanks to Miep Gies, one of the people who hid the Frank family from the Nazis. She found the diary after the Frank family had been taken to the concentration camps, and kept it safely hidden for Anne’s return. When she did not, Miep gave it to Anne’s father, Otto. Having just discovered that he had lost his wife and two daughters, receiving this diary brought him an array of indescribable emotions – this was all he had left to hold onto of his family. As painful as it was, as a bereaved father, to read his daughter’s diary – he found a sense of comfort and closeness to Anne through her poetic words and profound insight. He knew her talent had the potential to impact the world, and he dedicated himself to seeing that through for her.
It was an incredibly difficult, uphill battle for him to get her diary published—due to the impact of antisemitism, it was rejected multiple times across Europe and America—until a brave young junior editor, Barbara Zimmerman, at Doubleday Books, discovered it in a pile of rejected manuscripts. Anne’s writing moved her to tears and lit a fire within her to see this through. She had to fight hard to have the diary published and put her career on the line for it. And, as she and Otto knew in their hearts, the book became an instant success! Today, the diary is the most widely-read book after the Bible, translated into over 70 languages, and taught across the globe.
I thank you in advance for joining me in making history by sharing an incredibly moving and beautiful story that the world needs to know.
Forever grateful,
Sam
PLS NOTE: If you are interested in contributing at a more significant level, please send a note to the following email address: KOTDFund@gmail.com
DISCLAIMER: By contributing to this campaign, you acknowledge that you are supporting the development of a screenplay and the early stages of a potential film project. While every effort will be made to bring this project to life, there is no guarantee that the screenplay will be produced into a completed film. Your contribution is not an investment and does not constitute a promise or obligation to deliver a finished product, distribution, or financial return. (*) All perks are subject to change based on the evolving nature of the production, and fulfillment timelines may shift depending on funding, resources, and external factors. Thank you for supporting independent storytelling and helping to develop “Keeper of the Diary” into something extraordinary.
