FINAL PROJECT UPDATE (Saturday, 14 December 2013):

WE did it!

A huge and hearty *thank you* to all of our wonderful supporters - OPA! OPA! OPA!

We can now move forward - with great certainty - into the final stages of pre-production before for we arrive in Crete (May - June 2014) to complete principal photography.

If you would like to make a donation to our film project (and we would happily accept it) please contact:
Ashley Perry (Producer/Director/Writer) at [email protected]

Once again, we could not have reached this mighty target without all of your generosity and support!

Warm regards and all the very best for 2014!

Ashley, Michael and Miklos

PROJECT UPDATE (Wednesday, 11 December 2013):

With less than 72 hours remaining on our 'crowdfunding' campaign we are proud to announce that we have reached our target of A$14000 - OPA!

In fact, we have smashed through this goal and our film is now more than 100% funded!

At this point in time we remain happily surprised, incredibly overjoyed and extremely humbled by the immense support that has flowed from many, many, donors located across Australia and overseas.

So, although we have achieved a significant milestone we ask that in the time remaining until the campaign ends at 12:00PM on Saturday 14 December 2013, that you still consider making a pledge of support to 'Battle Island Crete'.

Every donation above-and-beyond our overall target will make a real difference to the production budget of our film project.

Cheers,

Ashley, Michael and Miklos

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The filmmaking team behind the feature-length documentary film Battle Island Crete (Ashley Perry, Michael Dunbar and Miklos Janek) are seeking donations to assist with bringing the largely forgotten story of the bloody Cretan campaign (April - June 1941) to the screen.



Our aim is to reveal the harrowing events behind the courageous defence of the island undertaken by Allied forces comprising Greek, Australian, New Zealand and British troops. In addition we seek to illuminate the valiant sacrifices made by the Cretan community (local police, guerrilla fighters and civilians) in response to the massive Nazi German invasion.



Upon completion, our intention is to submit the film for competition in both local and international film festivals. We will also endeavour to sell the film into multiple television markets in Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Germany and the United States, as well as make it available for download via video-on-demand platforms.

We also intend to create a study guide to accompany the film. This document will provide supplementary material for secondary level students in relation to the failed military campaigns conducted by the Allies on mainland Greece and Crete during 1941, in response to Nazi German and Fascist Italian aggression.

BATTLE OVERVIEW:

Upon Nazi Germany - assisted by Fascist Italian forces - successfully occupying mainland Greece in April 1941, preparations commenced in Athens to invade the strategically important island of Crete. The operation was given the codename Merkur (Mercury). It was conceived as a large-scale airborne assault. Elite Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper) units were assigned with the task of securing vitally important airfields situated across northern Crete.



On 20 May 1941, wave after wave of paratroopers descended from the skies above Crete. For more than a week a fierce and bloody battle raged.



By late May, Allied forces had commenced a fighting withdrawal from their positions, moving across mountainous terrain to the south of the island.



On 01 June 1941, Crete had fallen to the enemy.

Those Allied soldiers unable or unwilling to abandon the island by sea were captured and became prisoners of war. The occupation of Crete was to be an incredibly traumatic and dangerous period for the local population and for many years during the occupation of the island they valiantly resisted their captors.



FILM OUTLINE:

The documentary film 'Battle Island Crete' will examine the key moments of the campaign as they transpired over the eleven days.

Our intention is to photograph the battlefield terrain as it exists today, and supplement this footage with archival imagery (photographs, maps and drawings) as well as eyewitness testimony. We intend to use voice-over narration throughout the film as a guide for viewers.

In addition we intend to examine the moments leading-up to the commencement of the invasion as well as the immediate period after the fall of Crete. The film will highlight the atmosphere of the battle as encountered by the military combatants, on both sides, and by the people of Crete.



We ask that you consider pledging your support to 'Battle Island Crete' in order to assist us in the recovery of details, events and memories from this neglected campaign of the Second World War.



After more than 70 years the Australian Government has yet to issue a campaign medal to the veterans of the conflict in Greece and Crete.

Bravery - Resistance - Sacrifice
ΓΕΝΝΑΙΟΤΗΤΑ - ΑΝΤΙΣΤΑΣΗ - ΘΥΣΙΑ

Join our Facebook group & follow our progress : https://www.facebook.com/battleislandcrete or
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PRODUCTION CHALLENGES:

The key obstacle associated with successfully completing 'Battle Island Crete' is that a greater amount of time, beyond six weeks, is required to complete filming on Crete. This may require the need for additional crew to travel to Crete, or perhaps the need to employ local videographers to assist with second unit photography, in which case further funding for the film would be required.

The completion date for 'Battle Island Crete' is October 2014.