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Ways to Live Forever

English title: Ways to Live Forever
Original title: Vivir para siempre
German title: Ewiges Leben / Wie man unsterblich wird
Spain, Great Britain, 2010

Director: Ron, Gustavo
Production company: El Capitan Pictures, Formato Producciones S.L.
Co-producers: Life & Soul Productions
Age recommendation: 8 years and up

Synopsis:
(Short version) – The last months in the life of a 12-year-old boy who is dying of leukaemia and the impact on his friends and family. An uplifting story of a boy who lives out his last ambitions and prepares to die with humour and dignity. Based on the best-selling and prize-winning novel by Sally Nichols, the story draws triumph out of tragedy and dares to challenge the ways in which we confront death.

(Longer version) – Sam is 11 years old and he is fascinated by all sorts of information. He loves collecting stories and amazing facts. He wants to know about UFO's, scary movies, spaceships and ghosts. He also wants to find out what it feels like to try his first beer, to have his first 'drag' of a cigarette... to kiss a girl for the first time. Sam wants to find out what teenagers feel, because he'll never become one. He suffers from Leukaemia.

The adults around him respond to his questions ambiguously; trying to avoid certain topics but Sam wants to find out as much information and details about death as possible. He is determined to find the answers to the questions that nobody wants to answer. That's why he decides to write a book. A book that is not only a diary for himself, but also a "scientific experimentation" (with observations included), a list of proven data, of things he wants to do one day (such as breaking a world record, flying in an airship or watching scary horror films), as well as thoughts on his questions.

Sam will take us through his personal, moving, and at times, funny vision of the world and his own circumstance; hand-in-hand with his parents, his sister Ella, and not least his friend Felix, with whom he'll experience unforgettable moments. Sam finds his voice as an exceptional person transformed by the immensity of what awaits him.

Comments:
www.vivirparasiemprelapelicula.com

Marketing strategies:
Based on the children's novel by Sally Nicholls. More than 1 million admissions in French cinemas.

Festivals:
Cinekid Amsterdam 2010, Indianapolis 2010, Cannes 2010, Tallinn Black Nights Just Film 2010 (awarded), FIFEM Montreal 2011, Antwerp & Brugge 2011 (awarded, Award), BUFF Malmö 2010, Kristiansand 2011, Zlin 2011, Giffoni 2011 (awarded), Lucas Frankfurt 2011, Buster Copenhagen 2011, Michel Hamburg 2011 (awarded), Vienna 2011 (awarded), Cinepänz Cologne 2011, Ale Kino! Poznan 2011 (Special Mention), ICFFCY Cyprus 2012, Chicago 2012

Website: www.waystoliveforevermovie.com

Study guide: www.kinderfilmfestival.at/data/wiema ...

Study guide: German

World sales address/es:
Intandem (GB)

Sold to:
unknown
Bundesverband Jugend und Film (DE)