Project Summary
In Budapest to Gettysburg , acclaimed historian Gabor Boritt delves into a history he has refused to study: his own. In 1956, he escaped Hungary, leaving behind a Jewish life shattered by Nazis and Communists. He gave up his past and embraced his new home - America. Today, he is a leading expert on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. This deeply personal film by his son Jake follows Gabor Boritt as he examines his past. In a youth marred by Hitler and Stalin's tyranny he finds the impetus for his groundbreaking studies on the central pillar of American democracy.

Support the project here:
http://www.boritt.com/GB/support.htm

Project Status: Post-production begins
The Budapest to Gettysburg project is going extremely well.  Assistants have loaded all the footage into the editing system and are now logging each reel.  Editor Ira Meistrich will begin cutting the film in January. In March Gabor, his sister Judy, and I will return to Hungary for three weeks.  The U.S. Embassy in Budapest invited Gabor to give a series of lectures on Lincoln throughout Hungary. Fifty years after he escaped  Gabor will return to his native land to  lecture about his life’s work and passion: Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War and American freedom. We will also be traveling to Romania and Austria to shoot the remaining footage for the documentary. Fundraising has been going very well.  We've raised  $245,000, over two thirds of the funding needed.  We continue working on raising more funding.  We intend to have cut of the film ready by middle of the year.

Jake
During this past year I completed several other documentary projects.  In October I finished work  as Associate Producer on a documentary directed by acclaimed filmmaker Rory Kennedy for The History Channel.  It will be broadcast Spring, 2006.  I also directed and produced a short film for Gettysburg’s beautifully restored  $16 million Majestic Theater.  The film was part of the grand reopening night gala which also included performances by Broadway legend Elaine Stritch and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy star Carson Kressley.  I am now focusing fulltime on the Budapest to Gettysburg project.

Budapest to Gettysburg funding commitments total over two thirds of budget With the help of fundraising chairmen Jack Kemp and Tom Kemp we have raised over 2/3 of the necessary budget for the project. In the past year over $245,000.00 has been committed to make this film.  Support for the project has ranged from commitments of $30,000 to  $25.   While fundraising for the project is going extremely well we still need to raise 1/3 of the budget or approximately $125,000 by the first quarter of 2006. The film is intended to be ready  by this fall, the 50th anniversary of Gabor’s escape from Hungary to America.

To date supporters of this project include: Select Equity, Inc., The Kinsley Foundation, S.W. Jack Drilling Company, The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, Kay O'Rourke, Jack Kemp, The Gilder Foundation, The Lehrman Institute, Craig Cogut, Pegasus Capital, Tom Kemp, National Philanthropic Trust, Times & News Publishing, David Remington, The Albert & Lillian Small Foundation, The Langdon Family Foundation, The Dobbin House, Inc., Tom Johnson, Jon Ireland, Donald & Barbara Braden and James G. Basker. Thank you.

Support this project and help make Budapest to Gettysburg a reality
The Budapest to Gettysburg film project is sponsored by The National Trust for Historic Gettysburg, Inc. a respected 501C(3) nonprofit organization based in Gettysburg, PA. Please check with your tax advisor, but contributions used for this project will be tax-deductible. Checks should be made payable to The National Trust for Historic Gettysburg, Inc. and mailed to the address below. Please write “Budapest to Gettysburg” on the memo line. A receipt will be issued to each contributor.
 
Contributors will be asked to make a written pledge for the full amount of their contribution; however, one third of the commitment will be required when development and research commences; the next one third will be needed and released when development is completed and production commences; the final one third will be expected and released at the beginning of post-production.
 
Contributors will be credited in the film, in related publicity materials, and at premieres and screenings. They also will be invited to premieres and other special events, including dinners planned on both coasts to coincide with the release of the film. Events will be planned for Europe as well.  The film will be produced by Boritt Films, llc (limited liability company) formed specifically for the Budapest to Gettysburg project. Should you have any interest in discussing a risk venture investment (nondeductible for tax purposes) in the project, please contact Jake Boritt.

A Note from Fundraising Chairman Jack Kemp
Gabor's interpretations of American history are a powerful experience. It is an experience that should be shared by more than the few who are privileged to hear one of Gabor's tours or lectures. The Budapest to Gettysburg project will bring this experience to a wide audience. Abraham Lincoln is the greatest symbol of the American dream, rising from poverty to the Presidency.   Though his path was very different, Gabor similarly embraced the promise of America as millions of immigrants have. Here Gabor found, as Lincoln so eloquently spoke in Gettysburg, "a new birth of freedom." In understanding Gabor's story we will come to a better understanding of Lincoln, our own nation and how we can teach others about America's promise. Please join me in supporting Budapest to Gettysburg.