Oscar-Qualified Short Documentary ANAIS: Interview with Director Hélèna Hadjiyianni and producer Shanice Mendy - A Story of Resilience, Determination & Passion

Ladies and gentlemen, ANAIS, a tale of survival and strength. Anaïs is 32. Her body is her weapon as much as her shield, to conquer the battle of life. She plays against the clock, from breaking records on the asphalt to night-shifting at the hospital, or battling a stage Ill breast cancer

This documentary short film is pure inspiration and motivation. A film that inspires the never giving up spirit that lives in all of us. One’s test becomes their testimony and in the midst of adversity, we can find victory.

My guests today are film director Hélèna Hadjiyianni and producer Shanice Mendy, and their short film documentary ANAIS.

Hélène is a director and photographer. After ten years at the music conservatory practicing singing, piano, and cello, she studied acting in Paris.

Visual rhythms and the movement of bodies and souls are central themes in her work. She captured the lives and training of athletes such as Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant.

In 2023, she directed her first documentary short, ANAIS, a portrait of Anais Quemener: French marathon champion, and breast cancer survivor at 24. Which is our subject today.

Shanice Mendy is a French-Senegalese producer with a diverse portfolio spanning the past eight years, particularly in the sports industry. She ventured into the cinema industry, notably with the short documentary “ANAIS."

Shanice has served as the lead producer for Nike in Paris, as well as in London, New York, and Johannesburg for the Jordan Brand. Her passion for content production is reflected in her extensive experience with major brands such as L’Oréal, the French Olympic Committee, and Canal+, France's premier sports broadcasting channel.

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