Los Angeles, CA, December 18, 2023 – Gravitas Ventures, an Anthem Sports & Entertainment Company, has acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to director Danny A. Abeckaser’s World War II drama, “Bardejov.” The powerful film stars Robert Davi, Danny A. Abeckaser, Kyle Stefanski, Dean Miroshnikov, Darren Weiss Omer Hazan, and Emil A. Fish, among many other talented actors comprising the expansive cast.
Written by Shmuel Lynn and directed by Abeckaser, Gravitas Ventures will release the film with a theatrical run and on VOD in March 2024. The film has also been submitted to top festivals. ”Bardejov’s” executive produced by Yoav Gross and produced by Holocaust survivor Emil A. Fish, who was a seven year old boy in “Bardejov” when these events took place.
“I was honored to be asked to direct this film, which will hands down be the most important film I will ever direct,” said Abeckaser. “The story of Emil Fish and the Jews of “Bardejov” from 1942 warrants proper attention, to educate the world, those of all cultures, on just how horrific and unjust the treatment of Jews during the Holocaust was.
“This movie is meant to educate and give accurate detail from the perspective of someone who lived through what actually happened. No sugar coating, just the truth, with elements of compassion and family integrated throughout.”
A notable director, producer and actor, Abeckaser was born in Israel and raised in New York. Also an active philanthropist, Abeckaser is known for roles in films such as “he Irishman,” “The Iceman,” “Lansky,” “Holy Rollers,” as well as his self-directed films “Mob Town,” “I Love Us,” “Blackjack,” and the currently streaming features “The Engineer” and “Inside Man,” released back-to-back this past August. Both star Emile Hirsch and are produced by Abeckaser’s 2B Films, in collaboration with Wild7 Films.
Shot entirely in Israel with local production companies and actors, ”The Engineer” will debut on Netflix on Christmas Day. The film was first released in August 2023 on iTunes, Amazon, VOD and theatres, and stars Davi and Hirsch, and many actors from the Fauda cast.
“Gravitas is proud to be bringing the story of “Bardejov” to North American audiences this upcoming March,” said Bill Guentzler, Gravitas Ventures’ vice president of acquisitions. In this historically accurate retelling of the treatment of the Jews of the Slovak village of “Bardejov” during World War II, audiences will be able to have a glimpse into the atrocities that took place.”
Guentzler negotiated the deal with Paul Davidson on behalf of the filmmakers. The film’s score is written by award-winning composer Lionel Cohen.
