The Fourth Annual Dances With Films: New York will feature six very diverse Jewish-themed films in the categories of feature length narrative and documentaries, as well as short films.
VINDICTA, a feature film written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Dominik Sedlar, will have its US Premiere as the Opening Night film at the festival, January 15 7:30PM, at the Regal Union Square theater in New York City. In VINDICTA, Hannah/Anna, a young woman with a haunted past, methodically pursues Nazi officers to extract her revenge for her family’s murder with great success until she meets Klaus, an officer from a special unit. He becomes enamored of her and the stage is set for a deadly denouement.
VINDICTA stars Devon Ross (Irma Vep, Depravity, My First Film) as Hannah/Anna, Jack Bandeira (The Gold, The Duke, My Policeman) as Klaus, and Sam Hazeldine, known for his villainous turn in The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power appears as the film’s main antagonist, with an outstanding supporting cast including Pip Torrens (The Crown, Poldark, Versailles, Savage House), Anna Madeley (All Creatures Great and Small, A Gentleman in Moscow, In Bruges, The Crucible ), Juliet Aubrey (Professor T, Middlemarch, The White Queen), and Suzanne Bertish (Inspector Morse, Mercy Street, Dead Ringers).
The historical documentary HOLY GHETTO will make its World Premiere at Dances With Films New York on Friday, January 16 at Regal Union Square.
Holy Ghetto peels back a side of Israel few people see: Tel-Aviv’s desperate red-light district. Holy Ghetto follows Olga, abducted by sex traffickers at the age of 17; Dave an American who founded a shelter for women in prostitution; Yana, a recovering addict and struggling mother of five; and Ohad, a former trafficker chasing redemption across. Over a decade, Dave, Yana, and Ohad reveal their memories, dreams, hopes, and fears, set against Tel Aviv’s grittiest neighborhood, in a city of contrasts where despair, extravagance and resilience collide. More than portraits of hardship, their stories reveal the human capacity to endure and transform in the most difficult circumstances.
HOLY GHETTO is the feature directorial debut from iLan Azoulai, who’s served as cinematographer, editor and technical consultant on several films.
Making Awareness, a (Documentary Short) where two Israeli street artists spread awareness to aid inthe release of hostages taken on October 7th, 2023. Written by Susan Wasserman and Josh Lawhorn, directed and produced by Wasserman, featuring Dede Bandaid and Nitzan Mintz. World Premiere. Sunday, January 18th at 11:30AM.
Gimme (Midnight Short) On the first night of Hanukkah, a grandfather and his estranged granddaughter are pulled into a sinister game of dreidel. Written by Steven Schloss and Aidan Payne, directed by Schloss, produced by Stuart Valberg and Payne, starring Paul Kandarian and Taylor Pezza. East Coast Premiere. Saturday, January 17th at 9:30PM.
Being Dead Should Be Easy (Narrative Short) A Millennial woman has a breakdown when she learns there is no room left for her in the family mausoleum. Written by Claire Harris Matson. Directed by Matson and Drew Brandon Jones. Starring: Olivia Macklin, Maggie Wheeler, Kevin Dorff, Alan Barinholtz, Cassandra Bodzak, Caroline Brauner, Grant Rivers, and Maggie Dewan-Smith. East Coast Premiere. Friday, January 16th at 2:30PM.
Escape: The True Story of Morris Schnitzer (Family Short) In 1941, a teenage Jewish boy, Morris Schnizter, loses his true identity when he flees the Nazis. ESCAPE: THE TRUE STORY OF MORRIS SCHNITZER is the incredible account of how he gets it back. Written by Pazit Cahlon and Jason Charters, directed by Hector Herrera. Starring Julian Dos Santos, Andrew Dundass, Jason Durkee, Jesse Beam and Daniel Krolik. New York Premiere. Sunday, January 18th at 11:15AM.
For tickets and more information go to: https://danceswithfilms.com/film-listings/