'A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff' Sets North American Theatrical Premiere & Digital Release
‘A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff’ Sets North American Theatrical Premiere & Digital Release
Available on VOD September 6th, 2022
Distributed by Freestyle Digital Media
Portland theatrical premiere on September 1st, 2022 at the Hollywood Theatre
Click here to download unbranded film poster
Watch trailer here: https://youtu.be/6x_XeExck1I
"If Anna Deavere Smith, Sarah Koenig, and Joey Soloway wrote a self-reflexive musical about finance and religion,
it might approach [this] film’s impish, mystical spirit...it's a blessing."
Critically acclaimed festival favorite A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff will be available to rent and own on North American digital HD internet, and satellite platforms on September 6, 2022 through distribution by Freestyle Digital Media. The film will also receive its theatrical premiere at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Oregon on September 1st, with the filmmakers and other guests in attendance.
Pre-orders are now available on iTunes and Apple TV:
itunes.apple.com/us/movie/a-kaddish-for-bernie-madoff/id1638166408
tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-kaddish-for-bernie-madoff/umc.cmc.9oeas292nv2ptnwu9hb4ypof
In this musical fantasy-drama starring creator Alicia Jo Rabins, an underground musician becomes obsessed with Bernie Madoff's massive financial fraud and finds herself inside a real-life meta-musical investigation about trust, deception and healing. A hybrid of musical memoir and narrative fantasy, A KADDISH FOR BERNIE MADOFF tells the story of Madoff and the system that allowed him to function for decades through the eyes of singer-songwriter Rabins, who – after being given access to an abandoned office on Wall Street for a music studio – watches the 2008 financial crash unfold from her 9th floor studio window. As Rabins grows increasingly obsessed with finding a ritual response to Madoff’s crimes, real-life interviews transform into music videos, ancient spiritual texts become fevered fantasies of synchronized swimming, and a vivid, vulnerable work of art is born from the unique perspective of an artist watching the global financial collapse up close.
A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff has received multiple film festival honors and awards, such as its selection at the Tallinn Black Nights of Cinema festival in Estonia (European premiere), screening in the prestigious New York Jewish Film Festival at Lincoln Center as well as the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival at the Castro Theater, and three notable awards: Best Narrative Film Audience Award at Ashland Independent Film Festival, the Visionary Award at the Sarasota Film Festival and the Best Young Director award at Port Townsend Film Festival.
Starring and created by Alicia Jo Rabins, A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff was adapted for screen by Alicia Jo Rabins & Alicia J. Rose, directed by Alicia J. Rose, and produced by Lara Cuddy. Alicia Jo Rabins and Alicia J. Rose serve as executive producers. The cast also features Robin McAlpine (‘Olivia/Crone 1’) and Judy Silk (‘June/Crone 2’).
“It has been a thrill to bring Alicia Jo Rabins’ original one-woman show to the big screen,” says director Alicia J. Rose. "Once we began adapting for cinema, the film’s narrative developed without creative restriction - weaving together diverse genres including musical, docudrama, animation, narrative and fantasy; incorporating music videos, synchronized swimming, choreography, even a cadre of senior ladies excommunicating Madoff by reciting the Mourners’ Kaddish poolside. We intentionally assembled a majority female/non-binary crew, for many of whom this was a first feature film experience. After an award-winning film festival run, we are elated to be partnering with Freestyle Digital Media for distribution and looking forward to the film growing its audience exponentially.”
Adds creator/star Alicia Jo Rabins: “This is a true story about what happens when a bunch of artists take over the ninth floor of a building on Wall Street in the middle of a financial collapse - asking what we owe each other, and making meaning in confusing times through imagination, beauty, music, and humor. It has been a transformative experience bringing this women-led film to life under the brilliant direction of Alicia J. Rose, in collaboration with our incredible producer Lara Cuddy and a stellar group of fellow artists, and I am so excited to share it with the world.”
Independent sales rep & consultant Liz Manashil negotiated the deal to acquire A KADDISH FOR BERNIE MADOFF directly with Freestyle Digital Media.
Full list of VOD platforms:
AT&T U-Verse
DirecTV
iN DEMAND (Comcast, Specrum)
Vubiquity (Verizon Fios)
Hoopla
Amazon
Apple TV & iTunes
Vudu
Xbox
Google Play
YouTube
About Freestyle Digital Media
The digital distribution unit of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, Freestyle Digital Media, is a premiere multi-platform distributor with direct partnerships across all major cable, digital and streaming platforms. Capitalizing on a robust infrastructure, proven track record and a veteran sales team, Freestyle Digital Media is a true home for independent films.
Follow A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff online:
@akaddishforberniemadoff on Instagram
A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff on Facebook
ALICIA JO RABINS (Writer/Star/Composer)
Alicia Jo Rabins is an award-winning writer, musician, performer and Torah teacher. The New York Times calls her voice “gorgeous”; the San Francisco Chronicle calls her writing “a poetry page-turner, both sexy and humble.” She is the author of two poetry collections, Divinity School (winner of the 2015 APR/Honickman First Book Prize) and Fruit Geode (finalist for the 2018 Jewish Book Award). As a composer, singer-songwriter and violinist, Rabins tours internationally and writes music for film, TV and art installations. She has released three albums with Girls in Trouble, her indie-folk song cycle about women in Torah; toured across Central America and Kuwait playing fiddle as a US State Department cultural ambassador; and was the violinist in NYC's acclaimed klezmer-punk band Golem for eight years. As a Jewish educator and ritual leader, Rabins is passionate about teaching children and adults about Jewish texts and traditions, and holding ceremonial space. Rabins lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two children.
ALICIA J. ROSE (Director/Editor/Co-Screenwriter)
Award-winning photographer/director Alicia J. Rose has directed over 3 dozen music videos for artists like First Aid Kit, Cake and Bob Mould as well as visually branding popular bands like The Decemberists and many others with her imaginative portraiture. Her approach to directing utilizes her unique sense of visual style, grounded humor and snappy storytelling to deliver authentic narratives that resonate deeply with viewers.
Scripted comedic web series “The Benefits of Gusbandry” was her first foray into digital episodic storytelling and over its two seasons received wide acclaim from press outlets like The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, A/V Club, PASTE, OUT and others. Her feature directorial debut - hybrid narrative/musical A KADDISH FOR BERNIE MADOFF has just come off an award winning festival run and is slated for a Fall 2022 public release.
LARA CUDDY (Producer)
With over 20 years of experience in creative concepting, market strategy, and project development and delivery, Lara Cuddy works as a producer and designer in a broad range of media including long and short form narrative, commercials, branded content, digital series, and music videos. Notable producing credits include award-winning feature films Lorelei, The Mortuary Collection, Badland, Deep Dark, and Birds of Neptune as well the critically acclaimed Portland comedy series The Benefits of Gusbandry. Currently dividing time between creative consulting, independent media development, and film and video production, Lara's artist-as-producer philosophy steers the wheel to where she travels next.
For all media requests and interviews, please contact:
Heidi Vanderlee - heidi@positivejampr.com
Press resources: positivejampr.com/clients/kaddishforberniemadoff