Gravitas Ventures has secured worldwide rights to Academy Award® nominated Director Charlie Siskel’s documentary, “American Anarchist,” which had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on Sept. 2nd. The documentary about controversial “The Anarchist Cookbook” creator, William Powell, will be released in theaters and on demand in 1Q 2017.
In 1970, William Powell wanted to help build a new society, so he taught the world how to blow up the old one. As the heady days of the late 60’s counterculture and political upheaval turned darker, Powell, at age 19, wrote one of the most infamous books ever published: The Anarchist
Cookbook. Part manifesto and part bomb making manual, it went on to sell over 2 million copies. Since then, the Cookbook has been associated with decades of violent anti-government attacks, abortion clinic bombings, school shootings and homegrown domestic terrorism. Now 65, Powell is a man haunted by his own creation, struggling to make sense of the damage it has done.
Said Director Charlie Siskel, “William Powell’s all-too-universal story shows how a youthful mistake can haunt a man throughout his life. Powell, who passed away after filming, is not directly responsible for the death and destruction caused by those influenced by his book. But that didn’t console Bill, who paid a heavy price and showed great courage in sharing his story. He felt he bore some responsibility and was willing to confront his actions and inactions in dealing with the book and his own legacy. I am grateful to him and his family and I believe others will recognize themselves in his experience.”
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Charlie and his team on this excellent film,” states Dan Fisher, Sr. Director of Acquisitions for Gravitas Ventures. “Equal parts global thriller and compelling history, ‘American Anarchist’ places the audience in the jury box as Charlie tenaciously questions the man whose creation inspired some of the most tragic events or modern times.”
Academy Award and Emmy® nominated Charlie Siskel is no stranger to controversy himself as his body of work includes the documentaries “Bowling for Columbine,” “Religulous” and “Finding Vivian Maier.” Among his TV credits are “The Awful Truth” with Michael Moore, “Crossballs” and “Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Election Special.” Siskel, a former lawyer and nephew of film industry icon Gene Siskel, served as Director, Producer and Writer for “American Anarchist.” Matthew Perniciaro and Michael Sherman of Bow and Arrow Entertainment are the Executive Producers.
The deal was negotiated by Dan Fisher for Gravitas and UTA on behalf of the filmmakers.