Academy Award nominee Chris Columbus has come on board as Executive Producer of MENASHE, the narrative fiction feature debut from Joshua Z Weinstein. The film is premiering at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in the NEXT Section.
Performed entirely in Yiddish, MENASHE follows a kind, Hasidic Jewish widower as he struggles to make ends meet and responsibly parent his young son, Rieven. Tradition prohibits Menashe from raising his son alone, so Rieven’s strict uncle adopts him, leaving Menashe heartbroken. Meanwhile, though Menashe seems to bungle every challenge in his path, his rabbi grants him one special week with Rieven prior to his late wife’s memorial, and a chance to prove himself a suitable man of faith and fatherhood.
Chris Columbus and Eleanor Columbus will executive produce the film under their banner company Maiden Voyage Pictures. The company has produced THE WITCH, TALLULAH, MEDITERRANEA, LITTLE ACCIDENTS, and has PATTI CAKE$ premiering this month at Sundance as well. Alex Lipschultz, Traci Carlson, Danny Finkelman, Joshua Z Weinstein and Yoni Brook produced MENASHE, with Danelle Eliav and Adam Margules serving as executive producers. David Hansen and Johnny Mac of Autumn Productions serve as co-executive producers. Agent Craig Kestel at WME put the deal together between the filmmakers and Maiden Voyage.
“Maiden Voyage Pictures is a company that prides itself on the beauty, artistry and vision of great storytelling” said Chris Columbus. “MENASHE is a film that deals with a world that hasn’t been seen onscreen in decades. It’s a masterfully directed and performed gem, an exceptional piece of filmmaking.”
Mongrel International will be handling worldwide sales.