Internationally Acclaimed Award-Winning Animated Short “The Tattooed Torah” Narrated by Ed Asner Signs World-Wide Distribution Deal with Menemsha Films

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 24, 2021 / The animated short film, THE TATTOOED TORAH, based on the beloved children’s book of the same name written by Marvell Ginsburg, announces the completion of a world-wide distribution deal with the Santa Monica-based independent film company, Menemsha Films. The animated film has sparked tremendous interest by educators and parents who are looking for ways to tell the story of the Holocaust to children. Directed by Marc Bennett and narrated by Ed Asner, THE TATTOOED TORAH continues to gain new audiences around the world.

Over the last three decades, the beloved children’s book by Marvell Ginsburg, “The Tattooed Torah,” has been a powerful resource for Holocaust education for parents and educators all over the world. Beautifully illustrated by Martin Lemelman, the book recounts the true story of the rescue and restoration of a small Torah from Brno, Czechoslovakia, and teaches the Holocaust not only as a period of destruction but also as an opportunity for redemption. Using the original illustrations as inspiration, the film was animated by Jeffrey Pittle and Christian Robins and was produced by Lisa Effress of 11 Dollar Bill.

Founded in 1998 by industry veteran Neil Friedman, MENEMSHA FILMS is dedicated to distributing the highest quality art house films, hand-picked from around the globe. Notably, MENEMSHA FILMS discovered and represented five Academy Award nominated films for five years in a row. The five titles include: Divided We Fall, Son of the Bride, Zelary, Prisoner of Paradise, and Story of the Weeping Camel. “We feel blessed to be working with the filmmakers on the worldwide release of “The Tattooed Torah,” and believe it is a treasure to be passed on for generations to come,” said Neil Friedman, President of Menemsha Films. “Menemsha’s goal is to share this poetic short film by distributing it in multiple countries across multiple platforms so that this universal message of perseverance reaches young people around the world,” adds Friedman.

The short also claimed a spot on a recent list of the top “10 Films that Keep the Holocaust Fresh in Our Memories”.THE TATTOOED TORAH was the sole animated, as well as the only short film on this list of critically acclaimed and Oscar Award winning films. The story, written by Michelle Willens, was featured in The Wrap, and included such prestigious titles as Jojo Rabbit, Life is Beautiful, Sophie’s Choice, The Pianist and Schindler’s List. The Wrap News Inc. is one of the leading digital-first news organizations covering the business of entertainment and media via digital, print and live events.

“This list of films is such a wonderful reminder of the power of the medium and its ability to take on even the most horrific subjects in an effort to tell these stories through the various lenses of some of the most inspiring filmmakers of our time and inject them into our popular culture. These films are a constant reminder that to let this atrocity slip into the dark corners of our memory, or social consciousness, is to leave the door open to it happening over and over and over again,” states Marc Bennett, director and co-writer, THE TATTOOED TORAH.

The film has been an official selection at over 40 film festivals around the world, winning numerous awards including Best Animated Short, Best Adaptation as well as the prestigious Cultural Heritage Award at the 2020 San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival. Bennett is also the recipient of the Best Shorts Competition Outstanding Achievement Humanitarian Award which honors filmmakers who are bringing awareness to important issues and committed to making a difference in the world through memorable filmmaking.

THE TATTOOED TORAH is presented by The Goldrich Family Foundation in association with USC Shoah Foundation. The executive producers are Melinda Goldrich, Beth Kopin and Stephen D. Smith and was produced by Lisa Effress of 11 Dollar Bill, featuring additional illustrations by Martin Lemelman and animation by Jeffrey Pittle and Christian Robins. The original score is by Daniel Alcheh and was recorded by The Bow Tie Orchestra and Choir of Moscow in Russia. It was co-written by Brett Kopin and Marc Bennett, with a story by Greg Ferkel, and directed by Marc Bennett. The film’s narrator is Ed Asner. With a run time of 21 minutes, the film is appropriate for children aged eight and above (or grade three and up).

Go to the film’s web site THE TATTOOED TORAH for additional information and to watch the trailer.

For additional information, asset requests or to set up a time to speak with the filmmakers, please contact:

Phillip Nakov
City PR, Inc.
Phillip@CityPRinc.com
(310) 849-2173

or

Neil Friedman
Menemsha Films
neilf@menemshafilms.com
(310) 452-3740