An historical whodunit with the promise of buried treasure, THE STAMP THIEF is an entertainingly unique Holocaust-related documentary. Gary Gilbert, a screenwriter and producer on “Seinfeld,” stumbles upon the story of a zinc suitcase full of priceless stamps stolen from Jewish prisoners in Auschwitz by a Nazi guard who supposedly buried it in a Polish basement before the Soviets liberated the city. Is it true?
Since Poland does not return stolen Nazi treasure to its original owners, Gilbert and a gang of US film-industry creatives, inspired by the film ARGO, set up a false film production team in the house where the loot is supposedly buried and pretend to be making a documentary to hide their efforts to unearth the suitcase. The film’s reenactments and narrative arc chase the circumstantial evidence, convincing the crew there may be a shred of truth to the fantastic story.
Part detective story, part heist film, THE STAMP THIEF chronicles a small but powerful act of historical reckoning, delivered with a sly wink. Filled with unexpected complications, goofy characters and a labyrinth of twists, it challenges the wrongs of Holocaust history through an artifice of make-believe. From the award-winning filmmaker of FOUR WINTERS (SJFF 2023).
Director Bio: View on IMDB
Dan Sturman is a Los Angeles-based director, writer and producer renowned for his Emmy-, Peabody- and Academy Award-winning documentary films, as well as a background as an investigative journalist. Beginning his career under the mentorship of legendary filmmaker Charles Guggenheim, Sturman has since filmed a diverse array of subjects, from rock stars to war criminals. His notable works include these award-winning documentaries: NANKING (2007), SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION (2009) and FOUR WINTERS (SJFF 2023).
Happy Hour: Wine/beer/noshes for sale in the J Cafe before the film.
Sponsors: Jessica Prince and David Wilborn, Sue and Bob Solomon
