iMordecai World Premiere set for Opening Night of the 25th Miami Jewish Film Festival
Special guests include Actors Judd Hirsch, Azia Dinea Hale, and writer/director Marvin Samel
Miami, FL (January 11, 2022) -- iMordecai, a heartwarming comedy filmed in Miami, makes its World Premiere on Thursday, January 13, 2022, as the opening night film of the Miami Jewish Film Festival. The Festival, the largest of its kind in the world, is also marking its 25th year milestone.
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| Azia Dinea Hale ("Nina") and Judd Hirsch ("Mordecai") in a scene from iMordecai |
In attendance will be iMordecai writer/director Marvin Samel, and stars of the film including: Academy Award-nominated and two-time Emmy-winning actor Judd Hirsch (Taxi, Ordinary People, Independence Day), and rising star Azia Dinea Hale (F9: The Fast Saga) in her breakthrough leading role. Showtime is 7:30pm at the historic oceanfront North Beach Bandshell open-air amphitheater. The world premiere will be followed by an extended Q&A.
To cigar enthusiasts who remember the Cigar Boom 90s, Samel was the co-founder of Drew Estate Cigars which he and former partner, Jonathan Drew, launched in 1996. Based in Esteli, Nicaragua, Drew Estate developed a massive following with brands that include ACID, Liga Privada, and Herrera Esteli to name a few. In 2014 Drew and Samel sold the company to Swisher International, and today Drew Estate remains one of the cigar industry's most influential cigar brands. Drew returned to the company in 2017, while Samel—inspired by the whimsical misadventures and charm of his father—got the kernel of an idea for a movie and started working on a treatment.
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| Hirsch and Samel kibbitzing between takes on the set of iMordecai |
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| The real-life Mordecai Samel (seated) on set with his son Marvin |
Based on a true story and inspired by a critical chapter in the life of the Samel family, iMordecai centers around the patriarch, Mordecai Samel (Hirsch), a Holocaust Survivor from Poland living at the Point East retirement community in Aventura with his wife Fela (Kane), also a survivor from Poland. Their son Marvin (Astin) is an ambitious cigar maker teetering on insolvency while trying to sell his company. When his father’s ancient flip phone breaks, Mordecai takes lessons from Nina (Hale), the young sales assistant at a local electronics store, to tutor Mordecai on his new iPhone. Their relationship opens Mordecai to a world of new experiences and adventures, making him feel like a kid again. This uplifting comedy and love letter to the city of Miami urges us all to live the one life we have to the fullest.
At press time, tickets for the iMordecai premiere were sold out, but the Festival program runs through January 27th. For all program information visit: miamijewishfilmfestival.org
Venue location: North Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141
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