On the heels of a star-studded world premiere on Sept. 21 at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, director Sean McNamara’s historical drama “Bau, Artist at War,” starring Emile Hirsch (“Into The Wild,” “Milk,” “Lone Survivor,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) and Inbar Lavi (“Lucifer,” “Imposters”) is having its theatrical release by ShowBiz Direct in the United States and Canada on Sept. 26.
At the premiere, McNamara was joined by Emile Hirsch; Yan Tual; Adam Tsekhman; composer John Coda; ShowBiz Direct CEO Kevin Mitchell; Joseph and Rebecca Bau’s daughters, Clila and Hadasa Bau; and many of the film’s producers, cast members and crew, along with actor Jon Voight and other celebrities, industry VIPs and media.
“The response at the premiere was nothing short of extraordinary. To see audiences moved to tears, to have them be inspired and to connect so deeply with Joseph and Rebecca’s journey was profoundly rewarding,” recounted McNamara. “That outpouring of emotion gives us great optimism as the film expands nationwide, where we believe audiences everywhere will embrace this story of resilience, love and the human spirit.”
“Bau, Artist at War” stars Hirsch as real-life Holocaust survivor and artist Joseph Bau, and is distributed by ShowBiz Direct and Republic Pictures.
The story of survival and love depicts how Bau used his creativity and skills as a forger to help fellow prisoners survive Nazi concentration camps. Despite facing unimaginable adversity, he finds hope and love with fellow prisoner Rebecca (Inbar Lavi).
The film’s ensemble cast also includes Yan Tual (“Outlander”), Adam Tsekhman (“Legends of Tomorrow”) and Josh Zuckerman (“School Spirits,” “90210”). Edward Foy, Chris Cope, Josh Blacker, Eugene Lipinski, Dalias Blake, Pam Kearns and Tori Griffith round out the cast.
McNamara, known for “Soul Surfer” and “Reagan,” directed the film that was based on a script by Deborah Smerecnik, Ron Bass and Sonia Kifferstein. Executive producers are James Truchard, Kelly Tate, Bruce D. Johnson, Lawrence Mortorff, Jeff Hays, Charles Cooper, Allen Lewis, Robert Murdoch, Matthew Helderman, Thomas Mann, Luke Taylor and Kevin Mitchell.
Producers include McNamara, Smerecnik, David Brookwell, Marc Griffith and Michelle P. Griffith. Toni Farina is a co-producer.
All showtimes can be found on the film’s official website’s homepage: BAU Artist at War | Official Website | Sept. 26, 2025
Official Trailer
For more information, visit: www.baumovie.com
Republic Pictures, originally founded in 1935, is an acquisition-only label under Paramount Pictures, revitalized in 2023. The label leverages Paramount Global’s vast worldwide distribution channels, across home entertainment, streaming, television and other platforms, to distribute a wide range of acquired films. Republic Pictures’ recent acquisition titles include the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award-Winner Twinless (Sundance, 2025), Golden Globe® and Academy Award® nominated September 5 (Venice 2024, Telluride 2024), Emmy® and GRAMMY® Award nominated and Producers Guild Award winner The Greatest Night in Pop, NAACP Image Awards nominated Rob Peace (Sundance, 2024) and the upcoming dark comedy, Bad Apples, starring Saoirse Ronan. Additional titles include Blackberry (Berlin 2023), Self Reliance (SXSW 2023), William Friedkin’s final film The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Venice 2023), Edward Burns’ Millers In Marriage (TIFF, 2024) and The End We Start From (TIFF, 2023).
