JWM Productions Blog BESA AROUND THE WORLD

BESA: The Promise is the never-before-told story of how the small European country of Albania opened its borders to shelter Jewish refugees during WWII, even as it endured a brutal Nazi occupation. It's witnessed through the prism of two men joined together in a remarkable and unexpected quest: Norman H. Gershman, a renowned Jewish-American photographer determined to record the bravery and compassion of the Albanians; and Rexhep Hoxha, a Muslim-Albanian toy shop owner who sets out to return three precious books to the last surviving member of the Jewish family his father sheltered sixty years before. When these two men meet, an extraordinary and utterly unexpected personal drama is set in motion - one that bridges generations and religions...uniting fathers and sons...Muslims and Jews.Since its release, BESA has been shown at more than a hundred festivals, religious centers and schools in thirteen countries around the world. In 2016 alone, it has been screened more than two dozen times. Indonesia's first Jewish film festival made it part of their opening lineup; the Center for Religious Dialogue held a screening and discussion in Stockholm, Sweden; and the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program teamed up with Harvard Hillel and the Center for Jewish Studies to host a screening and discussion at Harvard University.In 2017, we are more committed than ever to combating Islamophobia, promoting interfaith understanding and spreading the message of besa.For more information about the film and to see if there's a screening in your area, visit the film's website. If you would like to host a screening, email besa@jwmprods.com.