Raised in a strict Orthodox home, Amos Dov Silver has visions of grandeur. He might have been a rabbi, but he rejects religion, becomes a patriotic soldier and dreams of being prime minister. After witnessing terrible acts of violence, he self-medicates with cannabis. Seeing an opportunity to spread his new Torah to an entire generation steeped in PTSD, he establishes an online community, the drug-dealing mobile app Telegrass that turns into the largest marketplace for drugs in Israel. For thousands of Israelis, Silver is their “green messiah”, for others an enemy of the state. Now, arrested in a global sting operation, facing the biggest cyber trial in Israeli history, accusations of corruption and greed call his character into question. Through exclusive footage of Silver and trippy hand-painted animation, a complex portrayal of the man charged with heading a crime organization emerges. Is he a folk hero guru, champion of the people, brilliant activist or a lost soul corrupted by power?
California Premiere
Dan Shadur is a documentary filmmaker, producer and writer. His documentaries (among them are King Bibi and Before the Revolution) confront sensitive political and social issues with an innovative and personal approach. His work featured on PBS, Arte, ZDF, BBC, Canal+.doc and other international broadcasters, as well as dozens of international film festivals including Hotdocs, Docaviv and Warsaw int'l FF.
Co-sponsored by Ronnie Fuchs and Samuel Rabison and by Victoria Stone and Michael Freeman