Film On Boxing Prospect Dmitriy Salita Opens Sunday

The documentary feature film “Orthodox Stance”, about Brooklyn’s Dmitriy Salita, a 25-year old immigrant from the Ukraine, who is both a top professional boxer and a rigorously observant Jew, will have its World Premieres at the Silverdocs: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival in Silver Spring, Maryland, now through Sunday, June 17, 2007.

The film is produced and directed by Brooklyn filmmaker Jason Hutt, in association with BBC Storyville and Cactus Three Films, and received finishing funds from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture’s Fund for Jewish Documentary Filmmaking.

“I couldn’t be happier to premiere the film at Silverdocs-which in just 5 years has emerged as one of the top film festivals in the world,” said Hutt. “And since I grew up down the road in Potomac, Maryland, I’m thrilled that so many friends and family members will be able to share in the excitement!”

To deal with the discomfort of immigration, Dmitriy Salita turned to boxing. To battle his fear of the ring, Dmitriy turned to God. To overcome the loss of his mother, Dmitriy dedicated himself to both.

ORTHODOX STANCE is a portrait of Dmitriy and the colorful cast of characters-trainers, rabbis, and promoters-working together to support his rare and remarkable devotion to both Orthodox Judaism and the pursuit of a professional boxing title. Dmitriy is currently undefeated after 27 professional fights as a junior welterweight (140 pounds) and is promoted by Lou Di Bella and Di Bella Entertainment.

“We are delighted to be presenting the world premiere of ORTHODOX STANCE at SILVERDOCS as a highlight of the Beyond Belief program,” said Sky Sitney, Director of Programming at SILVERDOCS. “The film stands out for the extraordinarily charismatic subject it introduces- Dmitriy Salita-and its refreshing exploration of faith and secular life.”

Hutt stressed that you don’t need to know anything about boxing to enjoy the film. “The film tells a universal story of a young man’s search for meaning in life, and because of that, audiences will be able to understand and appreciate boxing and boxers like never before.”

Storyville is the BBC’s flagship international documentary strand, commissioning and acquiring the best in feature and standard length documentaries such as Spike Lee’s When the Levee Broke and One Day in September.

Cactus Three executive produces high-end documentary films and non-fiction programming. Recent releases include Once in a Lifetime, a Miramax Films Release and Sketches of Frank Gehry directed by Sydney Pollack and released by Sony Pictures Classics.

SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival is in its 5th year and will screen over 100 films from June 12-17, just outside Washington, DC. Created through a unique alliance between the American Film Institute and the Discovery Channel, SILVERDOCS honors the creativity and passion of independent filmmakers and the power of the moving image to alter our perspective and expand our world-view.