The Future Shapes the Past:
The Hilsner Case
Steel Ant Productions Presents a True-Crime History Documentary Film by
Bryan Felber
Budoucnost utváří minulost: Kauza Hilsner
Title by Michael March
Blending true crime and history, the film investigates two mysteries. Who is the true murderer of Anežka Hrůzová? And why does Leopold Hilsner, the Jewish man wrongly accused, remain to this day legally guilty?
An American filmmaker asks how a small-town murder in 1899 Bohemia still shapes global politics today.
Watch the Trailer
The Future Shapes the Past: The Hilsner Case is a feature-length true crime historical documentary about the Czech “Hilsner affair,” in which a Jewish man was falsely accused of ritual murder in 1899 Bohemia.
The film investigates this murder mystery and asks why the Czech justice system has been reluctant to exonerate Leopold Hilsner, even as similar antisemitic myths resurface online.
About the Film
The Future Shapes the Past: The Hilsner Case
Budoucnost utváří minulost: Kauza Hilsner (Czech Title)
USA, Czech Republic, 2025, 79 minutes
Documentary, True Crime, History
English and Czech (with Czech and English subtitles)
Is a small-town murder from 1899 Bohemia still shaping global politics today?
In the town of Polná, in what is now the Czech Republic, a Jewish man named Leopold Hilsner was wrongly convicted of “ritual murder,” the medieval blood libel that falsely claimed Jews killed Christians to use their blood in Passover matzah.
The trials became a media sensation at the time and resulted in Hilsner spending 18 years in prison. But the most troubling fact is that Leopold Hilsner remains legally guilty to this day, despite more than 30 years of activism to posthumously exonerate him.
Blending true crime and history, the film investigates two mysteries. The first is who actually committed the murder. The second, and more consequential question, is why the Czech authorities are so reluctant to exonerate Hilsner, even as similar antisemitic conspiracy theories resurface online.
Upcoming Screenings
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Upcoming Screenings ·
May 31, 2026 – Virtual Screening (replay)
Q&A with Hillel Kieval and Charles Heller
September 29, 2026 – Masaryk University FF
Q&A with director
October 1, 2026 – Virtual Screening
Q&A in Czech language with cast and crew
To book a screening, please email:
tereza@steelantproductions.com
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World Premiere in Polná
SOLD-OUT
November 15th, 2025 on the 125th Anniversary of Leopold Hilsner’s second conviction.
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The Santa Clarita International Film Festival
WINNER
Winner Best Documentary Feature at the Santa Clarita International Film Festival. December 14th, 2025.
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Czech Theatre Run
JULY - NOW
The documentary film is currently screening in a number of Czech theatres. More information on our distributor page: ArtcamFilms
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Hilnser in Czech Television
COMING SOON!
In case of any questions, let us know!
Director:
Assistant/Marketing Manager:
Education
The film can currently be used as part of your school’s curriculum.
We offer a study handout to accompany the film, designed for middle and high school students.
An extensive 20-hour curriculum for Jewish studies programs at the university level is currently being prepared for the fall 2026 semester.
For licensing inquiries, please contact tereza@steelantproductions.com
Photo Credit: Karolína Fialová
V případě jakýchkoli dotazů nás kontaktujte.
Nebo napište e-mail přímo režisérovi bryan@steelantproductions.com
Get in touch if you have any questions!
Previous screenings
Předchozí promítání
March 13, 2026 - Fourth Dimension Independent Film Festival, Bali, Indonesia
March 1, 2026 - Golden State Film Festival, Los Angeles
January 27, 2026 - Kino Art, Brno (in collaboration with STETL)
January 26, 2026 – Kino Světozor, Prague
December 14, 2025 - The Santa Clarita International Film Festival, Los Angeles (Winner Best Documentary)
December 7, 2025 - Kino Polná, Czech Republic
November 15, 2025 - Kino Polná, Czech Republic
Jan Prchal
Chairman of the Polná Historical Club and the great nephew of trial witness Blandina Prchalová
Charles Heller
the grandson of Leopold Hilsner’s guardian, Siegfried Heller
Hillel Kieval
author of Blood Inscriptions: Science, Modernity, and Ritual Murder at Europe’s Fin de Sièc
Martin Šmok
author, historian, and filmmaker, Senior International Program Consultant, USC Shoah Foundation
Credits
Written, Directed, Produced, and Edited by
Bryan Felber
Cinematography Dheeraj Thakur
Production Sound Honza Vacek
Interpretation and Stills Karolína Fialová
Re-Recording Mixer Brent Kiser
Online Editor and Colorist Matthew Schwab
Subtitles and Translation Irena Křiváková
Assistant Editor/Camera Rosie Felber
Research Consultants Jan Prchal, Hillel Kieval, Martin Šmok, and Jaroslav Mareš
Lubomír Müller
the lawyer actively petitioning for Leopold Hilsner’s posthumous exoneration
Petr Vašíček
the Czech doctor and musician who has been trying to rehabilitate Hilsner since 1996
Synopsis
In 1899, in what is now the Czech Republic, a Jewish man named Leopold Hilsner was wrongly convicted of “ritual murder,” the medieval blood libel that falsely claimed Jews killed Christians to use their blood in Passover matzah. He was convicted twice on these fabricated charges.
But the most troubling fact is that Leopold Hilsner remains legally guilty of this crime to this day, despite more than 30 years of activism to posthumously exonerate him.
Blending true crime and history, the film investigates two mysteries. The first is who actually committed the murder. The second, and more consequential question, is why Czech politicians are so reluctant to legally rehabilitate Hilsner, even as the same conspiracy myths resurface online, fueling modern-day antisemitism.
© Steel Ant Productions 2026