IN OFFICIAL SELECTION “DISMAS AND GESTAS” WRITTEN BY PETER HOFFMANN

BIO:

Peter Hoffmann was born in New York City, and grew up in the borough of Queens. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from New York Medical College and trained as a resident in pathology at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. He continued his training there first as a fellow in surgical pathology and then as a junior attending pathologist specializing in breast disease. While practicing surgical pathology, he pursued original research into precancerous conditions of this organ. It was here at Columbia that he also honed his skills in optics and medical photography.

Dr. Hoffmann used these skills to direct the film, LOURDES, which won the Best Documentary Film Award at the (San Fernando) Valley International Film Festival, the Wilbur Award for Television Film from the Religion Communications Council and the Independent Family Award (Top Honors) at the International Family Film Festival in Valencia, California.

Dr. Hoffmann currently practices pathology at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, New York, and lives in Pelham, New York with his wife, Kathy, who is an attending pathologist at Columbia University.

“DISMAS and GESTAS” - A Screenplay Written by Peter HOFFMANN (USA)

Logline: (Genre Epic/Historical)

Two heinous criminals are brought to justice and crucified next to Jesus.

Synopsis:

It is the time of Jesus’ ministry, and Dismas and Gestas, two highwaymen from Samaria, murder a Carpathian family traveling to Jerusalem to offer sacrifice at the Temple. What the killers don’t know is that the two youngest children of this family see this grim spectacle from behind a rock formation and live to tell the tale. Enter Marcus Quintus, a Centurion of the Roman Legion and a scholar with letters in natural philosophy from the Library of Alexandria. Marcus teams up with the artist, Asher son of Bartholomew, who has an eye for every detail. With meticulous detective work, they track the killers’ trail. Along the way, they meet Jesus, who bonds spiritually and intellectually with Marcus and tells him that with faith alone, he will capture his prey. Despite thorough planning, that’s all it takes, and Dismas and Gestas basically capture themselves. Marcus can only wonder if he is a pawn for the Deity. The two criminals are brought before Procurator Pontius Pilate and sentenced to crucifixion. What Marcus doesn’t foresee is that Jesus will follow them. The first Easter Sunday comes and Jesus calls to Marcus. Marcus accepts his calling and finds peaceful waters.