Critically acclaimed during its multi-award-winning festival run and successful May 2019 theatrical release in the Philippines, “Quezon’s Game” will begin its U.S./Canadian theatrical rollout on January 24th.
A true story of Holocaust heroism during World War II in the Philippines by Filipino President Manuel L. Quezon—who rescued as many persecuted Jews as Oskar Schindler at a time when most countries were turning their backs—the release of “Quezon’s Game” also marks the landmark 75th anniversary on Jan. 27 of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Nazi’s most- notorious concentration camp. Once forgotten to history, the incredible tale of what just one man can accomplish when defeat isn’t an option … a miraculous feat of human triumph.

A Star Cinema/ABS-CBN Film Productions production in association with iWant and Kinetek, “Quezon’s Game” is the feature film directorial debut of Matthew Rosen (also serving as cinematographer) who has directed television, music videos and more than 700 commercials over 25 years, winning more than 50 international awards. Rosen – a British national residing in the Philippines since 1986 – and his Filipino wife, Lorena “Lori” Rosen, who co-produced the film, heard the little-known story of the film from members of the Jewish Association of the Philippines in 2009 and instantly realized they needed to retell this extraordinary and moving story on the big screen.
Based in Manila, Philippines, ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc., was founded in 1993 and is the pre-eminent Filipino film production company. It has produced more than 200 films across a variety of genres, with more than half of them exceeding $100 million at the box office and securing the top-10 spots of highest-grossing Filipino movies of all time.
Synopsis
As WWII loomed and the 1930s drew to a close, prominent Jewish businessman, cigar maker Alex Frieder (Billy Ray Gallion), implored his friend “Manny,” Filipino President Manuel L. Quezon (Raymond Bagatsing), to assist him in establishing asylum for Jewish refugees in the tropical, island country.
Willing to risk it all, it was a moral obligation the Filipino leader was determined to fulfill … despite astronomical obstacles, the Philippines struggling, U.S.-reliant economy and his own gravely failing health due to a relapse of tuberculosis.