The eye-opening documentary The Cure for Hate: Bearing Witness to Auschwitz follows Tony McAleer, a former Neo-Nazi and Holocaust denier, who went on to become a founding member of the anti-hate activist group Life After Hate.

Directed by filmmaker Peter Hutchison (“Healing From Hate”, “Devil Put the Coal in the Ground”, “Requiem For the American Dream”), the film will hold its World Premiere at Pittsburgh’s 30th annual JFilm Festival on April 25.

“The City of Pittsburgh stands as a testament to the resilience of community in the face of horrific acts of violent extremism, and I can think of no more appropriate city to launch our film & educational campaign”, said Hutchison. “The Cure For Hate brings the all-important lessons of the Holocaust into the present as living history – as a means to inoculate against such senseless violence, and provide the seeds for change.”

In the Jewish tradition, tshuvah means “return”, and describes the return to God and our fellow human beings that is made possible through repentance for our wrongs.

The Cure for Hate: Bearing Witness to Auschwitz follows Tony McAleer, a former Neo-Nazi and Holocaust denier, who went on to become a founding member of the anti-hate activist group Life After Hate. Profoundly aware and deeply ashamed of the lineage of hate he’d once promoted, Tony had long-contemplated traveling to Auschwitz in the spirit of tshuvah – to bear witness to the inconceivable ravages of the Holocaust, and deepen his personal work against the rise of extremist politics.

This project documents his profoundly personal journey of atonement to Auschwitz/Birkenau – exploring the conditions that allowed for the rise of fascism in 1930s Europe; shedding a unique light upon how men get into, and out of, violent extremist groups; and serving as a cautionary tale for our time that underscores the dangers in allowing hate to be left unchecked.

“Knowing Pittsburgh is ground zero for tragic events like Tree of Life makes it the perfect place to launch our film and curriculum for Tikkum Olam – repairing the world”, said McAleer.

Thanks to a grant from The Center for Prevention Programs & Partnerships “Targeted Violence & Terrorism Prevention Program”, The Cure for Hate: Bearing Witness to Auschwitz aims to use the film and the lived experiences of author and subject Tony McAleer to counter the rising tide of intolerance and violent extremism. The impact program was created to engage vulnerable youth and select communities and –through the use of experiential learning exercises and the exploration of history – enhance resilience to indoctrination & radicalization.

“In this time of rising anti-Semitism, this film serves as both a memory and a warning of what hate can lead to if left unchecked”, said McAleer.

The screening at JFilm Festival will be accompanied by a post-film Q&A with documentary subject Tony McAleer, filmmaker Peter Hutchison (“Healing From Hate”, “Devil Put the Coal in the Ground”, “Requiem For the American Dream”), and the president of the Eradicate Hate Global Summit, Charles H. Moellenberg, Jr., marking the first stop in an extensive screening tour targeting secondary schools & select communities across the country.

Watch the trailer for The Cure for Hate: Bearing Witness to Auschwitz.