HBO Films secures distribution rights to Barry Levinson boxing film “The Survivor”

The film stars Ben Foster as boxer and Auschwitz survivor Harry Haft

HBO Films announced today that they’ve acquired the North American rights to “The Survivor,” a biographical film about boxer and Holocaust survivor Harry Haft.

The film is based on a biography written by Haft’s son, Alan Haft, and tells the story of a Jewish man who was trained to box for the amusement of concentration camp guards. Harry Haft eventually escaped from Nazi captivity, and went on to a boxing career that saw him fight Rocky Marciano.

The film stars Ben Foster (Hell or High Water, 3:10 to Yuma) as Harry Haft, and was directed by Barry Levinson (Diner, Academy Award winning director of Rain Man and nominee for Bugsy). It premiered last month at the Toronto International Film Festival.

No word on any release details yet. But, the subject matter and pedigree of the talent involved would suggest an awards-friendly theatrical release during the holiday season, similar to other prestige boxing films like Million Dollar Baby, The Fighter, The Hurricane, and Ali.

An HBO executive quoted in the press release specifically mentioned HBO Max, so probably safe to assume that will be the future streaming home for the film.