''Counterfeiters'' is a 2017 American

action film Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...

, directed, produced, written by, and starring Bryce Hirschberg. ''Counterfeiters'' (based on his short film by the same name), tells the story of a young man, Bridger, who creates a "do-it-yourself" method of counterfeiting money to save his dying mother. It is notable for being filmed almost entirely on a boat in

Marina del Rey, California Marina del Rey (Spanish for "Marina of the King") is an unincorporated seaside community in Los Angeles County, California, with an eponymous harbor that is a major boating and water recreation destination of the greater Los Angeles area. The p ...

on a shoe-string budget.

Plot

Recent college graduate and hard-working kid, Bridger ( Bryce Hirschberg), receives heartbreaking news that his mother has cancer. Strapped for cash, he needs to make more money than his day job pays to provide his mother with treatment. As fate would have it, he finds a half bleached dollar bill in his pocket after pulling his clothes out of the wash. This spurs an idea on how to 'make' a ton of money. BUT he would only focus on counterfeiting 'small' bills, 5s, 10s, 20s, because 'who checks a $10?'. After bringing his close friends in on the scheme, they begin to abuse the process, which puts Bridger, and his mother, at risk. And a sting involving one of his best friends turns deadly.

Cast

* Bryce Hirschberg as Bridger * Robert McEveety as Rob * Taylor Lookwood as Preston * Noel Castellanos as Jose * Shawn Rolph as Jimmy * Bridget Avildsen as Genise * Nick Huebner as Alvin * Peyton Pritchard as Amber

Release

The film was completed in July 2017 and had its world premiere at the

Action On Film International Film Festival The Action On Film International Film Festival, also known as the Action On Film Festival, was founded in 2004. It was held in California until 2017 when it moved to the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. As a hub for many returning filmmakers ...

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at the Brenden Theatre in the

Palms Casino Resort Palms Casino Resort is a hotel and casino located near the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. It is owned and operated by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. It includes 703 rooms and a casino. It was originally owned by th ...

. It has since been screened at several major film festivals around the world including; the Wolves Independent International Film Festival (

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), Miami Independent Film Festival (

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), Wales International Film Festival (

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

), Marina del Rey Film Festival (United States), Oniros Film Awards (

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), and Filmchella (United States). The film was released on

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and

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on February 6, 2018, before being released theatrically in a

limited release __FORCETOC__ Limited theatrical release is a film distribution strategy of releasing a new film in a few theaters across a country, typically art house theaters in major metropolitan markets. Since 1994, a limited theatrical release in the Unite ...

on June 15, 2018.

Reception

''Counterfeiters'' received positive reviews from critics. On

review aggregator A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews of products and services (such as films, books, video games, software, hardware, and cars). This system stores the reviews and uses them for purposes such as supporting a website where users ...

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, the film holds an approval rating of 67% based on 6 reviews. Alex Arabian of ''Film Inquiry'' praised Hirschberg, "This is the work of a talented filmmaker just beginning his creative endeavors in the industry. By combining realism with some of his favorite cinematic influences, maximizing an impressively minimal budget, and embracing the art of collaboration, Hirschberg makes a commendable film debut with Counterfeiters." Katie Walsh of the

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commented, "...the ambition and moments of inspired style are obe lauded."

Awards

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 6710772, Counterfeiters 2017 films American action films Counterfeit money in film 2017 action films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films