The Spoils

US Premiere

Ownership, history, and morality collide in this powerful exploration of the ongoing crisis surrounding the restitution of Nazi-looted art. The Spoils delves into the global debate over the rightful ownership of art plundered during World War II, centering on the case of Max Stern, a German-Jewish art dealer expelled from Düsseldorf in 1937. After his forced liquidation, Stern became one of Canada’s most prominent art dealers, with his heirs now leading efforts in art restitution. Chronicling the Düsseldorf City Museum’s failed attempt to host an exhibition in Stern’s honor, the film presents an eye-opening account of the heated disputes with exclusive interviews and rare archival footage. The Spoils offers a gripping, poignant insight into the complex moral and legal dilemmas that continue to shape the art world today.

This special premiere event will include the attendance of director Jamie Kastner, who will introduce the film and participate in a Q&A after the screening.