Searching for Mr. Rugoff uncovers the untold story of Donald Rugoff, the eccentric visionary who turned art films into a cultural phenomenon. Through outrageous marketing, passion, and chaos, he changed how America watched movies. Former protégé Ira Deutchman retraces Rugoff’s rise and mysterious fall, revealing a brilliant yet volatile man whose impact on film history is impossible to ignore.

Rialto Recommends: Searching for Mr. Rugoff. Cinema lovers, take note, this is essential viewing. Searching for Mr. Rugoff is a witty, heartfelt exploration of the man who made art films matter. A tribute to madness, genius, and obsession, it reminds us that the people who change culture rarely play by the rules, and often burn twice as bright.