Galisteo Media Arts Sets Karl Marx Documentary ‘American Boogeyman’ Based on Book by Andrew Hartman (EXCLUSIVE)

Galisteo Media Arts has acquired adaptation rights to the 2025 book “Karl Marx in America” by historian Andrew Hartman, and is already developing a doc based on the title: “American Boogeyman: Karl Marx in America.”

According to an official description, “‘American Boogeyman: Karl Marx in America’ will explore the enduring influence of one of America’s most debated — and least understood — intellectual figures, and the provocative contradiction: Marx’s name has long been vilified in American public life, while his ideas have helped shape the nation’s political, economic and cultural debates.” Hartman will serve as an adviser on the project and a key interview subject.

“Karl Marx is the ‘American Boogeyman,’ a shadowy figure we have effectively written out of American history, but his ideas have been woven into the fabric of American society,” said Galisteo CEO and producer Robert Rosenheck. “The eight-hour workday, federal income tax, Social Security, public schools and women’s right to vote are all results of Marx’s influence on America. At this pivotal moment in our history it’s time for us to revisit Marx to understand his philosophy and his goals. People may be surprised to learn how integral they are to the American project.”

Rosenheck and Cindy Capobianco founded the Galisteo Group in 2020 with the goal of backing projects with social and environmental impact. Recent films from the company include Tom McCarthy’s historical drama “A Statement” and Shaun Peterson’s 2024 doc “Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln.”

Galisteo Media Arts is represented by Howie Sanders of Anonymous Content and Alla Savranskaia of Greenberg Glusker LLP.