Film Forum

Shortlisted for the 2026 Academy Award® for Documentary Feature Film

WINNER, BEST DOCUMENTARY, 2025 BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL
 
In October 2023, two weeks after Israeli-American teacher Liat Atzili and her husband Aviv were kidnapped from their kibbutz in southern Israel by Hamas forces, filmmaker Brandon Kramer, a relative, follows the experiences of Liat's family, providing an intimate and real-time portrait of their conflicting views, emotions, and strategies to secure their release. Disappointed and angered by Israel's response to the attacks, Liat's father, Yehuda, lobbies members of Congress to prioritize the release of the hostages, criticizes Netanyahu, and advocates for a peaceful reconciliation with Palestinians; Netta, Liat's son (who narrowly escaped an attack), expresses anger toward Hamas and anti-war protestors; and Liat's mother Chaya and younger sister Tal both clash with Yehuda and want politics left out of the equation. Balancing compassion for the family with varying opinions about the objectives of the current leadership in Israel and the USA, HOLDING LIAT is “a valuable work, not least for showing us that Israel and Netanyahu are not synonymous. ” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian (UK)

Presented with support from The Joan S. Constantiner Fund for Jewish and Holocaust Films, donated by Leon Constantiner and Family

2025     97 MIN.     USA     IN ENGLISH AND HEBREW WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES  

Trailer

Reviews

“PROFOUNDLY REVEALING... An emotionally rich, politically thought-provoking account of one Israeli-American family’s ordeal in the wake of the October 7 attacks by Hamas. Shot primarily in the weeks following the abduction of two family members, Brandon Kramer’s film offers intimate, empathetic insight into the impact of the attacks on the Beinin family.”
– Jonathan Romney, Screen International

“POWERFUL AND COMPLEX... Complicates any simple view of the Israel-Gaza war in its portrait of one family’s agonising divisions.”
– Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

“Politically potent and emotionally gripping... Brandon Kramer does an impressive job revealing the personal and geopolitical aspects of a heartbreaking true story.”
– Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter

“Despite what has happened, Yehuda remains steadfast in his convictions and directs most of his criticism at Netanyahu and the humanitarian crisis he created... HOLDING LIAT is, throughout, a moving testament to the human spirit and the beauty of consistent humanitarian values. It is possible to suffer tragedy and retain one’s core beliefs.”
– Christopher Reed, Hammer to Nail