Brandon Kramer (director), Lance Kramer (producer), Liat Beinin-Atzili, Yehuda Beinin, Chaya Beinin, and Tal Beinin at the world premiere of Holding Liat. Delphi-Filmpalast, Berlin, February 16, 2025.

Michael O'Ryan © 2025

A film that is shot truly open-endedly, in the thick of it, even though – at the outset – it was impossible to predict what would happen. Liat is forcibly abducted from her kibbutz by members of Hamas on 7 October 2023 and shortly afterwards Brandon Kramer starts filming with her family. He’s right there with them, up close, as the parents Yehuda and Chaya try to deal with their fear – or to sway the fate of their adult daughter and her husband in dialogue with the authorities. As a US citizen, Yehuda flies to the USA, accompanied by Liat’s son, who is burdened by more than the public attention, and Liat’s sister, who will try to cushion Yehuda’s temper and anger. Because even within this family views are polarised: despite his pain, the father takes a critical view of Israel’s role in the Middle East conflict. He is a pacifist and will not be dissuaded from the path of reconciliation, even at the geopolitical epicentre of diplomacy and trauma. He persistently swims against the tide, takes issue with himself and everyone else and berates the Israeli government. A candid film of the hour. Insights don’t come from politics, but from Liat’s family.

"Politically potent and emotionally gripping… Brandon Kramer does an impressive job revealing the personal and geopolitical aspects of a heartbreaking true story. Kramer’s movie certainly merits attention."

Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter

"Moving… it shows the possibility of remaining human."

Robert Ide, Der Tagesspiegel

"The film... writes itself into history."

Marlene Knobloch, Die Zeit

"Its human statement is almost incomprehensible in its nobility but also in its simplicity."

Shany Littman, Haaretz

"Holding Liat is a first draft of history, yet one that is open and sensitive to the nuances of Middle Eastern history and politics."

Nick Holdsworth, Modern Times Review

Michael O'Ryan © 2025

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS

Brandon Kramer (director)

© Lou Aguilar

About Brandon Kramer (director)

Brandon Kramer is a Washington, DC-based filmmaker and co-founder of Meridian Hill Pictures. Brandon directed THE FIRST STEP (Tribeca, AFI DOCS); CITY OF TREES (Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, national broadcast on PBS, Netflix); and the Webby Award-winning independent documentary series THE MESSY TRUTH. He won Best Director at the 2016 Chesapeake Film Festival and Indie Capital Awards, received the Audience Choice Award at the 2015 American Conservation Film Festival and was a 2015 DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities Individual Arts Fellow. He has directed over 30 short documentaries commissioned by public agencies and nonprofits including AARP and US Institute of Peace.

About Darren Aronofsky (producer)

Darren Aronofsky is an Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker. Darren Aronofsky was born and raised in Brooklyn. Aronofsky heads Protozoa Pictures based in Chinatown NYC. His credits include π, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, THE FOUNTAIN, THE WRESTLER, BLACK SWAN, NOAH, mother! and THE WHALE. As a producer he is responsible for JACKIE, ONE STRANGE ROCK, SOME KIND OF HEAVEN, PACIFIED, CATCH THE FAIR ONE, WELCOME TO EARTH, THE GOOD NURSE, KINDRED, LIMITLESS WITH CHRIS HEMSWORTH, and THE TERRITORY. Most recently, he directed POSTCARD FROM EARTH for the MSG SPHERE. 

About Yoni Brook (producer, director of photography)

Yoni Brook is a Peabody Award winning filmmaker whose films have screened at Sundance, Berlinale, and the New York and Toronto Film Festivals. Credits as a producer include the docuseries PHILLY D.A. (PBS/Topic, Peabody Winner, duPont-Columbia Award Winner, Gotham Award Winner), MENASHE (Sundance, A24, Film Independent Spirit Nominee), BRONX PRINCESS (True/False, PBS POV), THE CALLING (PBS Independent Lens), and A SON’S SACRIFICE (Tribeca Film Festival Best Documentary Short, IDA’s Best Documentary Short, PBS Independent Lens) and as a cinematographer, 32 SOUNDS, (Sundance, Oscar Shortlist), A STRAY (SXSW), and VALLEY OF SAINTS (Film Independent Spirit Nominee, Sundance World Dramatic Audience Award Winner).