Darren Aronofsky is supporting the documentation of the Israel-Palestine conflict: The auteur produces award-winning feature “Holding Liat,” directed by Brandon Kramer. “Holding Liat” tells the story of Liat Beinin-Atzili, an Israeli-American woman who was taken hostage by Hamas alongside her husband Aviv on October 7, 2023. Liat and Aviv have been held captive in Gaza with 250 other people, 12 of whom, like Liat, are American citizens.
The film details how Liat’s parents, sister, and children had to navigate the American political landscape to try to get her released. The official synopsis reads: “Caught between international diplomacy and a rapidly escalating war, their family must face their own uncertainty and conflicting perspectives in the pursuit of Liat and Aviv’s release. This agonizing process, and the ultimate fate of their loved ones, challenges how the members of the family understand themselves and their place in the conflict.
Through the intimate lens of a family’s experience, ‘Holding Liat’ poses complex questions of identity across generations, as the family is thrust into the epicenter of a global conflict rapidly unfolding in real-time.”
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“Holding Liat” is an independent production of Aronofsky’s Protozoa and Meridian Hill Pictures. The film was a Berlinale documentary award winner and will make its North American premiere at Tribeca 2025. Liat and her family will attend Tribeca screenings and answer audiences questions during the festival.
Director Kramer is actually related to Liat, and knew he had to tell her story onscreen. “This film represents the greatest challenge of my career: it’s a deeply personal chronicle of my extended family’s intimate experiences, set against the larger Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to impact so many people’s lives,” Kramer told IndieWire. “Our team carefully considered the film’s rollout, which kicked off with sold-out screenings at the Berlinale – where it was recognized with the Documentary Film Award – and subsequent international premieres in Hong Kong, Brazil, Croatia, Poland, and Israel.”
Kramer continued, “As American filmmakers, with a film largely shot in the U.S., the North American premiere is a significant opportunity to reach audiences who are yearning for humane and nuanced storytelling, especially around the complex issues explored in the film. After premiering our last film ‘The First Step’ at Tribeca in 2021, it’s an honor to return this year with ‘Holding Liat.’ We are deeply grateful to Tribeca and our subsequent hometown premiere at DC/DOX for bringing this story to American audiences in a moment that feels more urgent than ever.”
In a director’s statement, Kramer cited how the international conflict is still sadly enduring. “More than a year after October 7, lives are still imperiled: with hostages still held, tens of thousands of Palestinians killed, and people across the region suffering,” he said. “Our conversations about all these issues have only become more polarized, even within communities and families. By telling an intimate story of one directly impacted family, and the way they navigated differences amongst each other, we hope to open up new possibilities for understanding this conflict, and contribute to an end to the unrelenting violence in the region. We are keenly aware that this film is just one family’s story out of countless others, and that many important stories may tragically never be told. We hope through the family’s resilience and openness, alongside other Israeli and Palestinian films that seek to broaden understanding, audiences will find room to ask deeper questions that help mark a path toward healing and reconciliation.”
“Holding Liat” is produced by Aronofsky, Justin A. Gonçalves, Lance Kramer, Ari Handel, and Yoni Brook. Aronofsky also has his “Underland” nature documentary, directed by Robert Petit, at Tribeca.
“Holding Liat” will have its North American premiere at Tribeca 2025 as a sales title. Check out a sneak peek below.
