NEW YORK, NY.- Film Forum will present the U.S. theatrical premiere of Brandon Kramer’s Holding Liat on Friday, January 9.

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 "powerful and complex...a valuable work, not least for showing us that Israel and Netanyahu are not synonymous." – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian (UK)

Holding Liat had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival where it was awarded the prize for Best Documentary and the prize of the Ecumenical Jury, and went on to screen at Tribeca Festival, the Hot Springs Documentary Festival (where it won the Critics Prize), DOC NYC, AFI Fest, and more.

"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

“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

“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

Holding Liat (2025, 97 min.) Directed by Brandon Kramer. Produced by Lance Kramer, Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, Yoni Brook, Justin A. Gonçalves. Cinematography: Yoni Brook, Omer Manor. Editor: Jeff Gilbert. Composer: Jordan Dykstra. USA. In English and Hebrew with English subtitles