Holding Liat

On the morning of October 7, 2023, Israeli-American Liat Atzili and her husband Aviv were at home when Hamas attacked their kibbutz. By nightfall, Liat and Aviv are captives in Gaza along with 250 other people - 12 of whom, like Liat, are American citizens.

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.

An independent production of Protozoa (BLACK SWAN) and Meridian Hill Pictures (THE FIRST STEP).

“Emotionally rich, politically thought-provoking… intimate, empathetic… This timely film should find receptive audiences everywhere, and help bring nuance and understanding to a continuing crisis. This profoundly revealing documentary is structured and edited in such a way as to emphasise narrative clarity and the emotional content of its family portraiture.”
Jonathan Romney - Screen International (UK)

“Politically potent and emotionally gripping… a lucid portrait… 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 (US)

“Moving… it shows the possibility of remaining human.”
Robert Ide - Die Tagesspiegel (Germany)

Brandon Kramer is a Washington, DC-based filmmaker and co-founder of Meridian Hill Pictures. Brandon directed HOLDING LIAT, which was shortlisted for the 2026 Academy Awards, won Best Documentary at the Berlin International Film Festival, was selected for the Winner’s Circle at DOC NYC, and was broadcast on BBC Storyville. He also directed THE FIRST STEP, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival; CITY OF TREES, which was distributed by PBS and Netflix; and the Webby Award-winning documentary series THE MESSY TRUTH, which aired on CNN. Brandon’s work has been supported by the Sundance Institute, Film Independent, Jewish Story Partners and the National Endowment for the Arts. Brandon is a recipient of the Visionary Award from the Sitar Arts Center, and holds a bachelor’s degree in film and cultural anthropology from Boston University.