This program originally aired online via Zoom on Thursday, December 18th at 12:30pm Eastern.
Julie Salamon, New York Times best-selling author and journalist sat down with Brandon and Lance Kramer, the filmmakers behind the Oscar-shortlisted documentary, Holding Liat. The brothers are co-founders of Meridian Hill Pictures, a Washington D.C. – based production company. Brandon and Lance Kramer have extended family in Israel, and once learning that one of their relatives had been captured by Hamas during the October 7th attacks, they began to document the experience of their family members. The Kramer brothers carefully worked to ethically capture the many perspectives, feelings, and events surrounding the kidnapping and eventual release of Liat. Their familial relationship allowed them access to private spaces and moments, but not without the express permission and consent of those involved. Brandon and Lance were hopeful that they could use the camera to invite conversations across lives of difference, and that it would inspire and serve as a pathway for others to communicate. With the completion of the film the brothers are hopeful that it will inspire healing and reconciliation. Holding Liat has been screened at film festivals all over the world and won the Berlinale Documentary Award.
Topics covered in this discussion:
- The Kramer brothers process and style of documentary filmmaking; prioritizing ethical consent while also confronting fear with compassion.
- The impact of October 7th Hamas attacks on the Beinin and Atzili family.
- The power of film to bring communities together and its ability to platform the feelings that many may be experiencing but not seeing in the current culture or media.
- The Kramer brothers Jewish identity and values.
