| A Letter to David | |
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 International promotional poster | |
| Hebrew | מכתב לדוד |
| Directed by | Tom Shoval |
| Written by | Tom Shoval |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | David Cunio |
| Cinematography | Yaniv Linton |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Asher Goldschmidt |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Go2Films (Israel) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 74 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Hebrew |
A Letter to David (Hebrew:מכתב לדוד,translit. Michtav Le'David) is a 2025documentary film written and directed by Tom Shoval. It is a cinematic letter toDavid Cunio, who previously starred in Shoval'sYouth (2013), and who was abducted byHamas during theOctober 7 attacks in 2023 fromNir Oz, and held hostage inGaza.
The film had its world premiere at the Berlinale Special section of the75th Berlin International Film Festival on 14 February 2025. It was theatrically released in Israel on 27 March by Go2Films. At the 36thOphir Awards, it won the Best Documentary.
The documentary unfolds as a cinematic letter from director Tom Shoval to David Cunio, an Israeli man abducted from Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023 attacks and still held in Gaza. Shoval revisits his earlier feature filmYouth (2013), in which Cunio starred as a teenager involved in a fictional kidnapping, and juxtaposes that narrative with Cunio's real‑life fate. Drawing on behind‑the‑scenes footage, audition tapes, and personal reflections, the film explores the unsettling overlap between cinema and reality. Through this framework, Shoval examines themes of memory, trauma, and the role of filmmaking in confronting war and loss.[1][2]
Cunio was released byHamas two years later, on 13 October 2025, nearly 6 months after the documentary official release in Israel.[3] Following the news, Shoval announced that he plans to give the film a new ending.[4]
Nancy Spielberg, sister ofSteven Spielberg is among the producers of the film.[5] Nancy had been visiting Israel during the October 7 attacks and was deeply affected and wanted to make a film. Through her friendJake Paltrow, she was introduced to Shoval.[5]
The documentary had its world premiere on 7 October 2025 at the75th Berlin International Film Festival, where it was screened in the Berlinale Special section.[1]
Following its Berlin debut, the film was selected for multiple international festivals, including theKarlovy Vary International Film Festival in theCzech Republic,Doc Edge inNew Zealand, and theMar del Plata International Film Festival inArgentina. It also screened at Jewish film festivals inBerlin,San Francisco,Toronto, andLondon.[6]
Jordan Mintzer ofThe Hollywood Reporter praised the film: "The haunting images of the Cunio brothers inYouth leave us to ponder David’s fate not only as an actor in a movie, but in the greater global tragedy he’s now a part of."[2]
Dr Pablo Utin, a film scholar, gave the film 4.5 out of 5 stars in hisHaaretz review, describing it as "a powerful cinematic mix of a personal letter, a philosophical essay, an activist film and a documentary."[7]
In 2025, it won theOphir Award for Best Full-length Documentary.[8]