| Holding Liat | |
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 Promotional film poster | |
| Directed by | Brandon Kramer |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography |
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| Edited by | Jeff Gilbert |
| Music by | Jordan Dykstra |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Meridian Hill Pictures |
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Running time | 97 minutes[3] |
| Country | United States |
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| Box office | $44,278[4] |
Holding Liat is a 2025 Americandocumentary film, directed by Brandon Kramer. Produced byDarren Aronofsky under hisProtozoa Pictures banner. It followsLiat Beinin Atzili family reaction after she and her husband were kidnapped from their home in akibbutz nearGaza border during theOctober 7 attacks.[5]
The film had its world premiere at the Forum section of the75th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, 2025, where it won the Berlinale Documentary Film Award.
During theOctober 7 attacks Liat Beinin Atzili and her husband Aviv Atzili were kidnapped from their home in akibbutz near the border. Liat parents, Yehuda and Chaya Beinin, deal with the fear of their daughter's fate. Alongside many other relatives dissatisfied withBenjamin Netanyahu's government disregard of the hostages, Yehuda intensifies his public campaign against theGaza war, and the inevitability of casualties among the hostages.
Yehuda travels alongside Tal, his youngest daughter, to the United States hoping to gather support against the Israeli government inaction, yet he finds thatAmerican politicians unconditional support for Israel is also reflected upon Netanyahu. In Portland, ceasefire demonstrations take place and American academic and historianJoel Beinin, Yehuda's brother, gives a lecture about theNakba. Through video chat, the brothers' old disagreement over the basic principles of thestate of Israel is revealed, as Joel argues that the Kibbutzniks' original socialist ideals were coopted by a colonialist agenda.
Blood found in the Kibbutz is confirmed to be from Aviv, but the IDF still don't know the whereabouts of his body. The kibbutz members mourns their losses, but a feeling of outrage still grips Israeli society. As thefirst ceasefire is announced, relatives await the final list of released hostages. Tal express her dissatisfaction with the Israeli and American position in a public meeting about the ceasefire. Liat is ultimately released by Hamas. Yehuda and Chaya receive a call from American President Joe Biden, to whom they express gratitude.
Liat reunites with her parents at the hospital, whereupon she realizes something bad must have happened to Aviv. At his funeral, Liat gives a speech and the family dance in his memory. Returning to her kibbutz, she watches through TV the ceasefire demonstrations inTel Aviv. Three months later, in a Holocaust memorial, Liat talks about the ongoing war and the Palestinian lives on the "other side of the fence".
Brandon Kramer, a distant relative, began documenting following the kidnapping of Liat Beinin Atzili, as her father Yehuda Beinin traveled to the United States to advocate for her release.[6] Production additionally took place in Israel, as Beinin reached out to more people to help, expressing disdain for the Israeli government.[7][8]
The film had its World Premiere at the75th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, 2025, where it won the Berlinale Documentary Film Award.[9][10] Soon after, it had its North American Premiere atTribeca Festival on June 9, 2025.[11][12]
The film was first released theatrically by MetFilm in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2025. It is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States in January 2026, beginning with New York'sFilm Forum.[13][14][15] In Israel, the theatrical run will be coordinated by Rotem Heyman followed by a television premiere onYes.[15]
On review aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a 95% rating based on 22 critics' reviews.[16]
| Award | Date | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
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| Berlin International Film Festival | February 22, 2025 | Berlinale Documentary Film Award | Holding Liat | Won | [17] |
| Hamptons International Film Festival | November 7, 2025 | Brizzola Family Foundation Award for Films of Conflict & Resoltuion | Won | [18] |
