| The Children of October 7 | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Asaf Becker |
| Starring | Montana Tucker |
| Country of origin | Israel |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers | Eytan Schwartz, Meny Aviram, Mor Tregger, Zameret Alexaneroni, Jonathan Barsade and Rotem Alima[1] |
| Cinematography | Sasha Gavrikov |
| Editor | Yotam Katzor |
| Running time | 35 minutes |
| Production company | Kastina Communications[2] |
| Original release | |
| Network | Paramount Plus,MTV |
| Release | April 23, 2025 (2025-04-23) |
The Children of October 7 is a 2024 Israeli documentary film in which dancer and activistMontana Tucker interviews seven of the young victims of theOctober 7 attacks.[3]
The film opens withKfir Bibas, the babyHamas kidnapped on October 7 and subsequently killed, laughing.[4] After a trigger warning, it continues with footage of the attacks juxtaposed with personal photos.[4] Among the victims interviewed isEitan Yahalomi, who was abducted by Hamas and released in the2023 exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. He describes being kidnapped on a motorcycle, beaten by a mob, and forced at gunpoint to watch videos of the terrorists killing people.[5]
Also interviewed areRotem Mathias, who was saved from being taken hostage by hiding under his mother's dead body; Alona Rousso and Yella Rousso, fromKfar Aza; and Ella Shani ofKibbutz Be'eri.
Amit Cohen ofNir Oz recounts that the same bullet that passed through his father's leg hit his dog.[5]
11-year-old Yael Idan, who saw her sister killed andher father taken hostage from KibbutzNahal Oz,[6] describes the events while the film shows footage from a video that Hamas members livestreamed on Facebook.[5]
The children's ages range from 11 to 17.[7]
Tucker, the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, was approached by an Israeli film company years after Tucker's work on a Holocaust docuseries.[6] Tucker was aware ofHolocaust denial and wanted to contribute to the historical record to counterOctober 7 denial.[8] She compared the two scenarios by noting the children lost "their families, their homes, and their innocence in a single morning".[9] Asaf Becker produced the film. A psychologist was on set at all times.[5]
After Tucker and CBS vice president of communications Andrea Ballas met at an event, Ballas brought the film toShari Redstone's attention.[10] Redstone noted her interest in informing and educating the public about the horrors of the October 7 attack on Israel and the "aftermath for thousands of children who will forever suffer from the impact of that day".[11] The film was picked up byParamount+, where it premiered on April 23, 2025, followed by an airing onMTV.[12]
On December 2, 2024, the documentary premiered at theMuseum of Tolerance in Jerusalem and was attended byIsrael's PresidentIsaac Herzog and First LadyMichal Herzog.[13][14] The US premiere at thePaley Center for Media in April 2025 was attended byJason Isaacs and Emma Hewitt,Gloria Gaynor,Nancy Spielberg,Elie Honig, andNoa Argamani.[10] Danielle Solzman called the film "essential viewing".[15]
