A new documentary exploring the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel is drawing attention across the Pacific Northwest, including among Jewish communities in Southwest Washington. According to reporting by Oregon Public Broadcasting, the film “Holding Liat” follows the family of Liat Beinin Atzili, who was kidnapped along with her husband, Aviv Atzili, from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas attacks.

Producers interviewed members of Beinin Atzili’s extended family, some of whom live in Portland, as they navigated the immediate aftermath of the kidnapping and the months that followed. In the OPB interview, producer Lance Kramer and Liat’s uncle, Joel Beinin, discussed the family’s efforts to advocate for her release while managing differing perspectives on the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

While the documentary centers on one family’s experience, the topic has resonance in Southwest Washington, where regional ties, faith communities, and local civic groups have followed hostage‑release negotiations closely since late 2023. Public records from local synagogues and community organizations show a range of vigils, educational events, and discussion forums held in Longview and Vancouver in the months after the attacks, reflecting ongoing regional engagement with the crisis and the experiences of families abroad.

“Holding Liat” was produced by Meridian Hill Pictures. The documentary’s official page, available at Meridian Hill Pictures, provides background on the production and information from the family about the continuing impacts of the kidnapping.

As of February 24, 2026, no formal screening has been announced in Cowlitz County, but regional venues often book Northwest‑produced documentaries following their initial release. Local cultural organizations in Longview and Kelso have not publicly scheduled viewings, according to their most recently published calendars. If a screening is scheduled, it would likely appear first through the organizers’ public event listings.

The issues raised in the film continue to intersect with community conversations across the I‑5 corridor, particularly discussions involving international crises, family separation, and civic responses to global events.

Why this matters

The experiences depicted in “Holding Liat” are international in scope, but they reflect themes familiar to local audiences: how families absorb trauma, how communities respond to conflict, and how global events reach into everyday life in Southwest Washington. The documentary’s Northwest connections make it relevant to residents who have followed hostage‑release negotiations or participated in community events addressing the October 7 attacks.