In his groundbreaking film,Torn,

Israeli-American filmmaker Nim Shapira delves into the controversy surrounding the 'KIDNAPPED' poster campaign in New York City following October 7th—a grassroots effort to raise awareness about the 240 hostages taken by Hamas. These posters quickly became polarizing symbols, sparking intense clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine activists and turning the city’s streets into ideological and emotional battlegrounds.

Through rare, intimate glimpses into the lives of hostage families, Torn examines the motivations of activists putting up and tearing down the posters, unraveling the complexities of this intense 'paper-arm' proxy war, fought thousands of miles from the actual conflict. With an urgent and raw approach, Shapira's compelling debut unravels the complexities of a conflict fought across continents, revealing the emotional depth behind every poster.

About the Filmmaker and Speaker

Nim Shapira is an award-winning Brooklyn based filmmaker. His work has been featured at Tribeca, Venice and Cannes and he had the honor of being a research fellow at MIT’s Open Documentary Lab. Torn is his first feature documentary which he wrote, produced and directed.