BERLIN — The Berlin Film Festival premiered A Letter to David, a documentary by Israeli filmmaker Tom Shoval, about an Israeli hostage held by Hamas. The film honors David Cunio, who was kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on the Nir Oz kibbutz and remains in captivity.

Shoval, who previously featured David and his twin brother Eitan in his 2013 film Youth, combines footage from Youth with new interviews and personal insights from Cunio's family, including his mother, wife Sharon, and Eitan. The film highlights David’s humanity, emphasizing his role as a family man and actor, not just a hostage.

Eitan, deeply affected by the separation, recounts the traumatic events of October 7 and the pain of being "torn apart" from his brother. The documentary aims to show the personal cost of the hostage situation.

The festival’s premiere follows last year’s controversy over anti-Semitic remarks by filmmakers, leading to the Berlinale publishing guidelines on freedom of expression and anti-Semitism. New festival director Tricia Tuttle expressed regret over not showing enough empathy for hostages like Cunio, joining a red-carpet vigil in his honor.