RISING: Voices of Protest and Hope

Special Work-in Progress Screening

RISING: Voices of Protest and Hope reveals the astonishing power of ordinary Israelis rising from catastrophe to fight for the soul of their homeland.

There’s Eran, a grieving father turned activist; Yossi, a therapist who survived the October 7 attacks and immediately began treating others; Elana, a bereaved mother and protest leader; Oded, a choreographer turned crisis responder; and Ayellet, a trauma psychologist helping others understand the profound impact of the war on levels both personal and collective. These five people are part of an unprecedented grassroots uprising in Israel, fighting to defend democracy, end the bloodshed and bring the hostages home.

Director Esther Takac (The Narrow Bridge, winner of the JIFF 2022 Audience Award) brings professional expertise to this documentary as a child and adult psychologist specialising in trauma. Through raw, intimate interviews with the five participants, RISING: Voices of Protest and Hope asks urgent questions: how do we hold onto our humanity, resist surging authoritarianism and heal from collective trauma?