By Jeffrey Catalano
Assistant Editor
On Monday, February 9, at the Mayerson JCC, the film, “A Letter to David,” will be screened as part of the “Jewish and Israeli Film.” This will be the fourth film premiering at the festival. “A Letter to David” is a Hebrew-language documentary film directed by Tom Shoval. It is 74 minutes long and it first premiered at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. At Israel’s last Ophir Awards ceremony (Israel’s equivalent of the Academy Awards), “A Letter to David” won the award for “Best Documentary.”
Tom Shoval’s 2025 film serves as a cinematic letter from the himself to David Cunio, an actor he collaborated with in the past who was taken hostage during the October 7 attacks. Hamas kidnapped him from the Nir Oz kibbutz and helm him hostage in Gaza for 738 days — a little over 2 years.
10 years prior to his kidnapping, the film Cunio had worked with Shoval on was “Youth,” Shoval’s award-winning debut film. Cunio starred in the film along with his twin brother, Eitan, and the film focused on the powerful bond between brothers, and, shockingly, a kidnapping.
“A Letter to David” is lovingly crafted, mixing unedited behind-the-scenes footage with audition tapes from “Youth.” Shoval’s film explores the connections between real life and film, memory and reality and the devastating consequences of war.
In addition to “A Letter to David,” there will be two additional screenings of short films on February 9. The short films are “Days Between Rest” and “The Sacred Society.”
“Days Between Rest” is an 11 minute-long short directed by Peter Decherney, and it follows the real life story of Ugandan singer, Rachel Namadosi, as she reflects on growing up Jewish in Uganda and the power of music.
“The Sacred Society” is a 12-minute long short directed by Benny Zelkowicz, and it is about the people who clean and prepare and dress bodies for traditional Jewish burials.
There is a fee for admission to this screening on February 9.
