Broadcast & Television Coverage
MSNBC Morning Joe: “When the Posters Were Torn, So Was the Social Fabric”
A powerful conversation with Nim Shapira and Alana Zeitchik on how grief, identity, and free speech collided on New York’s streets after October 7.
Oscars Filmmaker Conversation with Joe McGovern & Nim Shapira — “A Film About America, Not the Middle East”
A reflective discussion on art, activism, and empathy, featuring TORN’s director Nim Shapira and subject Julia Simon.
CBS NEWS NY: “The Only Way Forward Is Coexistence”: Filmmaker Nim Shapira reflects on the emotional hostage releases and the shared pain—and hope—uniting Israelis and Palestinians.
CNN: One World with Zain Asher & Bianna Golodryga: “The First Casualty in New York Streets Was Empathy”
Nim Shapira and Alana Zeitchik discuss how the war’s shockwaves fractured New York and why TORN argues that compassion is not a finite resource.
NEWSNATION: Morning in America with Hena Doba: “We Don’t Have Missiles Over Our Heads — The Least We Can Do Is Talk”
A candid, solo interview with Nim Shapira on the moral responsibility of dialogue and the making of TORN.
Major National & Industry Press
“‘Torn’ Captures Strife in the Streets of New York After Oct. 7”
“A film that presents questions – not answers.”
— Eitan Weiss, The Hollywood Reporter (September 3, 2025)
“Hemdale to Back ‘Torn’; Trump Doc; Skydance to Remake ‘Godfather Part II’
“Provocative.”
— Deadline Hollywood (July 2025)
“Film News in Brief”
Variety’s industry roundup announced Hemdale’s backing of TORN, noting its Oscar-qualifying run.
— Variety (September, 2025)
“’TORN’ Dissects Israel-Palestine Battle Over October 7 Hostage Posters”
“A timely, powerful, and thought-provoking film.”
— Josh Weiss, Forbes (September, 2025)
“It Wasn’t Just the Hostage Posters…”
“Shapira’s film highlights how a grassroots poster campaign transformed New York’s streets into a battleground of identity and empathy.”
— Adrian Hennigan, Haaretz (May, 2025)
Documentary examines hostage posters at center of NYC Israel-Palestine clashes: ‘The social fabric was torn apart’
— Doree Lewak, NYPOST (October, 2025)
“‘TORN’: The Film That Captures New York’s Poster Wars After October - A gripping and powerful chronicle.”
— Hannah Brown, The Jerusalem Post (September, 2025)
‘Torn’: Degrading Hostage Posters in NYC Simply posting flyers of the kidnapped in Gaza ignites hateful activism and missed opportunities.
— Joe Bendel, The Epoch Times (September, 2025)
Film Critics & Review Outlets
“Nim Shapira's documentary promotes empathy for all by focusing on the human element of war and other conflicts.”
— Christopher Campbell, Nonfics (September, 2025)
“Audience Alert: This Film Can Take Your Breath Away. It Can Also Make You Gasp:
A wrenching, extraordinary, adrenaline-pumping investigation that hijacks audiences into becoming eyewitnesses.”
— Greggory W. Morris, The WORD (September, 2025)
“5 out of 5 stars … a moving and important documentary focused on empathy.”
— Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies (September, 2025)
“Praised for its high emotional quotient.”
— Nora Lee Mandel, The Maven’s Nest (September, 2025)
“Illuminating, compelling and heartfelt.”
— Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru (September, 2025)
“It speaks to the universal pain of people who want neither side to come to harm.”
— Brian Skutle, Sonic Cinema (September, 2025)
“Ripping Up Sympathy on the Streets”
“Israel-Hamas poster war tears the social fabric of New York.”
— Rebecca Kurson, Book and Film Globe (September, 2025)
“A bracing, provocative documentary that dares to enter the culture clash few filmmakers want to touch.”
— Christian Toto, Toto in Hollywood Podcast (September, 2025)
Jewish Publications
“Tearing the Fabric of Society”
“A documentary tearing at the fabric of society, placing the poster wars in the context of wider debates over solidarity and censorship.”
— Seth Mandel, Commentary (September 2025)
“Two years later, these films and TV series keep the stories of October 7 alive”
— Alan Zeitlin, Unpacked Media (October 2025)
The War on Hostage Posters: a Review of “Torn“
— Helene Meyers, Lilith Magazine, (October 2025)
With hostages home, the filmmaker behind ‘Torn’ says his documentary about NYC’s poster wars remains sadly relevant
— Philissa Cramer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (August 2025)
“An intimate documentary showing how New Yorkers grappled with grief and solidarity through posters and public debate.”
— Agatha Khishchenko, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (December 2024)
‘Torn’ Is a Nuanced Documentary About the Israeli Hostage Posters in NYC
— Lior Zaltzman, Kveller (October 2025)
“Poster Wars and a Torn Social Fabric”: Director Nim Shapira presents his unsparing take on the fallout from October 7
— Curt Schleier, The Jewish Standard (August, 2025)
“A haunting portrait of NYC’s poster war, Torn reveals how grief, denial, and dialogue collided on city streets after October 7—turning walls into battlegrounds of empathy and division.”
— Sarah Pachter, AISH (September, 2025)
Panel Discussions & Audience Q&As
“IIJS Film@Home Panel Discussion — ‘TORN’”
“Film Programmer Stuart Weinstock of Columbia University’s Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies interviews director Nim Shapira, street artists Dede Bandaid and Nitzan Mintz, hostage family member Alana Zeitchik, and subjects Julia Simon & Elisha Fine.” — IIJS Film@Home (2024) Watch here › Vimeo
“’TORN’ Q&A: JCC Manhattan Screening”
“Isaac Zablocki, Senior Director of Film Programs & Israel Film Center, interviews director Nim Shapira, subject Alana Zeitchik and artists Nitzan Mintz & Dede Bandaid.” — JCC Manhattan (2025) Watch here › YouTube
’TORN’ in Conversation – PJFM Jewish Resilience Film Series”
“Rabbi Abe Friedman of Temple Beth Zion–Beth Israel interviews director Nim Shapira, artists Dede Bandaid & Nitzan Mintz, FIRE Public Advocacy Director Aaron Terr, and advocate Alana Zeitchik.” — PJFM (2025) Watch here › YouTube
“14th Street Y: 77th Yom Ha’atzmaut – Speech by Nim Shapira”
“Director/Producer Nim Shapira delivers a speech on resilience, community, strength and hope at 19:00 to mark the 77th Yom Ha’atzmaut.” — 14th Street Y (2025) Watch here › YouTube
“YU Viewing & Community Conversation: ‘TORN’”
“Screening and community discussion of TORN hosted by Yeshiva University, featuring director Nim Shapira and live Q&A.” — Yeshiva University (2024) Watch here › YouTube
Podcasts & Radio Broadcast Features
“The Gist – Interview with Nim Shapira”
“Mike Pesca speaks with director Nim Shapira about TORN, exploring empathy, public grief, and the way a poster campaign reshaped New York’s civic life.”
— The Gist with Mike Pesca (September 2025)
“Toto in Hollywood Podcast – Review of TORN”
“A bracing, provocative documentary that dares to enter the culture clash few filmmakers want to touch.”
— Christian Toto, Toto in Hollywood Podcast (September 2025)
“Beyond the Circle – Episode 3: In Conversation with Nim Shapira”
Listen ›
“Israel–Palestine Conflict Documentary Comes to Park City to Spur Healing Discussions”
— Jonas Wright, NPR KPCW (August 2025)
Regional & Local Coverage
“Documentary Zooms in on New York City’s Israel–Palestine Poster War”
“Shapira’s film resonates in Park City, sparking dialogue across faiths and perspectives.”
— Scott Iwasaki, The Park Record (August 2025)
“Center for Israel Studies Hosts Screening of ‘TORN’ Documentary on NYC Hostage Posters”
— Ruti Frohlich, The Commentator (Yeshiva University) (November 2024)
“Nim Shapira’s Film ‘TORN’ Explores How Oct. 7 Shook NY Streets — Stories of Free Speech, Grief, and Coexistence”
ֿAll Israel News (September 2025)
“Documentary ‘TORN’ Down Hostage Posters Opens in Select NY & LA Theaters in September”
— Shiryn Ghermezian, Algemeiner (July, 2025)
“A New Documentary About Those Iconic ‘Kidnapped’ Posters, in NYC This Weekend”
A spotlight ahead of TORN’s October 19 screening at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
— Anna Rahmanan, Pretty Kosher (October 16, 2025)
“Two Stark Films Explore the Aftermath of Oct. 7 in Both Israel and U.S.”
— Maya Mirsky, JWeekly (March 2025)
A New Documentary Reveals the War on New York City's Streets
— Eliana Fleming, JFEED (September 2025)
“An Unsettling, Deeply Important Documentary”
“Israel-Hamas poster war tears the social fabric of New York. A new documentary chronicles how the Kidnapped poster campaign turned the city into an ideological battleground after the October 7 massacre.”
— Deborah Cassrels, The Jewish Independent (September, 2025)
“‘TORN’ Film on Tearing of Hostage Posters Presented at Yeshiva University”
— By Daniel Brauner, The Jewish Link, (November 2024)
“‘TORN’ Documentary Shown at Weitzman Museum as Part of Jewish Resilience Event”
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