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Picture This with Ben Shani | Stories from October 7th

Picture This with Ben Shani | Stories from October 7th

8 Episodes

Watch the complete season now exclusively on ChaiFlicks! | PICTURE THIS is a unique interview series, featuring 8 intimate one-on-one interviews hosted by veteran Israeli journalist Ben Shani.

In this season dedicated to the October 7th attack in Southern Israel, each week Shani meets with someone who endured that day — each in their own way. Interviewees include survivors from the Nova party, a hostage who has been freed from Hamas captivity, a first response unit commander, and more.

Each interview is accompanied by vivid illustrations from some of the country’s top artists, that aim to bring the scenes to life and draw the viewer into those fateful moments. The award-winning artists whose work is featured in this project include Yoni Goodman (Waltz with Bashir), Lena Guberman (Where Is Anne Frank), Yaniv Shimony (Uncle Leo’s Adventures), and David Polonsky (Waltz with Bashir, Where Is Anne Frank, Legend of Destruction).

Israeli journalist and documentary filmmaker Ben Shani is a senior TV correspondent and member of the editorial staff of UVDA, the most widely watched current affairs program in Israel.  He directed the feature documentary film, A Lullaby for the Valley (on ChaiFlicks), and teaches at Israel’s renowned Sam Spiegel Film School. Shani won the Sokolov Prize, Israel's most prestigious journalism award.

"Riveting!" - The New York Times

Created by Sharon Karni & Ran Landau
Directed by Roi Florentin
Israel, 2024
Series, Documentary, History
Hebrew (with English subtitles)
8 Episodes

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Picture This with Ben Shani | Stories from October 7th
  • Episode 1: Ayelet Epstein | Picture This with Ben Shani

    Episode 1

    Ayelet, who raised her family in Kfar Aza, lost 5 family members on October 7th — including her son who sacrificed himself in order to save his fiancée.

  • Episode 2: Yair Avital | Picture This with Ben Shani

    Episode 2

    A former special forces soldier, Yair Avital leaves his wife and daughter at home and goes out to fight the terrorists who infiltrated Kibbutz Be’eri. After fighting all day, he is severely wounded. Upon his evacuation he is shocked to find dozens of IDF soldiers, waiting for orders outside of th...

  • Episode 3: Perach Pilo | Picture This with Ben Shani

    Episode 3

    Officially the last of Kibbutz Be’eri’s survivors, grandmother Perach Pilo survived in her safe room for three days - even while fierce battles were taking place in her living room.

  • Episode 4: Liat Atzili | Picture This with Ben Shani

    Episode 4

    Liat Atzili’s time in Hamas captivity was unusual: Instead of a tunnel, Liat was kept in an apartment in the heart of Khan Younes. A History teacher, Yad Vashem volunteer, and an American citizen, Liat Atzili learned her husband has been killed on October 7th upon her release.

  • Episode 5: Mia Leimberg | Picture This with Ben Shani

    Episode 5

    17-year-old Mia spent 53 days in Hamas captivity. But she wasn’t alone: When she was kidnapped, Mia secretly took her dog Bella with her. A whole country was stunned when the two returned home together.

  • Episode 6: Ben and Bar | Picture This with Ben Shani

    Episode 6

    Ben and Bar, complete strangers at the time, escaped the Nova party and found cover in a bomb shelter with dozens of other partygoers. They kept each other alive during those fateful moments when Hamas militants attacked the shelter, killing nearly everyone around them.

  • Episode 7: Baruch Hoenig | Picture This with Ben Shani

    Episode 7

    In the year leading up to October 7th, Baruch Hoenig is a Border Police Officer whose main job is securing Israel’s counter-government protests. He is called into action that day, which he spends in battle and ends with his force going to search Baruch’s own home for terrorists.

  • Episode 8: David Sarel | Picture This with Ben Shani

    Episode 8

    An IDF commander on leave, David is quick to understand that morning’s attacks were unusual. He decides to join his former unit members and go into battle. He would spend the next 24 hours defending Israel’s southern border.