Make Art Not War

When their distant cousin Liat Beinin Atzili was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on 7 October 2023, documentary filmmakers Brandon and Lance Kramer had no development, no pre-production and no idea how the story would end. They started filming anyway. The result, Holding Liat, follows Liat's family through 54 days of not knowing, and through the disagreements that divided them. It won the Documentary Award at the Berlinale, was shortlisted for the Oscars, and has now been screened more than 300 times in over 25 countries.

In this first episode of Season 2, the brothers talk about making films on their parents' VHS camera as children, their mentor Gordon Quinn of Kartemquin Films, and why Brandon doesn't see himself as an advocacy filmmaker. They tell the story of the chance encounter in the halls of Congress between Liat's father, Yehuda, and Ahmed, a Palestinian advocate who had just lost his sister in Gaza, and of how they gave Liat back control over her own story after her release.

"This is what art is supposed to do. The films I love the most are the films that make me uncomfortable." — Brandon Kramer

We also talk about the fears they had to walk towards, an edit that began with a day of sharing feelings rather than footage, a score deliberately stripped of anything that tells you what to feel, and the audiences who come up after screenings to push back.

"It's not that art is the only thing that will save the world, but I think it plays a really important role." — Lance Kramer

Holding Liat is available to rent or buy on Apple TV, YouTube and Amazon in many countries.

Listen / Watch: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

I’m thrilled to welcome a remarkable guest to Make Art Not War: the acclaimed filmmaker Rashid Masharawi. Born in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip in 1962, Rashid has built an extraordinary career, with an impressive catalogue of documentary and feature films that have garnered numerous international awards, including recognition at Cannes.

In 1996, he played a pivotal role in shaping Palestinian cinema by establishing a film production center in Ramallah, creating opportunities for local filmmakers. His dedication to nurturing talent continues with the recent founding of the Masharawi Fund for Gaza Films and Filmmakers. This initiative culminated in the creation of From Ground Zero, an anthology film made up of 22 short works by Gaza-based filmmakers, including several women artists.

From Ground Zero has received critical acclaim and is now shortlisted for the 2025 Academy Awards, a testament to its powerful storytelling and Rashid's visionary leadership.

Let’s dive into his inspiring journey, the stories behind his work, and the impact of art in times of adversity

In this episode we continue our conversation with Irish composer Michael Gallen, going more into more detail on his music, influences and creative process.

I met Michael working with the Orchestre de Bretagne playing his work for orchestra and folk ensemble Bod on Altar, and today we get the chance to hear plenty of bits of this amazing piece.

Make sure you check out the rest of our chat in episode 1 if you haven’t yet.

In this first episode of Make Art Not War we meet with composer Michael Gallen, a rising voice in contemporary Irish music. I met Michael working with the Orchestre de Bretagne, playing his newly commissioned work for orchestra and folk ensemble, Bad on Altar. We will discuss his experience with the band Ana Gog and years as singer-songwriter, the blending of genres and how his music is inevitably infused by Irish politics - whilst sometimes trying to avoid cliché associations.

Welcome to the Make Art Not War podcast, a captivating series of intimate dialogues with pioneering creatives spanning diverse domains: musicians, dancers, visual artists, filmmakers, and writers. Together, we delve into the tapestry of their lives, their work, and its resonance within our societal and global fabric.

What fuels their creativity? What’s their story? What are their processes? And how do they feel their art relates (or perhaps doesn’t!) to our planet, how does it promote connection, and how does it contribute to an ongoing narrative of human resilience?

So for candid talks with exciting and thought-provoking artists, be sure to subscribe to Make Art Not War and leave a comment—it really helps the show grow.

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