Artistic Statement:

As a filmmaker, I’ve always been drawn to the power of storytelling as a means to bridge divides and provoke conversations. Torn began as an attempt to capture a moment in time when my city—New York—was being pulled apart, not just by global events but by the local reverberations of those events. What started as an artistic intervention by street artists to raise awareness for the 240 kidnapped hostages soon spiraled into a complex narrative that touches on identity, freedom of speech, and symbolism.

I watched as the Israel-Hamas war unfolded thousands of miles away, igniting a cultural 'paper war' right in the heart of my hometown. Through the poster campaign that swept across New York streets—and several other cities around the world—the conflict in the Middle East was no longer distant; it was brought home, raw and unfiltered, to the walls and lampposts of our neighborhoods, and social media feeds of our devices. Torn chronicles how these KIDNAPPED posters became flashpoints of debate, anger, solidarity, and protest, resonating deeply with both pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian communities in the city.

In making this film, I wanted to capture more than just the headlines or political talking points. I aimed to reveal the personal stories, the intimate pain, and the ideological divides that arose in the wake of the poster campaign. The film doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths or the gray areas. It presents a mosaic of perspectives, where activists, artists, hostage family members, and ordinary New Yorkers wrestle with questions of representation, justice, and empathy.

By exposing the gaps in human compassion and solidarity, Torn is designed not just to provoke thought but to challenge our perceptions and encourage meaningful, transformative conversations. In a world increasingly divided by ideology, my hope is that this film will act as both a mirror and a catalyst—reflecting the fractures in our society while inspiring a collective desire to bridge them. Torn is a call for deeper empathy and introspection, urging audiences to confront uncomfortable truths and consider how we might begin the process of healing, both individually and as a global community.

Nim Shapira
Director & Producer
www.nimshap.com