Summary
Filmmaker Gabriel Kahane, equipped with unique access, visited kibbutz Nahal Oz in 2019, documenting the surreal lives of those living less than a thousand feet from Gaza. Unfortunately, his footage remained shelved for two years due to lockdown measures. Little did Gabriel know that his footage would evolve into one of the rarest accounts of life in this kibbutz, forever altered by the events of October 7th. The accounts include two individuals whom Gabriel interviewed in 2019 who were murdered on the 7th.
Currently seeking funds, Gabriel plans to return to Nahal Oz next month to capture the survivors’ testimony and the physical destruction of their community. By interweaving his original footage with post-October 7th scenes, he aspires to resurrect forgotten stories and amplify voices silenced in the aftermath of the attack. The film not only serves as a commemoration of the victims but also unveils the hushed narratives through Gabriel's unprecedented footage.
Now stepping into the role of narrator within the film, Gabriel's exploration expands beyond the immediate aftermath. Due to a strange confluence of events, he then finds himself at Columbia University where, as a student, he utilizes his access to document protests and antisemitism that has emerged post-attack – the type of protests that have been globally instrumental in silencing the voices of those killed on October 7th. Gabriel's mission is to breathe life into the untold stories, ensuring that the echoes of Nahal Oz are not only heard but also eternally remembered.
At Nahal Oz, 24 civilians were murdered. 9 civilians were taken hostage to Gaza, and 5 were subsequently released during a cease fire agreement. 44 soldiers were killed and 6 were taken hostage to Gaza (1 being subsequently rescued by the IDF). October 7th marked the 70 year anniversary of the kibbutz, and there was to be a huge celebration that day; a celebration which never occurred.
Roughly 100 Hamas terrorists invaded Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7th, breaking into homes, massacring the residents of the kibbutz and wiping out entire families. Following the initial slaughter, IDF forces eventually arrived and engaged in a prolonged 12-hour confrontation with the terrorists, ultimately neutralizing them and rescuing the remaining residents. During the chaos, Shlomo Ron, an 85-year-old resident, cleverly acted as if he lived alone, successfully misleading the attackers and thereby safeguarding his wife, children, and grandchildren who were hidden in his home.
This documentary immerses itself in the lives of the Nahal Oz community, both before and after the tragic events of the 7th. The Hamas terrorists who invaded Kibbutz Nahal Oz on that fateful day perpetrated crimes against humanity. The film aims to illuminate the resilience and tragedy of the people affected by those horrific crimes as they deal with their trauma with the central question of: What now?
Director
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On the Border will mark Kahane's second feature film, and debut feature documentary, following his coming-of-age feature debut Benji's Hour, which world premiered in competition at the Calgary International Film Festival and screened at Catalina and Hell’s Half Mile, where the film won two juried awards. Gabriel was born and raised in NYC, and has been an entertainer in front of and behind the camera as well as on the stage from an extremely young age. Gabriel started his production company Gossamer Films® in 2019 to facilitate the production of Benji's Hour. Gossamer Films is currently facilitating the production for On the Border. You can see some of his work at www.gabrielkahanefilm.com.
Budget
Money spent so far: $12,000
Seeking: $50,000 via crowdfunding and $50,000 via private investment
Approximate budget breakdown:
Crew fees- 33.3%
Insurance- 4.7%
Legal fees- 6.7%
Contingency- 13.3%
Post Production- 42%
Characters
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Risks
While the war is now primarily taking place in Gaza (both on the ground and via the air), Gabriel will be traveling to a country that remains under missile attack by Hamas as well as threat of another incursion, and Gabriel will take every precaution necessary for his safety. When he is near the border documenting the physical destruction of Nahal Oz he will do so with military escort and wearing a bulletproof vest.
Distribution
The most conducive scenario to landing a wide ranging distribution deal is securing the film a premiere at one of the big ten film festivals. Were the film to premiere at Sundance, Cannes, Venice, Berlin, TIFF, SXSW, Tribeca, Locarno, Rotterdam, or New York Film Festival, the film will have a vastly easier time netting broader distribution from distributors. There are other prestigious as well as documentary focused festivals that would help achieve the same goal, but the aforementioned festivals carry the most weight in the commercial film sales world. Following a major premiere the film would likely be picked up by a major streamer. There is also the potential to acquire distribution prior to a festival premiere.
Contact
You can reach out with any questions to films.gossamer@gmail.com.
Please reach out if you want to be a part of the private equity pool/want to invest instead.
