Israeli Documentary on Supernova Music Festival Attack Set for Yes TV and International Release

An Israeli documentary titled #Nova is set to broadcast tonight on Yes TV, capturing the harrowing events of the October 7 attack on the Supernova Music Festival. The film, which lasts 52 minutes, was created by Kastina Communications with direction by Dan Pe-er. As a Yes Original documentary, it will air on the channel's Yes Docu division and is also being offered for international distribution by Yes Studios.

Documenting a Tragedy

The documentary provides a chronological account of the attack where militants, with support from Hamas, caused over 300 deaths and abducted 40 individuals at the psychedelic trance music event. The festival, known for attracting a 'Nova tribe' of more than 10,000 enthusiasts, took place in southern Israel near the Gaza border.

Director's Engagement and Approach

In the aftermath of the onslaught, which was among several attacks Israel endured on that day, director Dan Pe-er was heavily involved in volunteer efforts to support the survivors. During this period, he began compiling video and audio recordings from attendees, ultimately arranging this material into the sequential narrative that would become #Nova. The project, which holds no testimonials or commentary, focuses solely on authentic material to convey the genuine feelings and terror that struck everyone involved.

Yes TV and Filmmakers' Commitment

Guy Lavie, VP of Documentaries at Yes TV, expressed the Israeli filmmaking community's dedication to capturing and sharing the stories from that devastating day. While caution is exercised in such projects due to the ongoing conflict and the challenge in achieving a fully comprehensive viewpoint, Lavie emphasized that #Nova is unique in its raw and real-time portrayal of the day’s events.

International Sales and the Impact of the Film

Yes Studios is making the move to introduce the documentary to global audiences, considering it a significant and emotionally challenging piece to watch. Sharon Levi, the Managing Director at Yes Studios, remarked on the difference between seeing scattered news footage and experiencing the entire ordeal through a single, coherent timeline in the documentary.

Other Related Documentaries and Industry Updates

Several other documentaries about the Supernova festival tragedy have been produced, including works by Sipur for the Israeli Hot Channel 8 and the collaboration between Zygote Films and Gebrueder Beetz Produktion which resulted in a film for ZDF/Arte. As the Israeli TV and film production industry begins to recover from the halt caused by the subsequent fighting, efforts to continue storytelling, such as those by the Friends of Israeli Film & TV Producers Association (FIPA), are being encouraged.

documentary, attack, distribution