TORN: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on New York City Streets (2024)

When a global conflict hits close to home.

After the October 7 attacks by Hamas and as the war in Gaza unfolded, New York City became the center of an unexpected battle—not with weapons, but with posters. TORN: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on New York City Streets follows ten New Yorkers—artists, activists, students, and families of hostages—as they confront one another over the now-famous “KIDNAPPED” posters that appeared across the city.

Through real voices and street-level moments, this powerful documentary shows how a war thousands of miles away can divide neighborhoods, challenge identity, and test our ability to care for one another. TORN asks big questions: How do we show empathy when emotions run high? What happens when art becomes protest?

After the screening, join a live conversation with filmmaker Nim Shapira, moderated by Skirball curator Alissa Schapiro, PhD. The discussion also features artist Susan Lerner, whose TORN Project transforms torn hostage posters into hand-cut collages—one for each hostage—exploring grief, memory, and resilience. A selection of these works is on view for a limited time in the Wasserman Gallery.

Described by Forbes as “timely, powerful, and thought-provoking,” TORN is an unfiltered look at how young people, artists, and communities struggle to understand one another in moments of crisis.