Kevin Bright, executive producer of the hit television series Friends, was the guest of honor Tuesday night at a Tel Aviv screening of The Bridge, a documentary following 10 survivors of the October 7 massacre on a musical journey in the United States.
The screening, held at Hangar 11, centered on the survivors themselves, whose participation in the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp in the United States was initiated by Bright, producer David Fishof and Sam Grundwerg, former Israeli consul general in Los Angeles and world chairman of Keren Hayesod.
(Photo: Private album)
During the program, the survivors met and performed with musicians from bands including Guns N’ Roses, Black Sabbath and Skid Row, using music as part of their effort to cope with the trauma they experienced on October 7.
Bright, an American Jew, also visited communities near the Gaza border last week. His trip included the Kobi Lookout and visitors center in Sderot, the site of the Nova music festival massacre, where he lit a memorial candle, and a tour of homes destroyed in Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
The Tel Aviv screening was also attended by music producer Haim Shemesh; Yehuda Eder, president and co-founder of the Rimon School of Music; Keren Hayesod CEO Edna Weinstock-Gabay, Eshkol Regional Council head Michal Uziyahu, relatives of the survivors and other guests.
At the end of the film, five of the participants — Valeria Dvorkin, Sagi Arad, Bar Rudaeff, David Klein and Dov Engel — took the stage and performed live for the audience.
(Photo: Private album)
(Photo: Private album)
The film is expected to be screened in the United States soon. “As an American Jew, I don't feel that the media reflects to the public what really happened in Israel on October 7th, not on CNN or anywhere else,” Bright said.
“Therefore, I felt it was my duty to work with and Sam to reflect and show the world what happened that day in Israel and since October 7th and tell a story about resilience, healing and hope through music. We did this through the personal stories of the brave survivors and the complex challenges they go through, so that the whole world will know the truth.”