Ten Israeli musicians who lost loved ones, friends, and homes in the October 7 Hamas attacks are the focus of a new documentary that follows their journey to Los Angeles, where they teamed up with legendary rock artists to reclaim their lives through music. The film, titled "The Bridge," was produced by Kevin Bright, best known for his work on the television series "Friends," and directed by Brad Allgood.
The musicians participated in the Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp, a program founded and run by David Fishof for nearly three decades. The camp pairs amateur musicians with some of the most influential figures in rock history. The Israeli participants, who arrived in the U.S. only months after the attacks that killed more than 1,200 people and took over 240 hostages, worked alongside members of bands including Guns N' Roses, Van Halen, and Black Sabbath. Their experience culminated in a final performance at the Viper Room in Los Angeles.
Bright said a particular moment during filming made him realize the documentary was special. He recalled one camper who described losing everything in the conflict, leaving him with only the volume control on his guitar. "To hear him say, 'the music wasn't gone, I could still control the volume' was something that really hit me hard," Bright said. The final performance at the Viper Room marked a significant milestone, with Bright noting it was likely the first time Hebrew had been spoken on that stage. He said the moment allowed the survivors to carry their personal pride in their country and present it through music to the audience.
Director Brad Allgood explained that during the final performance, many of the survivors were playing for loved ones lost in the conflict. "Tuval was playing drums, and he was playing 'My Hero' for his brother. Bar was playing with everything he had in honor of his father. Raz and Dov were singing in honor of their friends who died that day," Allgood said. "Everybody was playing for somebody else, and you could feel it in the music."
One of the campers, Raz Shifer, was at the Nova Music Festival when the attack occurred. More than 300 people were killed at the festival, and dozens were taken hostage. Shifer escaped to a nearby kibbutz, but two of her friends were taken hostage, including Inbar Hayman, who later died in captivity. Allgood said Shifer's connection to music was deeply affected by the attack, but she experienced an emotional breakthrough during a welcome event for the program. It was her first time sharing her story publicly, and after speaking, she played "With a Little Help from My Friends" with the group. Allgood said it was the first time she was able to get on stage and let everything out.
Allgood described the broader impact of the experience on the survivors, many of whom could not sleep, eat, or even think about playing music for months after the attack. "This, whatever it is about music, it allows you to connect emotionally both with yourself and with others. It's a universal language," he said. The documentary deliberately avoids the political debate surrounding the October 7 attack, focusing instead on the survivors' human experiences. "The music took all of the politics and religious judgmental aspects of it out and just made it about the music," Bright said. "Made it about having a good time. Made it about getting back on your feet and playing again."
The film's title reflects its central theme. "The bridge is between trauma and healing, and music being the conduit or the suspension of that bridge that people walk through to come to the other side," Bright explained. "The Bridge" premiered in Jerusalem on Aug. 19, with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and former Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in attendance. It will roll out across select venues in North America starting Oct. 5, ahead of a wider theatrical release in November.