site.btaTom Shoval to Shoot New Ending for A Letter to David Documentary, Israeli Director Says at Sofia CineLibri Festival

Israeli director Tom Shoval said here on Thursday that he will shoot a different ending for the documentary A Letter to David, because David has already been released. Shoval was speaking at a presentation of the film during the CineLibri film and literature festival in Sofia.

A Letter to David is a cinematic letter from the Israeli director to David Cunio, one of 251 Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. Cunio is an actor who made his debut in Tom Shoval's first film, Youth, in 2013. Shoval filmed David Cunio together with his twin brother, Eitan Cunio.

"David returned three days ago. He did not know how we were fighting for his release, nor did he know about the film. I could not wait to come to Sofia to show the film and say that it would have a different ending," Shoval said.

A Letter to David, which is part of this year's CineLibri programme, was screened on Thursday evening as part of a commemorative event organized by the Embassy of the State of Israel and the Shalom Organization of Jews in Bulgaria, marking two years since the attack carried out by Hamas against Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023.

Among the guests at the ceremony were the Chair of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, Yordanka Fandakova, acting Chief Prosecutor Borislav Sarafov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Anguelieva, who is the National Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism, Deputy Minister of Culture Todor Chobanov, representatives of the Jewish community, and intellectuals.

In his speech, Israeli Ambassador Yosi Levi Sfari said that the attack on October 7, 2023, was not just an attack against Israel: it was an attack against humanity itself. During these two years, Israel faced threats on several fronts and stood firm, he emphasized. "This is also the moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to the governments of Bulgaria for standing by Israel not only in the darkest moments of grief, but also in the struggle for a better and more peaceful future," the Ambassador said.

Anguelieva said that the Bulgarian government immediately and strongly condemned the barbaric act of October 7, 2023. "The current Bulgarian government, as well as myself, in my capacity as National Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism, are determined and have proven our commitment in this regard to absolute intolerance and the immediate elimination of any manifestation of hatred and animosity towards the Jewish community in Bulgaria and the State of Israel. For us, this is a categorical red line, and I assure you that there is no change in this regard, nor can there be," she added.

"At the moment, we are watching with concern the growing manifestations of antisemitism in various countries. Bulgaria, which has always been distinguished by tolerance and understanding among Bulgarian citizens of different religions and ethnicities, is not part of this alarming trend of escalating antisemitism, but even in our country, some sporadic manifestations of hatred compel us to be always vigilant and decisive in countering them. In this regard, there have been and can be no compromises," Deputy Minister Anguelieva added.

On October 13, CineLibri Director Jacqueline Wagenstein told BTA that the screening A Letter to David was cancelled due to security concerns. She noted that in the days leading up to the opening of CineLibri, acts of vandalism had occurred in Sofia, including at cinemas, restaurants and public spaces, and the circulation of leaflets and an online petition aimed at disrupting the festival’s 11th edition. According to Wagenstein, the number of signatories is very small. She said the festival organizers would not allow their audience to be subjected to any form of violence or to feel fear or anxiety while attending screenings in the CineLibri programme. Wagenstein added that efforts were being made to ensure that the film would eventually be shown.