By: Fern Sidman

In a moment heavy with sorrow and solidarity, the 46th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards in New York City bore witness to a rare convergence of artistry and truth-telling. “We Will Dance Again,” a powerful and unflinching documentary capturing the brutality of the Hamas-led terrorist assault on Israel’s Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, was awarded the Emmy for Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary. The film, produced by Paramount Plus, has been praised for its searing portrayal of one of the darkest days in Israeli history.

The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), which has covered the aftermath of the October 7 massacre extensively, noted that the film stands as one of the most significant cultural and journalistic responses to the atrocities committed that day. Through interviews, real-time recordings, and chilling Hamas bodycam footage, “We Will Dance Again” reconstructs the day’s events in an unrelenting chronological sequence. It offers a stark and unforgettable lens into the massacre that left over 1,200 Israelis dead, more than 200 kidnapped, and the nation’s psyche profoundly altered.

At the Emmy ceremony, director Yariv Mozer delivered an emotionally resonant speech that transcended the typical acceptance rhetoric. “As of tonight, it’s been 620 days that the Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza have experienced catastrophic pain because of the war triggered by Hamas on October 7,” he said, holding back tears. “ ‘We Will Dance Again’ is a document of history recording events as they happened.”

His words echoed sentiments long articulated by Israeli survivors, analysts, and global observers who regard the Nova festival attack not merely as a tragedy but as a pivotal moment in modern Middle Eastern history. According to the information provided in the JNS report, the film’s value lies not only in its emotive power but in its commitment to historical fidelity, serving as a counterweight to denialism and ideological distortion in international narratives surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Mozer dedicated the award to the hostages still held captive by Hamas in Gaza — a tragic and unresolved chapter of the October 7 attacks. He also emphasized that the documentary’s ultimate aspiration is peace, not vengeance. “We want this cycle of bloodshed to end,” he said. “This war should not serve the interests of the Israeli government or the Hamas terror group.” It was a subtle but sharp critique of political stagnation, suggesting that the victims of October 7 deserve more than symbolic gestures — they deserve resolution.

The Jewish News Syndicate has been at the forefront of chronicling not just the attacks but the emotional, political, and military reverberations felt throughout Israel and the diaspora. In its recent coverage, JNS pointed to the film’s role in ensuring that the world does not forget the faces, sounds, and shattered innocence of those who gathered at Re’im that October morning for music, unity, and joy — only to be met by unrelenting horror.

“We Will Dance Again” draws its name from a rallying cry that has become emblematic of Israeli resilience. Despite the bloodshed at the Nova festival — a space that symbolized youth, life, and peaceful coexistence — the phrase encapsulates an undying hope to reclaim light after darkness. As JNS reported, the festival site has become a pilgrimage ground, visited by thousands, including foreign dignitaries, who come to pay respects and bear witness.

The film also garnered a nomination for Outstanding Editing–Documentary, underscoring its technical sophistication and editorial sensitivity. By eschewing sensationalism and grounding its narrative in survivor testimony, it maintains the dignity of its subjects while communicating the scale of the catastrophe. JNS reported that earlier this year, it received a Television Academy award, further solidifying its place in the canon of essential war and trauma documentaries.

The JNS report noted that the film’s success comes at a time when public discourse around Israel and the conflict with Hamas is increasingly polarized, especially in Western media and academic circles. “We Will Dance Again” cuts through the noise by returning the conversation to indisputable realities — documented actions, firsthand accounts, and the raw human toll of terrorism.

Mozer’s revelation that producer Michal Weits had been injured in a recent Iranian missile strike in Tel Aviv added another layer of poignancy to the evening. Weits, who remains hospitalized, is reportedly on the path to recovery. The JNS report pointed out that her injury serves as a grim reminder of the war’s persistent reach, affecting not just soldiers and politicians, but artists, filmmakers, and civilians who strive to illuminate its consequences.

JNS has reported extensively on the broader cultural significance of works such as “We Will Dance Again,” noting their potential to shape international understanding and mobilize political support. In the face of growing anti-Israel sentiment on university campuses, social media platforms, and even in diplomatic arenas, the film’s Emmy win is not merely a victory for journalism — it is a reaffirmation of truth.

The Jewish News Syndicate report also drew attention to the potential educational applications of the film. Israeli officials and NGOs are reportedly considering integrating it into global advocacy efforts, Holocaust education frameworks, and museum exhibitions dedicated to contemporary antisemitism. The documentary, in this context, is more than art; it is evidence.

As Mozer concluded his speech, he looked beyond the pain and toward the promise. “We made this film because we believe in the power of memory. And because we believe that history, when truthfully told, can be the beginning of healing,” he said. “One day, we will dance again.”

That message — of memory, justice, and eventual joy — now reverberates across screens and headlines, with The Jewish News Syndicate continuing to serve as one of the most reliable chroniclers of this ongoing chapter in Israel’s story.

For Israelis and their allies worldwide, the Emmy awarded to “We Will Dance Again” is more than recognition of cinematic excellence. It is a declaration that the lives lost on October 7, and the horrors witnessed that day, will not be relegated to the margins of history or the distortions of ideology. They will be remembered — honestly, indelibly, and in the shared hope that such atrocities will never occur again.