the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Teaneck NJ, Award-winning journalist and filmmaker Wendy Sachs was horrified as she watched the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel unfold on October 7, 2023. The brutal assault resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 251 others, sending shockwaves across the world. But what shocked Sachs even more was the aftermath—a surge of antisemitism erupting on college campuses, social media, and protests across America.
Determined to document the unsettling response, Sachs embarked on an ambitious filmmaking journey, conducting over 80 interviews worldwide and compiling 170 hours of footage. The result is her powerful new documentary, “October 8,” distributed by Briarcliff Entertainment, which premiered nationwide and will be available for streaming in April.
A Film That Exposes the Alarming Reality of Modern Antisemitism
“October 8” is not about the political complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict but instead shines a light on the disturbing shift in global attitudes toward Hamas. The film examines how anti-Zionism has become a new form of antisemitism and why some activists and institutions seem to celebrate Hamas rather than condemn its terrorism.
Sachs describes the film as “extremism versus democracy”, a deep dive into why people are increasingly turning a blind eye to terrorism and why some universities, celebrities, and organizations have failed to speak out.
Powerful Voices & Firsthand Testimonies
The documentary features interviews with:
- Survivors of the October 7 attack
- College students who faced antisemitic harassment
- Actress and activist Debra Messing
- Comedian Michael Rapaport
- Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of Hamas’ founder
- Former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg
- Rep. Ritchie Torres & U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
One of the most shocking moments in the film is a scene featuring Cornell professor Russell Rickford, who described the Hamas attack as “exhilarating” and “energizing” at a rally. Meanwhile, students like Noa Fay of Barnard College share chilling accounts of Jewish students being physically harassed for wearing Star of David necklaces or simply being visibly Jewish.
Debunking Silence & Betrayal in Hollywood
Messing, an executive producer of the film, expressed her frustration with Hollywood’s silence, expecting a wave of activism to help the hostages still held in Gaza. Instead, she felt “betrayed by the industry” as many ignored the crisis or aligned with pro-Hamas narratives.
Where to Watch “October 8”
The documentary is currently playing in select theaters nationwide, including locations in New Jersey:
📍 Clifton Commons 16 (Clifton)
📍 East Hanover 12 (East Hanover)
📍 Monmouth Mall 15 (Eatontown)
📍 Freehold Metroplex 14 (Freehold)
📍 Mountainside 10 (Mountainside)
📍 Garden State 16 (Paramus)
📍 Marketfair (Princeton)
📍 Montgomery 6 (Rocky Hill)
📍 Washington Township 14 (Sewell)
📍 Teaneck Quad (Teaneck)
Beginning in April, the film will be available on multiple streaming platforms.
“October 8” is a Must-See Documentary
Wendy Sachs’ latest work is an eye-opening and timely film that challenges audiences to think critically about the rise of extremism, the disturbing normalization of terrorism, and the growing wave of antisemitism across the world.
Don’t miss this powerful documentary—watch “October 8” in theaters now or stream it in April.
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Only one quibble. Anti-Zionism is far from a new form of antisemitism.