Channel 4 has announced a series of urgent documentary films that capture the scale and horror of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza. Each film is powered by unrivalled access to areas of the conflict that have largely been off-limits to the world’s media. One Day In October (w/t) from Dan Reed’s Amos Pictures takes a forensic look at the day of Hamas-perpetrated violence that triggered the current crisis; Collateral (w/t) from Basement Films is an unflinching look at the experience of ordinary Gazans in the face of Israel’s military onslaught; and Wire (w/t) from Oscar nominated film director Marcel Mettelsiefen explores how the violence of war has spilled out across Israel and the Occupied Territories.

One Day in October (w/t)

October 7th, 2023 was a day that shook the world. The well-rehearsed, close-quarters slaughter and abduction of hundreds of Israeli villagers and festival-goers was an event which has had catastrophic repercussions for Israelis and for the 2.3 million Palestinians who have borne the brunt of the Israeli military’s response. Channel 4 has teamed up with multi-BAFTA and EMMY-winning Leaving Neverland and Terror in Mumbai director Dan Reed for One Day in October, a 90-minute documentary which will unpack the story of that fateful day through the eyes of the survivors and drawing on a vast trove of recordings from kibbutz CCTV to Hamas perpetrators’ GoPro.

Commissioning Editor: Anna Miralis

Collateral (w/t)

Filmed over many months by a team of Palestinian cameramen and filmmakers across Gaza, Collateral (w/t), a Dispatches special, is a mix of reportage and forensic journalism that focuses on the lives of Gazan children, journalists & medical workers as they try to survive Israel’s military onslaught of the besieged strip following the horrific Hamas attacks of October 7th. Through the eyes of those on the ground and with incredible access inside Gaza since the beginning of the war, the film will follow Israel’s devastating military assault that has killed at least 30,000 mostly women and children, and left tens of thousands of orphaned and maimed children. The film is being made by award winning production company Basement Films and is directed by Vanessa Bowles – and is an unflinching look into the lives of ordinary Gazans who are facing the most extraordinary and horrific of challenges.

Commissioning Editor: Nevine Mabro and Joanna Potts

Our Land (w/t)

Oscar nominated film director Marcel Mettelsiefen turns his attention to Israel and the Occupied Territories for a new documentary that will go behind the headlines and delve into the emotional and political heart of the current crisis. This commission follows his BAFTA and Rose d’Or winning film for Channel 4 Children of the Taliban which looked at life in Afghanistan, post the Taliban takeover through the eyes of four young children.

Commissioning Editor: Nevine Mabro

Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer, Ian Katz said “The horrific Hamas attacks of October 7 and subsequent Israeli onslaught on Gaza have appalled and often divided people across the world. But the inability of international journalists and filmmakers to operate in Gaza means we have not yet had the chance to see the conflict from all perspectives. This slate of major films, from some of the finest documentary makers in the world, will for the first time offer a 360-degree view of the tragedy, from the desperate reality of life for ordinary Palestinians in shattered Gaza to the terrifying day of carnage in October that triggered the latest chapter of the conflict. These films underscore Channel 4’s deep commitment to finding new ways to take our viewers to the heart of the world’s most complex and contested stories.”

About Channel 4

Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer.

The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For more than 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.

With a unique publisher-broadcaster model, Channel 4 commissions its content from the UK independent production sector. Working with hundreds of creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.

In 2024, Channel 4 launched its Fast Forward strategy to accelerate its transformation into an agile and genuinely digital-first public service streamer by 2030. It is designed to ensure Channel 4 embraces the generational shift in TV viewing, elevates its impact across the UK and stands out in a crowded market.

From its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is fully committed to harnessing the power of its regional structure to increase its impact across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions. 4Skills invests £5m in training, development and learning opportunities annually and this will double to £10m by 2025.

Channel 4 has the UK’s biggest free streaming service. Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 37 Oscar wins and 97 BAFTA wins in its history.