Movies by Brandon Kramer

Brandon Kramer is a rising star in the independent film world, known for his deeply humane, observational approach to storytelling. With a keen eye for the rhythms of everyday life and an empathetic understanding of his characters, Kramer crafts films that are both intimately personal and broadly relatable. Kramer's 2015 debut, "City of Trees," set the tone for his filmography, following a group of urban tree-planters as they navigate the challenges of community organizing and personal growth. Praised for its naturalistic performances and immersive, slice-of-life aesthetic, the film established Kramer as a director unafraid to find the poetry in the mundane. He would go on to refine this style in subsequent works, such as the quietly poignant "The First Step" (2023) and the acclaimed "Background" (2024), which offer sensitive, character-driven explorations of loss, identity, and the search for meaning. Kramer's most recent offering, "Holding Liat" (2025), further solidifies his reputation as a filmmaker with a keen social conscience. Tackling the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the lens of a family's personal struggles, the film has been hailed for its nuanced, empathetic approach, eschewing easy answers in favor of a deeper, more humanistic understanding of the region's ongoing tensions. With each new project, Kramer demonstrates a remarkable ability to illuminate the universal truths that lie within the specifics of individual lives, cementing his status as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary independent cinema.