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The country's Minister of Culture, Miki Zohar, stated that government financing for the Ophir Awards is set to be terminated following the film “The Sea,” centered on the journey of a young Palestinian boy, received the top film award.

Official’s Announcement on X

Via a message on social media, the minister stated, “There is no greater slap in the face to Israeli citizens than the shameful and out-of-touch Ophir awards ceremony.” The minister emphasized, “Starting with the 2026 budget, this pathetic event will no longer be funded by taxpayers’ money. During my term, Israeli citizens will not pay a ceremony that shows disrespect of our heroic soldiers.”

Details of the Winning Film “The Sea”

“This film,” which now becomes the country's submission for the Best International Film, is the work of Shai Carmeli-Pollak. It stars Muhammad Gazawi as a Palestinian boy who goes on a school trip to Tel Aviv to visit the beach for the first time but is refused passage at the border and embarks on a dangerous quest to enter the country. Gazawi, 13 years old, received the Ophir for best actor, while fellow actor Khalifa Natour won best supporting actor. The awards are voted on by members of the Israeli Academy of Film and Television.

Legal Uncertainty Regarding Funding Threat

It is unclear if the minister can actually follow through on his announcement: sources say that a civil rights organization is looking into whether the ministry is legally able to cut funding from the awards.

Minister’s Previous Actions Regarding Israeli Cinema

Zohar had earlier clashed with Israel’s film industry. Earlier this year, he proposed a bill to change public support for movies, directing government money toward box office hit films. He also described the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” as “sabotage targeting the state of Israel.”

Responses from Filmmakers

At the ceremony, the Palestinian producer of “The Sea” accepted the award by delivering a plea for equality and tolerance. He stated, “The movie was born from love for humanity and film, and its theme is one – the entitlement of all children to live and dream in safety, free from blockades, fearlessness, and an end to conflict.” Demonstrations opposing the Gaza conflict were noticeable at the event, with participants sporting T-shirts bearing slogans like “every child matters” and “stop the fighting.”

The producer also expressed gratitude to the national film fund for backing the project.

Veteran director Uri Barbash, known for the 1984 prison drama “Beyond the Walls,” received a lifetime achievement award and used his speech to demand an end to the war. He said, “It is our moral obligation to return every hostage to the embrace of their families, and immediately, to stop the horrible war and replace the ‘divide and rule’ system that declared war on Israeli society.”

Reacting to Zohar’s comments, the chair of the film academy said, “Against the Israeli government’s attacks on local film and culture, and the calls from some segments of the global cinema world to shun us, the selection of ‘The Sea’ is a powerful and clear answer.”

International Boycott Efforts and Film Community Responses

The dispute follows a commitment endorsed by over 3,000 international film industry professionals to avoid Israeli film institutions that they say are “implicated in genocide and apartheid targeting the Palestinians.” High-profile actors and directors such as Olivia Colman, Javier Bardem, Riz Ahmed, and Emma Stone added their support to the statement.

Representatives of the Israeli film industry described the movement “concerning.” Nadav Ben Simon of the writers’ association stated, “In the past, we have collaborated with Palestinian colleagues on movies, series, and documentaries that seek to encourage conversation, mutual understanding, harmony and an halt to hostilities… Boycotts do not advance the cause of reconciliation. Instead, they harm exactly those who are dedicated to building dialogue and building bridges between peoples.”

Hollywood studio Paramount Pictures additionally released a comment criticizing the initiative, stating, “We do not agree with the campaign to blacklist artists from Israel. Silencing creative artists based on their origin does not promote better understanding or advance the cause of peace.”