The Israeli Culture Minister vowed to cut funds for the country’s film academy and its annual awards show after a film about a dream of a Palestinian boy seeing the sea.
On Tuesday night, in Tel Aviv, the Israeli Film Academy awarded the 2025 Best Picture Award to “The Sea” at the Ophiel Awards known as the “Israel Oscars.”
Directed and written by Shai Carmeli Pollak and produced by Baher Agbariya, the film follows a boy’s road trip from the occupied West Bank house of Ramallah to the coastal city of Tel Aviv.
He is currently planning to represent Israel in the Oscars in the international feature film category.
“The Sea” also won four other awards, including the 13-year-old Muhammad Gazawi Best Actor. Khalifa Natur, who plays the boy’s father, has won the best supporting actor.
During the ceremony, several filmmakers and candidates called for an end to the war in Gaza, while others criticized the Israeli government.
“This film is about the right for every child to live in peace, a fundamental right that we will not give up,” Agbarya said. “We are all equal. Peace and equality are not illusions, but they are possible options here.”
Director Calmeli Pollack declined to comment when CNN reached.
It comes when the War in Gaza was on full display at this week’s Emmy. There, actors, including Hannah Einbinder and Javier Bardem, sought a ceasefire. More than 1,000 actors and directors have vowed not to cooperate with Israeli film institutions.
For British screenwriter David Far, signing a pledge is personal.
“As a descendant of Holocaust survivors, I am struggling and infuriated by the actions of the Israeli State. The Israeli State has been implementing the apartheid system on Palestinians who have taken their lands for decades, and is now perpetuating genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
The day after the Israeli ceremony, the Israeli Ministry of Culture announced that it would withdraw its state funds for a “disgraceful ceremony” starting next year. The winning film “shows a Palestinian perspective and portrays IDF (Israel Defence Force) soldiers and Israel in a negative way,” the ministry said.
Culture Minister Miki Zohar described the ceremony and award as “spraying in the face of Israeli citizens,” saying, “The fact that the winning film portrays our heroic soldiers in an honorable and atf loss way makes us fight, protect us, take our lives and portray us in a false way, not to be surprised anymore.”
Zohar announced the establishment of the “Israel National Oscar” later on Wednesday. This is the new government-sponsored Alternative Film Awards ceremony to honor Israeli creators and films that “reflect the values and spirit of the people.”
Zohar said the Ophir award was filmed in another swipe, promoting “foreign segregated stories of Israel and IDF soldiers.”
Without directly addressing the threat, the Israel Academy defended the selection process as “conducted by academy members, creators, filmmakers and cultural figures.
Academy President Assaf Amir said, “I am proud that the Arabic film film, the achievements of cooperation between Jewish Israelis and Palestinians represent Israel at the Academy Awards. Israeli films are proud to be responsible for the complex and painful reality. The only wish is to reach the sea.”
Legal experts have questioned the legality of repaying the academy. Oded Feller, legal counsel for Israel’s Civil Rights Association, told CNN that Zohar may be “waving an air threat” and has no authority to withhold funds.
“The ministry’s budget is not his mother’s, and he is not authorized to interfere with the cultural content and professional judgment of those who chose the film,” Feller told CNN.
Zohar previously clashed with the film industry.
Last year, Israeli-Palestinian co-documentary No Other Land won the best documentary feature at the Oscars. The film follows the village of Masafayatta on the west bank of the Jordan River, where Palestinian communities are facing eviction and demolition by Israeli forces.
Filmmakers Basel Adora and Yuval Abraham used their acceptance speech to highlight the impact of Israeli military campaigns in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Adora said the film “reflects the harsh reality that we have been suffering for decades, the reality that continues to this day, and calls on the world to take concrete steps to end this injustice.”
Abraham called for the “bad destruction of Gaza” and the end of the release of Israeli hostages.
“We created this film, the Palestinians and the Israelites together, because our voices are coming together,” he added.
The Israeli government’s response was very negative, with Zohar calling the victory a “disappointing moment for the cinema world” and portraying the film as a “blockage” against Israel.
