Israeli Oscars entry calls compassion for Palestinians | REUTERS

Key Concepts

• The Sea (Film): Israel's entry for the 2026 Oscars, a narrative film about a Palestinian boy's unauthorized journey to the Israeli coast.
• Shy Carmeli Pollak: Writer, director, and peace activist behind "The Sea."
• Baja Abbaria: Israeli-Palestinian producer of "The Sea."
• West Bank: Palestinian territory where Shy Carmeli Pollak drew inspiration for the film.
• Checkpoint: A point of control where the protagonist is denied passage.
• Undocumented Laborer: The father's status in Israel, which makes his search for his son risky.
• October 7, 2023 Hamas Attacks: A significant event impacting the context of Israeli-Palestinian relations.
• Gaza War: A recent conflict that has heightened tensions.
• Settler Violence: Increased violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
• Mickey Zohar: Israeli Culture Minister who condemned "The Sea" and withdrew funding.
• No Other Land (Film): An Israeli-Palestinian documentary that won an Oscar, also drawing criticism from the Israeli government.

Film: "The Sea" - Narrative and Themes

"The Sea," Israel's submission for the 2026 Oscars, is a film that centers on the journey of a Palestinian boy attempting to reach the Israeli coast without proper documentation. The narrative is driven by the boy's unauthorized departure from home, which compels his father, an undocumented laborer in Israel, to embark on a perilous search for him, risking arrest.

Writer, director, and peace activist Shy Carmeli Pollak stated his hope that the film will foster greater compassion amidst ongoing conflict. He observed, "It was amazing that people could be emotional and sometimes shed a tear for this story while um violence and atrocities happen not far from from here at the same time." Pollak aims for the film to "open other channels of compassion and love and and give other ways that we can live together in this place."

The inspiration for "The Sea" stemmed from Carmeli Pollak's visit to the West Bank and his observations of life under occupation. The film's themes are particularly relevant given the current bleak prospects for peace, exacerbated by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, the war in Gaza, and escalating settler violence in the West Bank.

Production and Reception

Baja Abbaria, the Israeli-Palestinian producer of "The Sea," believes the current climate makes it the opportune moment to bring a Palestinian story to the mainstream, stating, "I believe that uh because of what happening uh this is the time also for this film you know for this kind of story to listen to the others."

The film received Israel's top film prize in September. However, this recognition led to condemnation from Culture Minister Mickey Zohar, who subsequently withdrew funding from the awards ceremony due to the film's depiction of the Israeli military.

In response to the controversy, Carmeli Pollak asserted his representation of the filmmaking community and those who aspire for peace and equality. He stated, "I certainly don't represent the government and but I do feel that I represent the film film makers community that chose this film and loved it and I represent every people both like Israelis and Palestinians that aspire for peace and for equality and for living together in a in a in a different way than this government is working for."

Precedent: "No Other Land"

The reception of "The Sea" echoes that of another Israeli-Palestinian film, "No Other Land," which won the documentary feature film award at the 2025 Oscars. This film, focusing on the Israeli displacement of a Palestinian community in the West Bank, also provoked anger from the Israeli government.

Synthesis and Conclusion

"The Sea" emerges as a significant cinematic work aiming to bridge divides through storytelling, particularly in a period of heightened Israeli-Palestinian tension. The film's narrative, inspired by the realities of life in the West Bank, and its subsequent critical reception highlight the ongoing challenges and sensitivities surrounding the portrayal of the conflict. The parallel with "No Other Land" underscores a pattern of Israeli governmental disapproval towards films that address Palestinian experiences and critique Israeli policies, even as these films gain international recognition and are championed by segments of the filmmaking community and those advocating for peace and coexistence. The core takeaway is the film's intent to foster empathy and explore alternative pathways for living together, set against a backdrop of political turmoil and artistic controversy.