JIFF: The Sea

This film is also showing at our sister cinemas, Lido Cinemas and Ritz Cinemas

The Sea

“...a deeply humanist tale.” – Alissa Simon, Variety

Australian Premiere

A deeply humanistic drama made with a crew of Jews and Arabs working together, The Sea is director Shai Carmeli-Pollak's triumph, winner of Best Film at the Ophir Awards and Israel's official submission to the Academy Awards.

Reminiscent of the child-centric humanism of Vittorio De Sica and Jafar Panahi, The Sea tells the story of Khaled, a 12-year-old Palestinian boy who is taken to see the ocean for the first time on a school trip, but is denied entry at the military checkpoint. Without knowing Hebrew or his way, Khaled embarks on an odyssey through the streets of Tel Aviv in search of the Mediterranean, encountering a kaleidoscopic cross-section of Israeli society and all of its nuances.

This story of compassion – filmed in both Tel Aviv and Palestinian villages along the border wall – centres around a stunning performance from newcomer Mohammad Ghazawi, the youngest ever winner of the Ophir Award for Best Actor.

Festival Appearances/Awards
Academy Awards 2026 – Israeli submission for Best International Feature Film
Ophir Awards 2025 – Winner, Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Score
Jerusalem Film Festival 2025 – Winner, Best Ensemble, Best Original Score

Rating

Unclassified 15+

Duration

93 min

Country

Israel

Language

Arabic, Hebrew (English subtitles)

Cast

Mohammed Gazaoui, Khalifa Natour, Marlene Bajjali, Hila Sorjon

Director

Shai Carmeli Pollak