The Sea (2025 film)
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| The Sea | |
|---|---|
 International promotional poster | |
| Arabic | البحر |
| Hebrew | הים |
| Directed by | Shai Carmeli-Pollak |
| Written by | Shai Carmeli-Pollak |
| Produced by | Bahr Agbariya |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Shai Goldman |
| Edited by | Joseph Greenfeld |
| Music by | Avi Belleli |
Production company | Majdal Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | Israel |
| Languages |
|
The Sea (Arabic: البحر; Hebrew: הים) is a 2025 Israeli drama film written and directed by Shai Carmeli-Pollak. Starring Muhammad Gazawi as Khaled, it follows a 12-year-old Palestinian boy who tries to reach the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in his life.
The film had its world premiere at the Jerusalem Film Festival on 21 July 2025. It won five Ophir Awards, including Best Film at the 2025 ceremony,[1] and was selected as the Israeli entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[2]
Khaled, a 12-year-old boy from a Palestinian village, is thrilled to join a school trip to see the sea for the first time. However, at an Israeli military checkpoint, soldiers declare his travel permit invalid and send him back, while his classmates continue on. Determined and heartbroken, Khaled sets out alone to reach the sea, despite not knowing the way or speaking Hebrew. His father, Ribhi, an undocumented laborer working in Israel, abandons his job and risks arrest to search for his missing son.
Cast
- Muhammad Gazawi as Khaled
- Khalifa Natour as Ribhi
- Marlene Bajali
- Hila Surjun Fisher
- Gabriel Horn as Tamir
Production
The film was produced with the fund of ₪2 million (US$598,600) from the Israel Film Foundation. It was shot in 2023. Shai Goldman served as the film's cinematographer, while Avi Belleli composed the music.[3]
Release
The Sea had its world premiere in Israeli Feature Films section on 21 July 2025, at the 42nd Jerusalem Film Festival.[4]
The film led with 13 nominations in the 36th Ophir Awards[5] and ultimately won the award for Best Picture. The positive reception of the film and the negative portrayal of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers provoked Israel's culture minister Miki Zohar to announce the withdrawal of government funding to the awards ceremony.[6][7]
It was presented in the 'Best of Festivals' at the 29th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on 13 November 2025.[8]
The film competed in the Awards Buzz – Best International Feature Film section of the 37th Palm Springs International Film Festival on 4 January 2026.[9]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 42nd Jerusalem Film Festival | Haggiag Award for Best Feature through the Jerusalem Foundation:Honorable Mention | The Sea | Won | [10] |
| Best Ensemble Award | Won | ||||
| Yossi Mulla Award for Best Original Score | Avi Belleli | Won | |||
| 36th Ophir Awards | Best Picture | The Sea | Won | [11] | |
| Best Screenplay | Shai Carmeli-Pollak | Won | |||
| Best Actor | Muhammad Gazawi | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Khalifa Natour | Won | |||
| Best Original Score | Avi Belleli | Won |
