A film from Israel, ‘The Sea’, directed by Shai Carmeli-Pollak, has been selected as Israel’s official entry for the Best International Feature category at the 2026 Oscars.
The announcement has sparked discussion because the film comes from Israel, a country currently under international criticism for its war in Gaza.
‘The Sea’ tells the story of Khaled, a 12-year-old Palestinian boy who dreams of seeing the sea for the first time. On a school trip to Tel Aviv, Khaled is stopped at a military checkpoint.
Refusing to turn back, he decides to continue alone. He does not know the way, and he does not speak Hebrew.
The story follows his journey, highlighting the innocence of childhood against the harsh realities of war. Critics have described the film as a powerful anti-war message. It shows the human cost of conflict.
The film premiered at the Jerusalem Film Festival and has received recognition in Israel with 13 nominations at the Israeli Film Awards, the country’s top film honor.
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Despite these accolades, its selection for the Oscars has raised eyebrows internationally. Many film industry figures have expressed concern over supporting Israeli film institutions while the country is committing war crimes in Gaza.
Last week, more than 1,300 actors, directors, and other creatives, including Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, Riz Ahmed, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Emma Stone, and Ava DuVernay, signed a pledge urging a boycott of Israeli film organizations.
The campaign, led by activist group Film Workers for Palestine, calls attention to the alleged complicity of Israel’s cultural institutions in ongoing violence.
Israeli industry leaders, however, have dismissed the boycott as “misguided and self-defeating.”
Israel has been a frequent participant at the Oscars, receiving ten nominations so far in the Best International Feature category, though the country has never won.
‘The Sea’ will face international scrutiny not only for its artistic merit but also for the politics surrounding its country of origin.
The Academy will release a shortlist of 15 films for the category on December 16, 2025, with the final nominations announced on January 22, 2026. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on March 15, 2026.
The release of ‘The Sea’ comes at a particularly tense time. A United Nations inquiry has declared that Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza amounts to genocide.