The Sea

<p><img alt="Laurel icon denoting the film is in competition for a Jury Prize." border="0" src="https://data.ajff.org/sites/default/files/2025-12/laurels_Jury%20Award%20Nominee%20Blue_01_0.png" style="width:20%; max-width:20%; margin-left:10px; float:right;" />Israel’s Oscar submission delivers a deeply tender father–son odyssey in which a willful Palestinian boy’s dream of seeing the sea collides with painful realities of occupation. When 12-year-old Khaled is turned back at an Israeli checkpoint during a school trip, he slips across the border alone, intent on reaching the Mediterranean. His undocumented father Ribhi abandons the safety of his construction job to find him. Their parallel journeys through the West Bank and Tel Aviv, navigating tense borders, bustling streets, and fleeting moments of grace, expose stark imbalances and a deep emotional toll. This rare Jewish-Palestinian collaboration earned 13 Israeli Academy Award nominations, winning Best Film, Best Actor for young Mohammed Ghazaoui’s near-silent performance, and Best Supporting Actor for Khalifa Natour.</p>