Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar announced he is pulling funding for the country’s Ophir Awards after The Sea won the top prize. Shai Carmeli-Pollak and Baher Agbariya’s The Sea follows a 12-year-old Palestinian boy from the West Bank, who dreams of seeing the sea for the first time, embarking on a risky journey after being denied entry at an Israeli checkpoint.

The joint Israeli-Palestinian production won Best Film at Israel’s Ophir Awards, which automatically made it the country’s Oscar submission for the 2026 Best International Feature category. The drama film also won Best Actor for 13-year-old lead Muhammad Gazawi and Best Supporting Actor for Khalifa Natour at a somber ceremony marked by the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Now, Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar has announced that the government will pull state funding for the Ophir Awards starting in 2026. In a public statement (per ᴅᴇᴀᴅline), Zohar called The Sea‘s negative portrayal of Israeli soldiers “disgraceful,” describing its win as a “slap in the face of Israeli citizens.” Check out the full statement below:

This absurdity, in which Israeli citizens are still paying from their own pockets for the disgraceful Ophir Awards that represent less than one percent of the people of Israel, will come to an end because I have decided to stop it. Starting with the 2026 budget, this pathetic ceremony will no longer be funded by taxpayers’ money. Under my watch, Israeli citizens will not pay from their pockets for a ceremony that spits in the faces of our heroic soldiers. No more.

Zohar previously expressed concerns about the political tone of the Ophir Awards’ frontrunners, as Yes! by Nadav Lapid and Oxygen by Natali Braun also tackle themes diverging from the government’s stance. It is currently unclear whether the Minister has the legal authority to defund the awards, as Israel’s ᴀssociation for Civil Rights has stated it will challenge this in court.

The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Has Also Fueled Hollywood Boycotts

The ongoing war between Israel and Palestine has sparked a growing response from the global entertainment industry, including calls for a boycott by figures in Hollywood. High-profile actors have publicly criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza, with some choosing to distance themselves from Israeli-affiliated projects, film festivals, or cultural insтιтutions. In fact, Snow White was partly impacted by this controversy.

ᴀssaf Amir, Chairman of the Israeli Film Academy, congratulated The Sea‘s win, emphasizing the importance of artistic freedom and open dialogue, stating: “In the face of the Israeli government’s attacks on Israeli cinema and culture, and the calls from parts of the international film community to boycott us, the selection of The Sea is a powerful and resounding response.“

What Zohar’s Statement Means For Ophir Awards

Israel has a history of submitting movies exploring complex or critical narratives, including past Oscar entries like Waltz with Bashir, Foxtrot, and Let It Be Morning. While some see The Sea‘s success at the Ophir Awards as part of Israeli cinema’s tradition of introspection, others, like Zohar, place The Sea within the debate over government support for politically challenging content.

Should Zohar’s proposed defunding take place, it may affect the production or organization of future award ceremonies. However, the full impact remains to be seen, pending legal or insтιтutional responses to Zohar’s announcement. Regardless, The Sea has made an international impression, and its automatic selection as Israel’s Oscar entry means the conversation will likely continue on a global stage.