About the Film

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.

The film had its world premiere at the Jerusalem Film Festival on 21 July 2025.

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.

Release & Recognition

The Sea had its world premiere in Israeli Feature Films section on 21 July 2025, at the 42nd Jerusalem Film Festival.

The film led with 13 nominations in the 36th Ophir Awards 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.

It was presented in the ‘Best of Festivals’ at the 29th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on 13 November 2025.

The film will compete in the Awards Buzz – Best International Feature Film section of the 37th Palm Springs International Film Festival on 4 January 2026.

Official Entry for the Academy Awards
Winner of 5 Ophir Israeli Academy Awards
Winner of Two Awards and a Special Mention at the Jerusalem Film Festival
Argentina, Mar del Plata International Film Festival – Official Selection
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival

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The GJFF festival seeks to offer quality entertainment that will create an ongoing vehicle for the Greenville Jewish Community to strengthen its cultural foundation, promote diversity through higher visibility, and grow Greenville’s reputation as a culturally vibrant Jewish community.

The GJFF was founded in 2018 by Osnat Rosen, Caroline Warthen and Helaine Meyers. These three women recognized that Greenville, SC – being strategically placed halfway between Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA, – was a perfect place to introduce a Jewish Film Festival.

The Kickoff Event featured the movie,”In Search of Israeli Cuisine”, and the positive feedback was beyond their wildest dreams. From that moment on, the Film Festival became a reality.

The Greenville Jewish Film Festival in association with the support of other community groups is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

We hope to inspire appreciation for the various forms of Jewish identity and to foster a warm sense of community.

2026 GJFF Pop Up: The Sea

Winner of 5 Ophir Israeli Academy Awards