THE SEA

Shai Carmeli-Pollak · ISR 2025 · 93’ · OmU · ARA, HEB/e · FSK from 12

Twelve-year-old Khaled lives in a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank and has a big dream: he finally wants to see the sea. When he is denied entry to Israel, he makes his way to Tel Aviv alone and illegally.
From the perspective of a child, director Shai Carmeli-Pollak tells of the everyday consequences of occupation, borders and inequality – and at the same time of hope, courage and the unwavering desire for freedom.
Created in collaboration between an Israeli and Palestinian team, THE SEA is a touching road movie and a deeply humanistic look at life between separation and neighborhood.

Winning the Ophir Awards for Best Picture – the "Israeli Oscars" – also made THE SEA the official Israeli submission for the 2026 Oscars. The award triggered fierce political reactions: Culture Minister Miki Zohar described the film as a "disgrace" and announced that the Ophir Awards would be deprived of state funding in the future.

Presented with the HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL ZURICH: https://humanrightsfilmfestival.ch/