From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Nominees reverse decision to boycott culture minister’s alternate film award
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Several leading film professionals who withdrew from an alternative awards ceremony set up by Culture Minister Miki Zohar say they have agreed to reverse their decision and now plan to take part in the December 30 event.
The eight nominees say they were convinced to reconsider by senior producer and Israel Prize laureate Moshe Edry, who promised to work with the culture minister to ensure continued funding for the film industry.
Edry has confirmed his involvement.
The alternative film awards were set up by Zohar in protest of the Ophir Awards, which gave the top award this year to the film “The Sea,” about a Palestinian boy, which Zohar said portrayed the IDF in a negative light.
After the nominees pulled out, Zohar threatened to cut off all state funding to the film industry.
Zohar says in a statement that the nominees’ decision to participate in the ceremony is “the right one.”
“This is a state ceremony, not a political one, and it reflects the love of the Israeli public,” says Zohar.
The Times of Israel Community.