The Sea

Synopsis

Khaled, a 12-year-old boy from a Palestinian village, gets the chance to see the sea for the first time in his life on a school trip. But when they reach a military checkpoint, the soldiers claim his permit is invalid and send him back home, while his classmates continue their trip. Deeply disappointed, Khaled sets out to the sea on his own, even though he doesn’t know the way and doesn’t speak Hebrew. When his father, Ribhi, an undocumented laborer working in Israel, learns that his son is missing, he leaves his job in search for him—risking arrest and the loss of his livelihood.

The Sea is 1 hour 33 minutes long and is in Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles. This film is not rated.

Note: Photos and synopsis courtesy of Menemsha Films, the US distributor for The Sea

Trailer

Reviews

“Made as a collaboration between Jewish and Palestinian Israelis, the film becomes a deeply humanist tale about borders, permits, the interdependent economies of two neighbors and the power of the dominant language.” ‘The Sea’ Review: Israel’s Oscar Entry Is a Moving Father-Son Tale in the Vein of ‘Bicycle Thieves’ — Variety, Alissa Simon

“The Sea is not the only recent film to critique Israel that has been met with backlash. Earlier this year, No Other Land, a story following Palestinian activist Basel Adra’s resistance to forced displacement from his home in Massafer Yatta, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature Film.” The Sea: How an Israeli director’s moving film about a Palestinian boy became a target for Netanyahu — The Independent, Maira Butt

Awards & Festivals

2025 Awards of the Israeli Film Academy

  • Nominee — Best Film
  • Nominee — Best Director (Shai Carmeli-Pollak)
  • Nominee — Best Screenplay (Shai Carmeli-Pollak)
  • Nominee — Best Cinematography (Shai Goldman)
  • Nominee — Best Supporting Actress (Marlene Bajali)
  • Nominee — Best Actor (Muhammad Gazawi)
  • Nominee — Best Supporting Actor (Khalifa Natour)
  • Nominee — Best Music (Avi Belleli)
  • Nominee — Best Editing (Yosef Grunfeld)
  • Nominee — Best Costume (Design Hamada Atallah)
  • Nominee — Best Makeup (Moshe Saada)
  • Nominee — Best Casting (Salim Abu Jabal)
  • Nominee — Best Sound (Ravid DvirNati Zeidenstadt)

2025 Jerusalem Film Festival

  • Nominee — The Haggiag Award for Best Israeli Feature (Shai Carmeli-Pollak)
  • Winner — Honorable Mention, Best Israeli Feature (Shai Carmeli-Pollak)
  • Winner — Best Ensemble Award
  • Winner — Yossi Mulla Award, Best Original Score (Avi Belleli)