Oscars 2026: Israel selects 'The Sea' for Best International Feature category

Oscars 2026

Israel has officially picked Shai Carmeli-Pollak’s anti-war drama The Sea as its submission for the 2026 Oscars in the Best International Feature category.

The film, which premiered at the Jerusalem Film Festival, centers on a 12-year-old Palestinian boy who risks everything to see the ocean for the first time in Tel Aviv.

The narrative centers on Khaled, who is first turned away at a military checkpoint while on a field trip. He sets out on his own, determined to touch the sea, navigating unknown streets while unable to speak Hebrew.

A film with political weight

The movie has already stirred conversation. While its message is decidedly anti-war, the timing of its submission is complicated. Calls to boycott Israeli cultural institutions have grown louder amid the war in Gaza. Just last week, more than 1,300 filmmakers and artists—including Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, Emma Stone, Riz Ahmed, and Tilda Swinton—signed a pledge backing the boycott.

Israel’s film leaders have pushed back, calling the boycott “misguided and self-defeating.” Still, it’s clear the campaign will shadow The Sea’s road to the Academy Awards.

Awards buzz and history

At home, Carmeli-Pollak’s film has momentum. The Sea picked up 13 nominations at the Israeli Film Awards, the local equivalent of the Oscars, including best film. But the bigger test lies with U.S. Academy voters, who have sometimes embraced Israeli films in the past.

Israel has secured 10 Oscar nominations in the Best International Feature category but has yet to win. The last time the country reached the shortlist was with Joseph Cedar’s Footnote in 2011. Meanwhile, Palestinian narratives have made noise globally—this year’s Oscar for Best Documentary went to the Israeli-Palestinian co-production No Other Land.

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The road ahead

The Academy will unveil its 15-film shortlist on December 16, 2025, with final nominations dropping on January 22, 2026. The 98th Oscars will take place on March 15 in Los Angeles.

Whether Carmeli-Pollak’s The Sea makes it all the way remains to be seen, but its blend of art, politics, and raw humanity ensures it won’t go unnoticed.