Independence Film Dominates Ophir Awards, Secures Oscar Submission

Moshe Rosenthal's film "Independence" was the biggest winner at the 37th Ophir Awards, Israel's national film prize, held on September 9 at Cinema City Glilot. The movie garnered ten awards from a record 16 nominations, including Best Film, and will represent Israel in the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming Academy Awards.

Rosenthal himself received awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay. The film also won for cinematography, editing, makeup, sound, art direction, costume design, and casting. Despite its numerous technical and creative wins, "Independence" did not secure any acting awards.

The film centers on a 12-year-old boy who uncovers a family secret with devastating consequences. The Best Actor award went to Ihab Salamah for his role in "Where To." The Best Actress award was presented to Evgenia Dodina for her performance in Or Sinai's debut film "Mama," about a housekeeper in Caesarea supporting her family in Poland before returning home.

Tiki Dayan won Best Supporting Actress for "Farewell to Baking," and Ido Tako took home Best Supporting Actor. Actress Levana Finkelstein, a veteran of Israeli cinema and theater since the late 1960s, was honored with a lifetime achievement award for her contributions to the industry. Finkelstein has an extensive filmography, including "Margo Sheli," "Aviva, My Love," and "The Big Story," for which she previously won an Ophir Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2009.

The Ophir Awards, presented annually by the Israeli Film and Television Academy since 1990, are considered Israel's most prestigious film accolades.