Moshe Rozental’s Film 'Independence' Breaks Record with 16 Ophir Award Nominations

The Israeli Film Academy announced the nominees for the 2026 Ophir Awards, Israel’s premier film awards, with Moshe Rozental’s second feature film "Independence" setting a new record with 16 nominations. The film, which opened the Jerusalem Film Festival this summer, is set in 1987 and tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who uncovers a devastating secret about his father, played by Assi Cohen.

Following "Independence" are two films tied with 12 nominations each: Avi Nesher’s "Our Loves" and Shuli Rand and Gidi Dar’s "The Jester." Actor Ido Tako stands out by competing against himself for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in both "Independence" and "Where to, Levin," Asaf Meknas’s debut film about a Palestinian Uber driver in Berlin.

The ceremony, hosted by actors Shani Cohen and Adam Gabay, will take place on September 9 at Cinema City in Glilot. The late director Nitzan Giladi, who passed away last month after battling esophageal cancer, received a posthumous nomination for his short narrative film "Nechama," starring Raymond Amsalem.

Other notable nominees include Best Actress contenders Yevgenia Dodina for "Mama," Lehi Kornowski for "Many Waters," and Karen Tzur for "Independence." Assi Cohen and Shuli Rand are among the Best Actor nominees, while the Best Director category features Avi Nesher, Or Sinai, Asaf Meknas, Moshe Rozental, and Reut Akerman. The full list spans categories such as short and feature documentaries, animation, screenplay, cinematography, music, editing, and more.