Moshe Rozenthal’s Film 'Independence' Leads Ophir Awards 2026 with 16 Nominations

The nominees for the 2026 Ophir Awards, Israel’s premier film awards, were announced on Sunday ahead of the ceremony scheduled for September 9. Moshe Rozenthal’s film "Independence," starring Assi Cohen, leads the nominations with 16 nods, including Best Feature Film. The film tells the story of Boaz, who at age 12 in 1987 uncovers a devastating secret about his father, Meir, triggering a series of destructive events for his family. A decade later, as an adult, Boaz confronts his guilt and haunted past.

Following "Independence," two films tied with 12 nominations each: Avi Nesher’s "Our Loves," which follows seven intertwined characters on the eve of October 7, and "The Comedian" by Shuli Rand and Gidi Dar, about a Jerusalem wedding comedian who loses everything. Both "Where To/لوين," directed by Asaf Meknas, about a chance meeting between a Palestinian Uber driver and a young Israeli in Berlin, and "Mama," directed by Or Sinai and starring Yevgenia Dodina, each received 11 nominations.

In acting categories, Assi Cohen is nominated for Best Actor for "Independence," alongside Shuli Rand, Ihab Salami, Ala Daka, and Avraham Shalom Levy. Best Actress nominees include Yevgenia Dodina, Keren Tzur, Lehi Kornowski, Rabaka Azmiralda Talhami, and Reut Ackerman. Notably, Ido Taco received two supporting actor nominations for roles in "Where To/لوين" and "Independence." Several creators received multiple nominations across categories, such as Shuli Rand for acting and screenplay for "The Comedian," Avraham Shalom Levy for screenplay and lead role in "Farewell to Dough," and Reut Ackerman for directing and lead acting in "Home!"

The announcement comes a year after the 2025 Ophir Awards were marked by political controversy following the win of "The Sea," a film about a Palestinian boy’s journey to see the sea for the first time. Culture Minister Miki Zohar criticized the film as "pro-Palestinian" despite public funding and threatened to cut Ophir funding and create an alternative film prize.

The full list of nominees spans categories including Best Feature Film, Short Film, Documentary, Animation, directing, acting, screenplay, cinematography, music, editing, art direction, costume design, makeup, casting, and sound design. The ceremony will highlight the diversity and depth of Israeli cinema in 2026.