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

The Israeli Academy of Film and Television announced the nominees for the 2026 Ophir Awards on Sunday morning. The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, at Cinema City Tel Aviv, hosted by Shani Cohen and Adam Gabay. Moshe Rozental’s film "Independence" set a new record with 16 nominations, the highest in the history of the awards.

Six films are competing for Best Feature Film: "Independence," "Our Loves" by Avi Nesher, "The Comedian" by Shuli Rand and Gidi Dar, "Home!" by Reut Ackerman, "Where to Lewin" by Asaf Meknas, and "Mama" by Or Sinai. Several creators received nominations in multiple categories. Shuli Rand was nominated for both screenplay and lead actor for "The Comedian." Reut Ackerman earned nominations for directing and lead actress for "Home!" Abraham Shalom Levy was nominated for screenplay and acting in "Farewell to Dough."

In supporting and technical categories, multiple double nominations appeared: actor Ido Taco was nominated twice for Best Supporting Actor for "Independence" and "Where to Lewin." Hamutal Zerem Kastel received two casting nominations for "Independence" and "Where to Lewin," while Keren Eyal Melamed was nominated twice for costume design for "Our Loves" and "Achieving High School."

Late director Nitzan Giladi received a posthumous nomination for Best Short Film for "Nechama," and his film "And You Loved" earned Michael Mushonov a supporting actor nomination. Two films entering the competition have international acclaim: the short documentary "They Were and Are Not" by Hila Madalia and Meir Levinson Bulent’s "Scar of Butchers," both previously nominated for the American Oscar.

Additionally, the article references major winners at the Jerusalem Film Festival, including "Where to Lewin" and "I New" by Evgenia Dudina, noting a comment about responses to her Tel Aviv origin.