Avi Nesher’s New Film Set Against October 7 Massacre Premieres at Toronto Festival

Avi Nesher’s latest film, "Our Loves," set against the backdrop of the October 7 massacre, has been accepted into the Toronto International Film Festival. The film will be featured in the "Centrepiece" section, which highlights international cinema. In May, major American companies Fox Entertainment Studios and Access Entertainment joined as co-producers, providing significant support for this Hebrew-language Israeli film. They partnered with Israeli production companies United King Films, Artoms Communications, SIPUR, and Moria Media.

This marks Nesher’s first film since his 2023 release "Jungle," and features a notable cast including Shalom Michaelshvili, Magi Azarzar, Yaniv Biton, Noa Cohen, Hadas Yaron, Evelyn Hagoel, Lena Freifeld, and Lior Miller among others. The film is scheduled for Israeli theatrical release in September. At a special panel during the Jerusalem Film Festival, "Our Loves" was presented as a case study in breaking international boycotts. Danny Cohen, president of Access Entertainment and former head of BBC Television, expressed confidence in the film’s Oscar potential, stating, "I believe ‘Our Loves’ has a real chance at the American Oscars. I have been involved in several Oscar films, and I believe Avi’s work deserves that platform."

The film draws inspiration from real events and follows seven interconnected characters trapped in complex, often painful yet sometimes comedic relationships. Each character shares the belief that October 6, the day love died, is the worst day of their lives. The desperate survival events of October 7 trigger revelations about their past and future, previously unknown to them. Recently, it was announced that "Our Loves" received 12 Ophir Award nominations, further underscoring its critical acclaim.