Veteran Actress Livana Finkelstein to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Ophir Awards

The Israeli Film and Television Academy will honor veteran actress Livana Finkelstein with a lifetime achievement award at the 2026 Ophir Awards ceremony. The award recognizes Finkelstein's career spanning over five decades in film, television, and theater.

Finkelstein, a prominent figure in Israeli cinema, was born in Bulgaria and immigrated to Israel at one year old. Her breakthrough came in 1969 at age 21, when she was cast in the lead role of Menachem Golan's film "My Margot." She later became a regular in films by Shmi Zarhin, appearing in "Aviva My Love," "The World is Funny," "The Good Words," and "Hamda." Her role in "A Big Story" earned her an Ophir Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Over her extensive career, Finkelstein has starred in dozens of films, including "I Love You Rosa," "Salomonico," "The Tzanani Family," "The Wooden Horse," "The Good Death," and "Cat's Luck." She has also performed on stage at major Israeli theaters such as Habima, Cameri, Beit Lessin, and Gesher.

Finkelstein has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including Best Actress awards at the Haifa Film Festival and the Jerusalem Film Festival. Beyond acting, she is also a sculptor, with her bronze works exhibited in Israel and Bulgaria.

Upon receiving the news, Finkelstein expressed her excitement, stating, "In these tense and heavy days, culture and art are what lift the spirit, comfort, and do good in people's hearts." She added, "It is important that we give culture the respect it deserves, because without culture, what are all the things really worth?"

The Ophir Awards ceremony will take place on September 9th at Cinema City Glilot, hosted by Shani Cohen and Adam Gabay.