Ophir Awards 2024: The candidates who advanced to the final stage have been announced

The Israel Academy of Cinema and Television has announced the candidates who advanced to the final stage of the 2024 Ophir Awards ceremony. The ceremony will take place on September 16 at the Tel Aviv Expo complex and will be accompanied by a special broadcast of the program ‘Arab Tov with Guy Pines’.

Among the newcomers to the finals of the year 2 new creators – Tom Nesher andYosef Abu Madiam – with debut films in the best feature film category. Nesher (27) daughter of the director Avi Nesherleads the ceremony with 12 nominations for her debut film ‘close to me’.

The film, which deals with the family tragedy with the death of her brother lionpicked up the prestigious prize in the Viewpoints competition at the last Tribeca Festival. In Israel, Nesher won 3 awards at the Jerusalem Festival, including the best debut film award and the best actress award.

Yosef Abu Madiam (36) of Mehrat, is the first Bedouin to direct a full-length Israeli feature film. his film ‘Eid’which has 8 nominations at the Ophir Awards, won the award for the best Israeli feature film at the last Jerusalem festival and picked up the lead actor award as well.

In his film, Abu Mediam tells the story of a young furniture man, who was sexually assaulted as a child and whose dream is to create a theater. After his parents inform him that he is being married against his will, he sets out to fight for his freedom and the hope to create within the society in which he lives.

Short documentaries

The effects of the war are clearly visible on Israeli cinema, with 3 of the 5 short documentaries (under 60 minutes) dealing with the events of October 7 – ‘Abigail’, ‘Cries and then silence’ and-‘#Nova’.

In his film ‘Abigail’, follows second son other Abigail Idan The 4-year-old, the youngest captive released from Hamas captivity and acclimatized in the bosom of her extended family after both of her parents were murdered.

From the movie ‘Abigail’ (Photo: Uriel Sinai)

‘Screams and then silence’ – the documentary film in the lead Sheryl Sandbergwhich exposed the sexual crimes committed by Hamas terrorists. The film brings testimonies from freed abductees, survivors and survivors who were at the various scenes of the massacre on October 7.

‘#Nova’ – the documentary about the massacre that happened at the Nova festival on October 7. The film of Dan Farr Created from video and audio clips of survivors who filmed and recorded themselves in real time. It received high viewing figures and made it to the list of the most watched documentaries in 2023.

‘The Child’: commemorating the late creator Yahav Viner who was murdered on October 7

the film ‘the boy’ created Yahav Wiener The late creator, actor, producer and cinematographer who was murdered on October 7 in Gaza village, leaves behind an artistic legacy with his film competing in the best short feature film category. This is a student film starring Yoram Toledano andNimrod factionwhich was produced as a final film as part of Wiener’s studies at the Art Institute. It was budgeted through crowdfunding and was filmed in Gaza City and is dedicated to the memory of Jimmy is holya member of the kibbutz, who was killed by an IED hit in 2008 while working in his garden.

Veteran actors present

Rebecca Michaeli, Dayan bags andSasson Gabaynominated in the leading actor category for their roles in the films ‘asset’, ‘the ring’ and‘nice’.

For the first time in her long career, Rebecca is nominated Michaeli for the award in the leading actress category for her role in “Nazuk” by Dana and Ruto Modenwhich is a debut feature for them. (This is Dana Moden’s first feature film). In 2005, Michaeli picked up the supporting actress award for her role in “We Must Be Happy” by Julie Shelz.

Sasson Gabbai and Assi Levy in Hamda (Photo: Itzik Portal)

Last year’s Academy Award winner as the supporting actress in her role on ‘7 Blessings’, Tiki Dayan, is also nominated this year in this category, and this time for her role in ‘The Ring’.

After winning the last television awards ceremony as a comedic supporting actor on ‘Aviram Katz’, Sasson Gabbay is now nominated for a leading role in‘Greedy’. If he wins, he is expected to break the academy record and personal record again, and will scoop an eighth statuette in the game categories.

Leaders in the number of nominations

More films nominated in a high number of categories: ‘milk’ of Maya Koenig with 10 nominations In the feature film category – direction, screenplay, supporting actress and more, f‘The Ruler Road’ of Maya Dreyfuss with 9 nominations.

Academy members will be invited to select the category winners on September 4-9. This year, the ceremony is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Film Council, the Fund for the Encouragement of Israeli Film from the foundation of the Israel Film Industry Association and the Lottery, which will support a grant in the campaign to promote the best international film in the race for the Oscar.