Group 1 - The film "The Sea" won multiple awards at the Israeli Academy Awards (Ophir Awards) and will represent Israel in the Oscars, despite criticism from Culture Minister Miki Zohar who claimed the film "slaps Israelis in the face" [1][3] - "The Sea" premiered on July 21 and tells the story of a 12-year-old Palestinian boy who faces obstacles while trying to see the sea in Tel Aviv, highlighting the struggles of Palestinian life and the harshness of Israeli soldiers [3] - The award ceremony was described as a solemn anti-war propaganda event, provoking anger from high-ranking Israeli government officials, leading to a statement from Zohar that the government will cease funding the film awards from 2026 [3] Group 2 - The Israeli Film and Television Academy responded by emphasizing that the film's theme is about human compassion, with the Academy's president stating that the Israeli film and cultural industry is facing "attacks from the government" and pressure from international peers [3]