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Nadav Lapid

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Nadav Lapid
נדב לפיד
Lapid in 2019
Born (1975-04-08) 8 April 1975 (age 51)
Tel Aviv, Israel
EducationTel Aviv University
Paris 8 University
Sam Spiegel Film and Television School
OccupationFilmmaker
SpouseNaama Preis
Children1

Nadav Lapid (Hebrew: נדב לפיד, born 8 April 1975) is an Israeli filmmaker. His films usually involve strong criticism of Israeli nationalism and identity in the 21st century.

He is most known for his autobiographical films Synonyms (2019) and Ahed's Knee (2021). Film critics consider him to be one of the most acclaimed Israeli filmmakers.[1][2][3]

Early life

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Lapid was born in Tel Aviv, Israel,[2] to a family of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. He is the son of writer Haim Lapid [he] and film editor Era Lapid [he]. He studied philosophy at Tel Aviv University, moving to Paris after his compulsory military service in the Israel Defense Forces. He returned to Israel to pursue a degree at the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School in Jerusalem.[4]

Career

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2010s

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Lapid's debut feature film Policeman (2011) won the Special Jury Prize at the 64th Locarno Film Festival.[5] It follows an Israeli counter-terrorism (Shin Bet) unit during a hostage crisis. It received positive reviews, cementing his career.

His drama film The Kindergarten Teacher (2014) premiered at the Critics' Week section of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. It won the IFFI Best Director Award for the film at the 45th International Film Festival of India in November 2014.[6] It received positive reviews. An English-language remake was produced in 2018, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal.

In 2016, Lapid was a member of the jury of the Critics' Week of the 69th Cannes Film Festival.[7] In 2019, he became a recipient of the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.[5]

Synonyms (2019) premiered at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival and won the Golden Bear.[8] A satirical autobiography, it follows an Israeli expatriate living in Paris, trying to distance himself from his Israeli identity. It became Lapid's most acclaimed work to date.

2020s

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Lapid's autobiographical film Ahed's Knee (2021) premiered at the 74th Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize. It marked his first entry in the main competition of the festival. It follows an Israeli filmmaker traveling back to his home-country to produce a new film about Israeli–Palestinian conflict, but is invited to a screening of one of his early films in a government institution.[9]

In November 2022, Lapid was invited to head the jury at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. Assessing the fifteen entries in a closing speech, he, on the behalf of the jury, singled out The Kashmir Files for pointed criticism: it was "vulgar propaganda", he said, and an "inappropriate [submission]", which had shocked his fellow jury members.[10] Lapid's remarks gave rise to a controversy in Indian politics, drawing backlash from the supporters and the members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which had promoted the film, but receiving support from political opposition.[10] Naor Gilon, Israel's ambassador to India castigated Lapid over Twitter, finding his remarks presumptuous and insensitive; other diplomats from Israel supported Gilon.[10][11] In subsequent interviews, Lapid stood by his remarks;[12][13] his fellow jurors – except Sudipto Sen – endorsed his observations in a joint statement.[14][15][16]

Lapid's satirical film Yes (2025) premiered to critical acclaim at the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. As a vocal critic of Israeli artistic society during the Gaza war and the country's strong support of the ongoing violence, Lapid stated, "For years, I’ve dreamed of liberating myself from this Israeli prison".[17] The film was also screened at the 2025 Jerusalem Film Festival, but was not released theatrically in Israel.[18]

During the 2026 FID Marseille International Film Festival a boycott was called against Lapid, over the fact that Yes had received some funding from the Israel Film Fund, even though the fund often finances Palestinian political films and is openly criticized by the Israeli far-right.[19][20] The boycott generated controversy throughout Europe. Natalie Portman, Justine Triet and Jacques Audiard were among 350 film industry figures (mainly from the French film industry) who signed an open letter condemning the boycott.[19] Lapid withdrew from the festival,[21] and a special screening of Policeman (2011) was canceled. He later expressed dissatisfaction with the open campaign against him since the release of Yes.[22]

Style

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Lapid in 2011

Lapid is considered by the film critics to be among the most acclaimed filmmakers from Israel.[1] He has gained reputation for "thematically and formally challenging work".[23] His work frequently involves strong and blatant criticism of Israeli nationalism and identity.[24][25]

Commenting on the reception of his work, he stated that "we need someone to be in the opposition, to upset the power structure of cinema, to want to lock horns with it".[3]

Personal life

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Lapid is married to Israeli actress Naama Preis, with whom he had one child.[26]

Political views

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Lapid lives in self-exile in Paris since 2021. He is a vocal critic of the Israeli government.[3][27]

In December 2023, alongside 50 other filmmakers, Lapid signed an open letter published in the French newspaper Libération demanding an immediate ceasefire and an end to the killing of civilians following the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, and calling for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to be established for humanitarian aid, along with the release of hostages.[28][29][30]

Filmography

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Feature films

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Year English title Original title Notes
2011 Policeman השוטר
2014 The Kindergarten Teacher הגננת
2019 Synonyms מילים נרדפות Golden Bear winner at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival
2021 Ahed's Knee הַבֶּרֶךְ Jury Prize winner at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival
2025 Yes כן!

Short films

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  • Road (2005)
  • Emile's Girlfriend (2006)
  • Ammunition Hill (features in Footsteps in Jerusalem) (2013)
  • Why (2015)
  • Diary of a Wedding Photographer (2016)

References

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  1. 1 2 Hoberman, J. (30 July 2015). "J. Hoberman Reviews Nadav Lapid's Insular New 'The Kindergarten Teacher'". Tablet Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022. [Lapid's] two features [..] have made him the most internationally acclaimed Israeli filmmaker in recent memory… and perhaps ever.
  2. 1 2 Hawa, Kaleem (31 March 2022). "Nadav Lapid's Cinema of Shame". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 29 November 2022. Nadav Lapid has the uncertain honor of being the most acclaimed Israeli film director. A perennial favorite at festivals around the world, [..]
  3. 1 2 3 Anderman, Nirit (2 March 2019). "This Award-winning Filmmaker Is Praised by His Fellow Israelis. And It's Making Him Uncomfortable". Haaretz. In recent years he [Nadav Lapid] has become one of the most esteemed Israeli directors in the world.
  4. ↑ "Nadav Lapid: Israel's Feted Director Speaks His Mind – In His Films and Outside". The Wire. PTI. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Synonymes". Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin. 2019. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  6. ↑ "Nadav Lapid: Israel's feted director speaks his mind - in his films and outside it". The Times of India. 2022-11-30. Archived from the original on 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  7. ↑ "Jury 2016". Semaine de la Critique de Cannes. Archived from the original on 12 May 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  8. ↑ Escritt, Thomas (16 February 2019). "Israeli director Nadav Lapid's 'Synonyms' wins Berlinale". Reuters. Berlin. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  9. ↑ Chang, Justin (31 March 2022). "Review: The brilliant, incorrigible 'Ahed's Knee' takes furious aim at contemporary Israel". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 Schmall, Emily; Kumar, Hari (29 November 2022). "Israeli Filmmaker's Critique of Popular Bollywood Film Draws Fierce Backlash". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  11. ↑ "'You Should Be Ashamed': Israeli Envoy Slams Filmmaker Who Set Off Firestorm in India". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2022-11-29. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  12. ↑ "'In Countries That Are Losing Ability to Speak Truth, Someone Needs to Speak Up': Nadav Lapid". The Wire. Archived from the original on 2022-11-30. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  13. ↑ "Israeli filmmaker Lapid stands by his comments, says can recognise 'propaganda disguised as a movie'". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  14. ↑ "IFFI's Foreign Jurors Back Lapid on 'Kashmir Files', Say Their Criticism Is Artistic, Not Political". The Wire. 3 December 2022. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "Banning 'The Kerala Story' Serves No Purpose, That Is Not The Way of Democracies". The Wire. Archived from the original on 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  16. ↑ Bhattacharya, Snigdhendu (2 May 2023). "'The Kerala Story' And The Growth Of Hindutva Propaganda Movies In India". Outlook. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  17. ↑ Hoffman, Jordan (2026-03-25). "This Israeli Director Thinks He's Made the "Most Radical Movie" About Gaza". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  18. ↑ טוביאס, בנימין; טוביאס, בנימין (2025-07-20). "צופה קילל ונטש, האולם מחא כפיים: בכורת הסרט החדש של הילד הרע של הקולנוע הישראלי". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  19. 1 2 Keslassy, Elsa (2026-06-09). "Natalie Portman, Justine Triet and Jacques Audiard Defend Israeli Director Nadav Lapid: 'The Cultural Boycott Is an Intellectual Failure'". Variety. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  20. ↑ Shalev, Tal (2025-09-17). "Israel's culture minister vows to defund 'Israeli Oscars' after film about Palestinian boy wins big". CNN. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  21. ↑ Ntim, Zac (2026-06-09). "Nadav Lapid Pulls Out Of Marseille Film Fest Over Planned Boycott". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  22. ↑ "'The cultural boycott of Israeli director Nadav Lapid is an intellectual failure'". 2026-06-10. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  23. ↑ Slater, Shane (2021-09-16). "TIFF 2021: Ahed's Knee Review". That Shelf. Archived from the original on 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  24. ↑ Lapin, Andrew; Bachner, Michael (2022-03-23). "An Israeli director battles the country's culture ministry in a provocative new film". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  25. ↑ Anderman, Nirit (2019-03-02). "This Award-winning Filmmaker Is Praised by His Fellow Israelis. And It's Making Him Uncomfortable". Haaretz.com. Archived from the original on 2022-11-30. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  26. ↑ "Nadav Lapid, voix discordante du cinéma israélien" (in French). 2025-09-07. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  27. ↑ Lapid, Nadav (2025-11-13). "Director Nadav Lapid on Israel after Gaza: It Was Our Duty to Scream". Der Spiegel. ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  28. ↑ "Gaza : des cinéastes du monde entier demandent un cessez-le-feu immédiat". Libération (in French). 28 December 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  29. ↑ Newman, Nick (29 December 2023). "Claire Denis, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Christian Petzold, Apichatpong Weerasethakul & More Sign Demand for Ceasefire in Gaza". The Film Stage. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  30. ↑ "Directors of cinema sign petition for immediate ceasefire". The Jerusalem Post. 31 December 2023. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
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