Two Israeli Films Nominated for Student Oscars

A Story of Loss and Resilience

A short documentary film titled Alon, My Brother the Hero, created by Omri Koren, has made it to the semifinals for the 2025 Student Academy Awards in the documentary category. The film focuses on Alon Shamriz, one of three hostages who was tragically killed by friendly fire after months in Hamas captivity. Koren produced the film as part of his studies at the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School in Jerusalem.

The film highlights the emotional journey of the Shamriz family following Alon's abduction on October 7, 2023, from Kibbutz Kfar Aza and his subsequent capture in Gaza. It provides an intimate look into how the family coped during the early days of the conflict, showcasing their relentless efforts to bring Alon home. Led by his brothers, Yonatan and Ido, the family worked both within Israel and internationally to secure Alon’s release.

The documentary also captures the heartbreak that followed when Alon, along with other hostages Yotam Haim and Samer Talalka, was mistakenly shot and killed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops. After evading Hamas for five days, the three men approached soldiers shirtless to demonstrate they had no explosives, but were still misidentified as terrorists.

At Alon’s funeral, his brothers honored his heroism, and the family continues to advocate for the return of all remaining hostages. Alon, My Brother the Hero was produced by the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School in Jerusalem, supported by the New Fund for Israeli Cinema and TV. The film premiered on YES Docu, marking a year since the war began.

“We are proud of Omri and his brave and complex process,” said Dana Blankstein Cohen, executive director of Sam Spiegel. “We are very grateful to the Shamriz family, who opened their home and their hearts and allowed us the privilege of witnessing their struggle during this devastating year.”

As a school, Sam Spiegel encourages students to use the power of cinema to explore the painful and complex realities of their region with a humane and compassionate perspective. The institution emphasizes responsible storytelling that highlights urgent issues of the day to reach audiences both locally and globally.

Addressing Racism in Society

Another notable entry in the Student Academy Awards is Butcher’s Stain, a narrative film directed by Meyer Levinson-Blount, a student at Tel Aviv University. This film tackles the issue of racism against Arabs following the Hamas attacks on October 7. It centers on the story of Samir, an Arab-Israeli supermarket worker who is wrongly accused of removing pictures of hostages from the store. Although he did not commit the act, the accusations reflect the growing tensions in society.

Levinson-Blount based the film on his personal experience working at a supermarket during this period. “I saw how quiet tension turned into real harassment,” he shared in an interview. He describes the supermarket as a microcosm of Israeli society, reflecting its ethnic, class-based, and psychological dynamics.

Both films highlight the power of storytelling in addressing complex social issues. They serve as powerful reminders of the human stories behind the headlines, offering insights into the struggles faced by individuals and families during times of conflict and division.

The Student Academy Awards celebrate the work of emerging filmmakers from around the world. With 15 semifinalists selected in each of four categories—alternative/experimental, animated, narrative, and documentary—the competition showcases the diversity and depth of student filmmaking. Winners will be announced in August, with the awards ceremony taking place in New York in October.