Nadav Lapid () is an Israeli screenwriter and film director. Film critics consider him to be among the most internationally acclaimed filmmakers from Israel.

Biography

Lapid was born in

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the G ...

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

, to a family of

Ashkenazi Jewish Ashkenazi Jews ( ; he, יְהוּדֵי אַשְׁכְּנַז, translit=Yehudei Ashkenaz, ; yi, אַשכּנזישע ייִדן, Ashkenazishe Yidn), also known as Ashkenazic Jews or ''Ashkenazim'',, Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation: , singu ...

descent. He is the son of writer and film editor , he studied philosophy at

Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv University (TAU) ( he, אוּנִיבֶרְסִיטַת תֵּל אָבִיב, ''Universitat Tel Aviv'') is a public research university in Tel Aviv, Israel. With over 30,000 students, it is the largest university in the country. Locate ...

, moving to Paris after his

military service Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job ( volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft ( conscription). Some nations (e.g., Mexico) requ ...

in the Israel Defense Forces. He returned to Israel to pursue a degree at the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School in

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

. Lapid is married to Naama Preis, an Israeli actress; they reside in Tel Aviv.

Career

Lapid's debut feature film ''

Policeman A police officer (also called a policeman and, less commonly, a policewoman) is a warranted law employee of a police force. In most countries, "police officer" is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. In some, the use of the ...

'' won the Locarno Festival Special Jury Prize at the

Locarno International Film Festival The Locarno Film Festival is an annual film festival, held every August in Locarno, Switzerland. Founded in 1946, the festival screens films in various competitive and non-competitive sections, including feature-length narrative, documentary, ...

in 2011. His 2014 film '' The Kindergarten Teacher'' was featured in the 2014

International Critics' Week The International Critics' Week (french: Semaine de la Critique) was founded in 1962 and is organized by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics. It was created following the showing of '' The Connection'' directed by Shirley Clarke which had been ...

. Lapid was named as a member of the jury of the International Critics' Week section of the

2016 Cannes Film Festival The 69th Cannes Film Festival was held from 11 to 22 May 2016. Australian director George Miller was the President of the Jury for the main competition. French actor Laurent Lafitte was the host for the opening and closing ceremonies. On 15 Mar ...

. He became a recipient of the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2019. Nadav Lapid’s film ''

Synonyms A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are ...

'' won the

Golden Bear The Golden Bear (german: Goldener Bär) is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival. The bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin, featured on both the coat of arms and flag of Berlin. History The win ...

award at the

69th Berlin International Film Festival The 69th annual Berlin International Film Festival took place from 7 to 17 February 2019. French actress Juliette Binoche served as the Jury President. Lone Scherfig's drama film '' The Kindness of Strangers'' opened the festival. The Golden Bea ...

in February 2019. Lapid won the

IFFI Best Director Award The IFFI Award for Best Director (officially known as the Silver Peacock for the Best Director Award) is an honor presented annually at the International Film Festival of India since the 40th IFFI 2009 for the best direction in World cinema ...

for the film at the 45th International Film Festival of India in November 2022.

Reception

Lapid is considered by the film critics to be among the most acclaimed filmmakers from Israel. He has gained reputation for "thematically and formally challenging work". His work frequently involves criticism of Israeli nationalism and identity, and it has been praised by fellow Israelis. Lapid, commenting on the reception of his work, states that we "need someone to be in the opposition, to upset the power structure of cinema, to want to lock horns with it".

''The Kashmir Files''

In November 2022, Lapid was invited to head the jury at the

53rd International Film Festival of India The 53rd International Film Festival of India was an event held from 20 - 28 November 2022 with ''Alma & Oskar'' by Dieter Berner as the Opening feature film, and ''Perfect Number'' by Krzysztof Zanussi as the Closing feature film. France is t ...

(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 ubmission, which had shocked his fellow jury members. Lapid's remarks gave rise to a controversy in Indian politics, drawing backlash from the supporters and the members of the

Bharatiya Janata Party The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; ; ) is a political party in India, and one of the two major List of political parties in India, Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. Since 2014, it has been the List of ruling p ...

, which had promoted the film, but receiving support from political opposition.

Naor Gilon Naor Gilon (Hebrew: נאור גילאון) is Israel's ambassador to India and non resident ambassador to Sri Lanka and Bhutan. He was ambassador of Israel to the Netherlands (2019-2021), Italy and San Marino (Feb 2012 – Aug 2016). Biograph ...

, Israel's ambassador to India castigated Lapid over

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, finding his remarks as presumptuous and insensitive; other diplomats from Israel supported Gilon. In subsequent interviews, Lapid stood by his remarks; his fellow jurors reiterated their support for his observations.

Filmography

* ''Road (short film)'' (2005) * ''Emile's Girlfriend'' (2006) * ''

'' (2011) * ''Ammunition Hill'' (short film, features in Footsteps in Jerusalem'') (2013) * '' The Kindergarten Teacher'' (2014) * ''Why (short film)'' (2015) * ''Diary of a Wedding Photographer'' (2016) * ''

'' (2019) * ''

Ahed's Knee ''Ahed's Knee'' ( he, הַבֶּרֶךְ‎, translit=Habereḵ, translation=The Knee) is a 2021 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Nadav Lapid. It was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. At C ...

'' (2021)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lapid, Nadav Living people Film people from Tel Aviv Tel Aviv University alumni Israeli people of Polish-Jewish descent Israeli people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent Israeli people of Czech-Jewish descent Israeli film directors Israeli male screenwriters Directors of Golden Bear winners Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Israeli Ashkenazi Jews Year of birth missing (living people)