Israeli Gaza war films and Safdie-Chalamet’s Marty Supreme land Oscar nominations

Two Israeli films addressing the Gaza war and the hostage crisis have been nominated for Academy Awards, as Hollywood’s top honours once again feature Jewish-themed stories and Jewish talent across major categories.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday announced the nominees for the 98th Academy Awards, with Israeli shorts recognised alongside Marty Supreme, the Josh Safdie film starring Timothée Chalamet that has emerged as one of the year’s most prominent contenders.

Meyer Levinson-Blount’s The Butcher’s Stain has been nominated for Best Live Action Short Film. The Tel Aviv University student film follows Samir, an Arab butcher in Tel Aviv who tries to prove his innocence after being accused of tearing down posters of Israelis kidnapped to Gaza. The film previously won second place in the narrative category at the Student Academy Awards.

A second Israeli production, Children No More: Were and Are Gone, directed by Hila Medalia, has been nominated for Best Documentary Short Film. The film documents a vigil that began in Tel Aviv in March 2025, where left-wing activists displayed photographs of children killed in Gaza – a subject that has sparked debate and controversy within Israel.

Two other Israeli-connected films failed to advance. Holding Liat, which follows efforts to secure the release of hostage Liat Atzili, was shortlisted for Best Documentary Feature but did not make the final cut, while Ophir Award winner The Sea did not progress in the Best International Feature Film category.

Also nominated in the documentary categories is BBC Storyville co-production Mr Nobody Against Putin. The film’s commissioning editor and executive producer is Lucie Kon, who is also a producer on We Will Dance Again, the documentary about the 7 October massacre and hostage crisis.

Jewish representation is also prominent in the major categories. Marty Supreme received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director (Josh Safdie) and Best Original Screenplay, shared by Safdie and Ronald Bronstein. Chalamet earned a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of Marty Mauser, a Jewish table tennis champion inspired by real-life player Marty Reisman.

During the film’s promotional campaign, Chalamet described his performance as “top-level s***”.

The 30-year-old actor has now been nominated three times for portraying Jewish characters, following earlier nods for Call Me by Your Name and A Complete Unknown. He has yet to convert a nomination into a win.

There was disappointment for some Jewish contenders. Actress Odessa A’zion, who plays Mauser’s partner Rachel Mizler, was tipped for a supporting nomination but missed out, as did Adam Sandler, who had been considered a strong contender for his role in Jay Kelly.

Elsewhere, Sean Penn was nominated for a supporting role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. The film is among ten vying for Best Picture, alongside Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners and Train Dreams.

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners led the field with a record-breaking 16 nominations, surpassing the long-held record of 14. The ceremony will be hosted by Conan O’Brien on 15 March.

The nominations continue a recent trend of strong Jewish visibility at the Oscars, following last year’s ceremony in which Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison both won acting awards – the first time since 1937 that Jewish performers claimed both top acting prizes in a single year.