# Nadav Lapid

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

## Early life

Lapid was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, 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 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.

## Career

Lapid's debut feature film Policeman won the Locarno Festival Special Jury Prize at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2011. His 2014 film The Kindergarten Teacher was featured in the 2014 Critics' Week. Lapid was named as a member of the jury of the Critics' Week section of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
He became a recipient of the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2019. Nadav Lapid’s film Synonyms won the Golden Bear award at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2019. Lapid won the IFFI Best Director Award for the film at the 45th International Film Festival of India in November 2014.

## 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. 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 (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.
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. Naor Gilon, Israel's ambassador to India castigated Lapid over Twitter, finding his remarks as presumptuous and insensitive; other diplomats from Israel supported Gilon. In subsequent interviews, Lapid stood by his remarks; his fellow jurors – except Sudipto Sen – endorsed his observations in a joint statement.

## Personal life

Lapid is married to Naama Preis, an Israeli actress; they reside in Paris, France.
In December 2023, alongside 50 other filmmakers, Lapid signed an open letter published in Libération demanding a ceasefire and an end to the killing of civilians amid the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, and for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to be established for humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages.

## Filmography

* Road (short film) (2005)
* Emile's Girlfriend (2006)
* Policeman (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)
* Synonyms (2019)
* Ahed's Knee (2021)