The documentary shortlists for the Oscars were released on Tuesday, with three of the films tackling some element of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Two are feature-length documentaries that have played in Northern California at film festivals or local art houses, including “Coexistence, My Ass!” which had its premiere at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival in the summer.
“We are thrilled that JFI-funded and exhibited films are rightfully included on the 2026 Oscars Best Documentary Shortlist,” Lexi Leban, executive director of the Jewish Film Institute, told J. in a statement. “These powerful films are introducing global audiences to nuanced Jewish stories and the ethics needed to tell them.”
“Coexistence,” which was partially funded by a grant from JFI, follows Israeli comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi. Raised in Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, a utopian Jewish-Arab village in Israel, she trades an international diplomacy track for standup comedy but comes face-to-face with hard truths after the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion.
Another film on the feature list that also played at the festival is “Holding Liat.” The heart-wrenching documentary is an up-close record of Yehuda and Chaya Beinin as they find out their daughter and son-in-law, Liat and Aviv Atzili, were taken hostage from their community of Kibbutz Nir Oz. (Liat was released after 54 days; Aviv was killed on Oct. 7 and his body was returned in June 2025.)
The short documentary “Children No More: Were and Are Gone” looks at a weekly vigil in Tel Aviv in memory of children killed in Gaza. In it, the Israeli director observes how compassion brings people together even in tragedy, but doesn’t shy away from the controversy an Israeli vigil for Gazan victims can stir. It was made by Hilla Medalia, who was JFI’s 2025 filmmaker in residence. Former JFI staffer Jay Rosenblatt’s film “Heartbeat,” about fertility, is also on the list for short documentary.
There are 15 titles on each of the shortlists for feature and short documentary. Nominations will be announced on Jan. 22, and the Academy Awards will be broadcast on March 15.