Wednesday, 19 November 2025 - 19:00
Director and screenwriter: Chemi Zarhin
Drama, 125 min, Israel (2024)
IN COMPETITION
V.O. Hebrew, S.T. English
Nominated for the Lys d'Or of Best Actorand Best Script
Effi and Sassi have been a married couple for many years. She is a schoolteacher, and he owns a small tearoom in Nazareth. Despite a significant age gap, they support each other, working hard to repay debts related to their son while coping with the wear and tear of daily life. When a former student of Effi’s and their teenage grandson suddenly reappear, their fragile balance is thrown into disarray. BLISS is a tender and poignant dramedy about aging, love, and emotional survival in a society undergoing change.
CASTING
Sasson Gabay: Sassi
Assi Levy: Effi
Maor Levi: Omri
LEAD ACTORS
Sasson Gabai: Born in 1947 in Baghdad, Sasson Gabai is a renowned Israeli actor best known for his leading role in The Band’s Visit. He has received numerous international awards, including a European Film Award and several Ophir Awards. In Bliss, he delivers a critically acclaimed and deeply authentic performance as Sassi.
Asi Levi: Born in 1969 in Tel Aviv, Asi Levi is one of Israel’s most respected actresses. She has won multiple Ophir Awards, notably for her role in Aviva My Love. In Bliss, she gives an emotional and nuanced performance as Effi.
AWARDS
- Official Selection at the Miami Jewish Film Festival 2025 (East Coast Premiere)
- Presented as the Centerpiece at the Toronto International Film Festival 2024
- 3 Ophir Award nominations 2024: Best Actor (Sasson Gabai), Best Actress (Asi Levi), Best Film
- Jury Prize and Audience Award at the Israeli Film Festival of Paris 2025
PRESS REVIEW
“Shemi Zarhin’s ‘Bliss’ to be centerpiece at Toronto International Film Festival”
The Jerusalem Post (August 15, 2024)
“In a time of darkness and trauma in Israel, a profound new film offers a dose of ‘Bliss'”
Forward (January 6, 2025)
“Israeli Film ‘Bliss’ to Premiere at TIFF Despite Political Protests”
The Algemeiner (September 13, 2024)