Kino Lorber says 'YES' to Nadav Lapid for North America
"A whirling, maximalist satire at once despairing and exuberant, subtle as a cannonball in its evisceration of the ruling classes and those who obey them, it’s both absurdist comedy and serious-as-cancer polemic… it’s exhilaratingly of the moment and in the moment.”
– Guy Lodge, Variety
“The ultimate power of this movie’s radically different paces and modes is found in how they combine to suggest that people can’t live normally while perpetrating horror — whether in Israel or anywhere else… It’s Zone of Interest without the need for a garden wall.”
– David Ehrlich, Indiewire
Kino Lorber has acquired North American distribution rights to Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid’s YES, a biting satire set and filmed in Israel in the aftermath of October 7. Written and directed by Lapid, the film made its World Premiere in Directors’ Fortnight at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and was an official selection at Karlovy Vary, Munich, and Jerusalem Film Festival. YES will be released theatrically by Kino Lorber followed by a digital, educational, and home video release.
YES reunites Nadav Lapid with Kino Lorber for their fourth collaboration, following the releases of The Kindergarten Teacher, Berlinale Golden Bear winner Synonyms, and Cannes Jury Prize winner Ahed’s Knee. The film stars Ariel Bronz, Efrat Dor, Naama Preis, and Alexey Serebryakov.
One of international cinema’s most fearless and provocative filmmakers, Nadav Lapid has long been an outspoken critic of his birth country’s government policies, channeling a lifetime of fury and frustration into vital films like Synonyms and Ahed’s Knee that brim with righteous anger, spite, and shame. In YES, Lapid once again takes vigorous critical aim at the Israeli government with a new approach: submission. In the days following October 7, Y., a jazz musician, and his wife Yasmine, a dancer, resolve to say yes to everything. Y. and Yasmine sell their bodies and souls to the highest bidder, surrendering themselves and their art to Israel’s social, political and military elite. Soon, Y. is entrusted with a mission of the utmost importance: to compose the music for a rousing, ruthless new national anthem. Feverishly whirling between moments of satire, sincerity, and complete submission, YES is a visceral, blistering indictment of modern Israel, and an essential addition to post-October 7 cinema.
A France-Israel co-production, YES has been criticized and denounced by the Netanyahu government, with the Ministry of Culture accusing it in an interview of “opening the wounds of Israeli society” and officials condemning Lapid and demanding the film’s removal from the 2025 Jerusalem Film Festival. In a letter to the Director General of the Jerusalem Cinematheque, Almog Cohen, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, and Tali Gotliv, member of the Knesset, expressed their outrage at its inclusion, writing: “The screening of this film at a nationally significant festival in Jerusalem does not constitute ‘legitimate criticism,’ but rather legitimizes a narrative that seeks to obscure Hamas's crimes, tarnish Israel’s image, and damage national morale.”
Despite these attempts at censorship, YES was recently nominated for seven Ophir Awards, including Best Actor (Ariel Bronz), Best Supporting Actress (Naama Preis), Best Director (Nadav Lapid), and Best Picture. As a Best Picture nominee, YES is one of five films shortlisted to be the Israeli entry to the 98th Academy Awards.
“Nadav Lapid has delivered an exhilarating, dizzying work of cinematic art that draws and quarters all emotions around one of the greatest political and human tragedies of our time,” said Kino Lorber Chairman and CEO Richard Lorber. “Here, he puts his own febrile psyche and masterful skills on the front lines of a conflict that tears at his own soul with no rational refuge. We couldn’t be prouder to work once again with Nadav to share a truly unique filmic experience with North American audiences who have come to expect no less from him – far more than almost any other filmmaker today grappling with rage, and the guilt of resignation.”
“YES is the most difficult and demanding film I have ever made,” added Lapid. “I am thankful for Kino Lorber’s enthusiasm and for their courage, and I am anxiously anticipating the North American release. I believe the introduction of this film to North American audiences can be, now more than ever, powerful and meaningful. YES is a film about the capacity to say ‘no’ to power – a resistant film about submission.”
The deal for YES was negotiated by Kino Lorber VP of Acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer and Alice Lesort for Les Films du Losange. YES is a Les Films du Bal, Chi-Fou-Mi Prods. production in co-production with Bustan Films, AMP Filmworks, Komplizen Film, Arte France Cinéma, ZDF/Arte, Trésor Films in association with 240 Films, Cinemage 18 Developpement, ALBI Film and Television Fund. The film is produced by Judith Lou Lévy, Hugo Sélignac, and Antoine Lafon.