Kino Lorber has picked up North American rights to Nadav Lapid’s Yes, the Israeli director’s political satire set in the aftermath of October 7.
Set in the days after October 7, Yes follows jazz musician Y. (Ariel Bronz) and his wife Yasmine (Efrat Dor), a dancer, who resolve to say yes to everything. Their submission to Israel’s social, political, and military establishment leads Y. to an unexpected commission: Composing the music for a new national anthem.
Yes, which premiered in Directors’ Fortnight at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, provoked sharp criticism from the Netanyahu government, with the Ministry of Culture condemning the film for “opening the wounds of Israeli society” and officials calling for its removal from the 2025 Jerusalem Film Festival. Despite political opposition, Yes received seven Ophir Award nominations, the Israeli equivalent of the Oscar, including best actor for Bronz, best supporting actress for Preis, best director for Lapid, and best picture. As a best picture nominee, it is in contention to represent Israel in the international feature category at the 98th Academy Awards.
Kino Lorber chairman and CEO Richard Lorber called the film “an exhilarating, dizzying work of cinematic art,” while Lapid described it as his most difficult project to date. “Yes is a film about the capacity to say ‘no’ to power – a resistant film about submission,” he said.
Kino Lorber will release Yes theatrically, followed by digital, educational, and home entertainment rollouts.
The acquisition marks the distributor’s fourth collaboration with Lapid, following The Kindergarten Teacher, Berlinale Golden Bear winner Synonyms, and Cannes Jury Prize winner Ahed’s Knee.
The deal was negotiated by Kino Lorber VP of acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer and Alice Lesort for Les Films du Losange.
