In this intimate and compelling coming-of-age drama, trainee naval officer Avigail (Riki Reif Sinai) returns from service to her cramped apartment with a dysfunctional mother and naïve younger sister. On a mission to lose her virginity, Avigail’s plan is upended when her sister announces that she is pregnant. Nominated for seven Israeli Academy Awards, CUZ YOU’RE UGLY tackles the internal battle to find beauty within yourself whilst existing in a larger body and in a social media-dominated age. Riki Reif Sinai gives a brave and bold performance as the spiky yet insecure Avigail, who is constantly fighting for her family, for her wants, and for a place in a world that makes her feel too small and too big at the same time.

Winner: Best Performance—Jerusalem Film Festival 2025