Israeli film director Nadav Lapid won the Golden Bear for best feature film at the Berlin International Film Festival in February. Synonyms, a largely autobiographical drama about a young Israeli trying to reinvent himself in modern-day Paris, was one of 16 films in competition at the festival.

In his acceptance speech, Lapid dedicated the award to his mother, who had edited much of the film but died during production. The selection committee was headed by the French actress Juliette Binoche.