Leading Israeli television creators, including Noa Koler, Shalom Assayag, Guy Amir, Hanan Savyon, and others, met this week with senior figures in the global entertainment industry in a first-of-its-kind initiative to promote Israeli culture. The project, titled “Yetzira” (“Creation”), connected Israeli creators with presidents and senior executives of the world’s leading entertainment companies. After two years marked by closed doors and informal boycotts, a group of 20 of Israel’s top television creators took part in this first-of-its-kind initiative.
The meetings were aimed at fostering partnerships and selling Israeli content to American television, continuing a two-decade-long tradition that began with “In Treatment” and continued through “Euphoria” and “Homeland.”
Throughout the week, participants held meetings and advanced potential collaborations with executives from major companies, including Fox, Mattel, Disney, and Hulu, as well as senior figures from Sony, WME, CAA, and many others.
“Promoting Israeli culture around the world is vital to Israel’s international standing and to strengthening Israeli creativity itself,” said Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar. “Connecting with international content companies and combating attempts to boycott Israel are among our top priorities. I thank Consul Israel Bachar for leading the delegation and the many creators who took part and represented Israeli creativity with pride on the international stage.”
In addition to the meetings, the program included workshops led by some of the world’s leading content creators. Among them were Israeli-born industry figures such as Ram Bergman (“Star Wars,” “Knives Out”) and Neil Druckmann, creator of the acclaimed video game and television series “The Last of Us.”
The “Yetzira” project was initiated by the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles, headed by Consul General Israel Bachar.
“We live in a creative economy,” Bachar said. “Creativity is the new currency and the State of Israel needs this currency more than ever.”
The project concluded with a festive closing party attended by top-tier Hollywood executives. The event was held at a private estate in Beverly Hills and featured a live performance by Israeli singer Narkis.
The 20 creators who took part in the “Yetzira” project were Noa Koler (“Rehearsals”); Ori Alon (“Shtisel”); Roy Iddan (“Manayek”); Galit Hugi (“My Successful Sisters”); Nadav Frishman and Yaniv Zohar (“Checkout”); Shalom Assayag (“The Eighties”); Lior “Laizy” Shapira and Chava Divon (“Srugim”); Eliran Malka (“Shababnikim”); Guy Amir and Hanan Savyon (“Asfur”); Gittit Fisher (“This and That”); Rama Burshtein (“The Wedding Plan”); Ori Weisbrod (“Indal”); Asaf Korman (“Normal”); Shira Hadad (“Third Person”); Talya Lavie (“Zero Motivation”); Amit Ulman (“The City”); and Aleeza Chanowitz (“Chanshi”).