Jerusalem Film & Television Fund

What Jerusalem Film & Television Fund does

The Jerusalem Film & Television Fund (also known as the Jerusalem Media Initiative / HaMeyzam LeKolnoa VeTeleVision Yerushalayim) is a municipal film fund established in 2008 and operated under the Jerusalem Development Authority with co-funding from the Ministry for Jerusalem and Heritage. It is Israel's first and only urban film fund, with a dual mandate to bring Jerusalem to the screen by supporting productions that depict the city, and to develop the local film, TV, animation, and digital content industry. The fund runs a portfolio of investment tracks — feature film (up to 1,000,000 ILS), small-budget feature (up to 500,000 ILS), TV series production (up to 500,000 ILS), animation (up to 1,000,000 ILS), international production (up to 1,600,000 ILS), and large-budget international production (up to 10,000,000 ILS at 60% rebate) — plus post-production cash rebates (35% up to 250,000 ILS) and screenplay development support (up to 40,000 ILS). All tracks tie funding to location-specific obligations such as minimum filming days and spend thresholds in Jerusalem.

The fund's operating model is event- and community-driven: applications are accepted during defined 10-day windows twice per year via a web-based submission portal, supported by a network of production directories (Film Index, Location Index, Crew Index, Service Companies Directory), educational courses (TV series development, network series, AI narrative creation, trailer directing and editing), and an annual animation festival (AniNation). There is no proprietary technology platform beyond the submission system. Distribution and ecosystem reach is anchored by partnerships with global streamers and studios — Netflix, HBO, A&E, Disney Television Animation, Pixar, Sony Pictures Animation, Corus-Nelvana, DHX Media — and with international events including Annecy Festival/MIFA and Cannes. The fund operates with two permanent staff members from its headquarters at Hansen House (14 Gedalya Alon Street, Jerusalem), with events and screenings held at the Jerusalem Cinematheque and productions supported at Jerusalem Studios (Oulfanei HaUma). Leadership comprises current manager Eyal Benvenisti, founder Yoram Honig (14-year tenure), and digital department manager Lilach Shaham Katzir, with Oded Turgeman serving as Director of Business Development, North America.

Name

Jerusalem Film & Television Fund

Legal name

The Jerusalem Film & Television Fund

Website

https://thejerusalemfilmfund.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Jerusalem Film & Television Fund is Israel's first municipal film fund, established in 2008 under the Jerusalem Development Authority. It provides grants, cash rebates, and educational programs to support film, television, and animation production in Jerusalem, serving Israeli filmmakers, international producers, and animation studios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film and Television Grant Funding

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing (MPADAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ), Financing & Investment (Equity, Debt, Gap, Slate) (MPADAAAB), Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

Keywords

• Film production funding
• Television development grants
• Animation investment programs
• Cash rebate incentives
• Screenplay development support

Headquarters

HQ city

Jerusalem

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grant funding for film and TV production: The fund provides financial grants and investment in cinema, television, animation, and digital media productions. Funding comes from the Jerusalem Development Authority and the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage. The fund acts as a public funding body, not a commercial enterprise generating revenue from product sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Jerusalem Film & Television Fund is a municipal film and television fund providing financial grants, investment, and cash rebates for feature films, television series, animation, and digital media productions tied to Jerusalem. It operates development incubators, training courses, and international co-production programs, while maintaining production indexes for locations, crew, and service companies.

Product overview

The Jerusalem Film & Television Fund is a municipal cinema fund providing investment, development programs, and production support for film, animation, and television in Jerusalem. The organization operates core funding tracks (HaSadena development incubator, Hop Skip & a Jump animation program, CGI investment) alongside educational programs (TV series writing, network series, AI narrative, trailer editing courses), the AniNation animation festival, and production support indexes (locations, crew, service companies). The fund functions as a platform connecting Jerusalem creators to international industry partners while offering financial rebates and development grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HaSadena Content Development Incubator Series of development incubators for Jerusalem-based creators covering feature films, short animation films, drama series, and network series. Provides months of mentorship in creative and production aspects to selected projects.
• Hop, Skip & a Jump Animation Development Track Animation development track in partnership with international animation companies for developing original Israeli animation content for film and television, providing mentorship and co-production pathways.
• Netflix/HBO International Development Incubator International development incubator in partnership with Netflix, HBO, and A&E for developing commercial drama series for global broadcasters. Participants receive development grants and work with writers and producers from Israel and the US, culminating in a pitching event with platform executives.
• Feature Film Production Investment Investment grants for feature film productions tied to Jerusalem, offering up to 1,000,000 ILS. Requires 50% of story set in Jerusalem, 50% of filming days in Jerusalem, and approximately 25% of budget spent in Jerusalem.
• Cash Rebate Program Financial rebate program for productions filmed in Jerusalem, offering 35% cash back on Jerusalem expenses for post-production (up to 250,000 ILS), and 60% rebate for large-budget international productions (up to 10,000,000 ILS).
• CGI/Animation Investment Procedure Investment and support program for computer-generated imagery and animation productions at studios located in Jerusalem, with up to 1,000,000 ILS investment and 70% of work days required to be in Jerusalem.
• TV Series Development Course 8-session course teaching series development from concept through bible writing, covering log line, synopsis, characters, seasonal arc, and episode outlines. Free for accepted participants with a 480 ILS seriousness deposit.
• AI Narrative Creation Course 8-session intensive course teaching AI tools for narrative filmmaking including text, image, animation, video, sound, narration, and editing using ChatGPT-4, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion. Students produce AI-generated 2-minute films on Jerusalem.
• Trailer Directing and Editing Course

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% of all Israeli cinema productions are filmed in Jerusalem
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Vince Gillese (Game of Thrones Executive Producer)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2022Vince Gillese, a senior producer of Game of Thrones and 4-time Emmy Award winner, participated as a keynote speaker and mentor at the 'New Storytelling – New Tools' international conference organized by the Jerusalem Film Fund, focusing on science fiction and fantasy adaptation.
• Amanda Lober (Walt Disney Television Animation)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2022Amanda Lober, Head of Development at Walt Disney Television Animation, participated as a speaker and mentor at the Jerusalem Film Fund's international conference, providing guidance on TV animation development to Israeli creators.
• David Stern (The Simpsons, Monk)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2022David Stern, one of the central writers of The Simpsons and Monk, served as a speaker at the Jerusalem Film Fund's international conference, sharing TV writing expertise with Israeli creators.
• Craig Sims (Spin Master)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2022Craig Sims, Managing Director of Business Development at Spin Master (one of the world's leading toy and entertainment companies), participated in the Jerusalem Film Fund's international conference, discussing licensing and entertainment industry opportunities.
• Disney Television AnimationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2022Disney Television Animation participated in the Jerusalem Film Fund's 'New Storytelling – New Tools' international conference, connecting with Israeli creators and providing animation development insights.
• Spin MasterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2022Spin Master participated in the Jerusalem Film Fund's international conference, sharing expertise on toys, entertainment properties, and animation licensing.
• The French Institute (המכון הצרפתי)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2022The French Institute co-organizes the Annecy International Workshop in Jerusalem, bringing French and European animation industry expertise to Jerusalem-based creators.
• Embassy of Israel in FranceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2022The Embassy of Israel in France collaborates on the Annecy International Workshop in Jerusalem initiative, supporting the international animation industry connection.
• NetflixflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2021Netflix is a key partner in the international development incubator run by the Jerusalem Film Fund in partnership with New Legend (Meitav Dash). Netflix provides guidance and development mentorship to selected TV series projects, with a pitching event where participants present to Netflix decision-makers.
• HBOflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2021HBO participates in the Jerusalem Film Fund's international development incubator, providing mentorship and guidance to selected TV series projects, with participants pitching directly to HBO representatives at the final pitching event.
• A&EflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2021A&E participates in the international development incubator program, providing industry mentorship to selected TV series projects from Jerusalem filmmakers.
• New Legend (Meitav Dash) (ניו לג'נד מבית מיטב דש)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2021New Legend from Meitav Dash is a strategic co-organizer of the international development incubator alongside the Jerusalem Film Fund and international broadcasters (Netflix, HBO, A&E).
• Jerusalem Cinematheque (סינמטק ירושלים)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 August 2021The Jerusalem Cinematheque serves as the primary venue for the fund's industry events, screenings, master classes, and the AniNation animation festival, hosting industry days and filmmaker events.
• PixarflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2021Pixar executives participated in the 'Jerusalem, an Animation Capital' VOD program, sharing insights about Jerusalem's animation scene with international industry executives from Disney, Pixar, Netflix, and more.
• Netflix (animation)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2021Netflix executives participated in the 'Jerusalem, an Animation Capital' VOD program alongside Pixar and Disney executives, discussing Jerusalem's growing animation industry.
• Jerusalem Development Authority (רשות לפיתוח ירושלים)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2020The Jerusalem Development Authority is the parent organization of the Jerusalem Film & Television Fund. The fund operates under the authority and provides film industry development services for the city of Jerusalem, with funding support from the authority.
• Ministry for Jerusalem and HeritagecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2020The Ministry for Jerusalem and Heritage co-funds the CGI and animation investment program with the Jerusalem Film Fund, encouraging international and local productions in the field of CGI and animation to operate at studios in Jerusalem.
• Annecy International Animated Film Festival and MIFAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2016Annecy Festival and MIFA (International Market for Animation) collaborate with the Jerusalem Film Fund on the Hop, Skip & a Jump (The Triple Jump) animation development track and the AniNation animation festival, bringing international animation industry connections to Jerusalem creators.
• DHX MediaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2016DHX Media was a key international animation company partner in the Hop, Skip & a Jump animation development program, providing mentorship and co-production guidance to Israeli animation projects selected for the track.
• Corus-NelvanaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2016Corus-Nelvana participated as an international animation partner in the Hop, Skip & a Jump program, providing mentorship and potential co-production pathways for Israeli animation projects.
• Sony Pictures AnimationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2016Sony Pictures Animation was an international animation partner in the Hop, Skip & a Jump program, providing industry mentorship and guidance to Israeli animation creators.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Sundance Institute: US-based nonprofit supporting independent filmmakers through labs, grants, and festivals. Comparable as a nonprofit film development organization running structured creator support programs (labs, mentorship, festival exposure) analogous to the Jerusalem Fund's HaSadena incubator and AniNation festival.
• Tribeca Film Institute: Nonprofit organization providing grants and programs to independent filmmakers. Comparable as a film-focused nonprofit providing creator development programs and grants with a city-anchored identity (New York) analogous to the Jerusalem Fund's municipal positioning.

Direct peers

• Israel Film Fund (Rabinovich Foundation): Israel's primary national film fund providing development and production grants to Israeli filmmakers. Directly comparable as the leading Israeli public film financing body, sharing the same grant-making mandate, filmmaker base, and submission/evaluation process, though operating at a national rather than municipal scope.

Broad incumbents

• British Film Institute (BFI): UK's national film body administering public funding, festival programming, and industry development. Comparable as a large-scale public film institution performing grantmaking, archive, education, and industry development functions that the Jerusalem Fund operates in narrower municipal form.
• Screen Australia: Australian federal film agency funding Australian screen content and supporting industry development. Comparable as a national public-sector film financing body with analogous grantmaking, development program, and industry development functions targeting domestic creators.
• CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée): France's national film agency administering production subsidies, tax rebates, and industry development programs. Comparable as a public-sector film financing body providing production investment and rebates, but at substantially greater scale and national scope.
• Telefilm Canada: Canadian federal film agency funding Canadian film and television content. Comparable as a government-backed film fund providing development, production, and promotional financing with structured application processes and rebate-style incentives similar to the Jerusalem Fund's offerings.

Regional players

• Bezalel Academy of Art and Design: Jerusalem-based academic institution home to Israel's oldest animation program, providing talent to the fund's animation ecosystem. Comparable as a Jerusalem-anchored creative industry institution feeding the same filmmaker and animator pool the fund serves.
• Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film and Television School: Jerusalem-based film school providing professional training and serving as a primary talent pipeline for Jerusalem filmmakers. Comparable as a Jerusalem-based film industry institution with overlapping audience (local creators) and complementary mandate of developing the city's creative talent base.
• New Zealand Film Commission: New Zealand's national film body funding domestic screen production and offering incentives for international productions. Comparable as a country-scale public film fund with rebate/incentive programs designed to attract international productions to a specific national territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Jerusalem Film & Television Fund