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| Hebrew cinema | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hebrew cinema |
| Country | Israel |
| Predecessor | Ottoman Palestine cinema |
| Founded | early 20th century |
| Notable persons | Eliyahu Biton, Menahem Golan, Yoram Gross, Ari Folman, Joseph Cedar, Ram Bergman |
| Notable films | Sallah Shabati, Waltz with Bashir, Beaufort, The Band's Visit |
Hebrew cinema is the body of feature films, documentaries, short films, and animated works produced primarily in the Hebrew language within the territory of modern Israel and by Hebrew-speaking communities abroad. It developed from early silent screenings in Jaffa and Jerusalem through studio production in Tel Aviv to international festival recognition at Cannes Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival. The industry has intersected with prominent cultural institutions such as the Jerusalem Cinematheque, the Israeli Film Fund, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences through Oscar submissions.
Early manifestations appeared during Ottoman and British Mandate periods with screenings in Jaffa and production by companies linked to Jewish settlers and Zionist organizations like HaShomer. The 1930s and 1940s saw newsreels and patriotic shorts associated with Haganah and the Palmach, while the 1950s inaugurated studio comedies and social dramas such as Sallah Shabati produced by filmmakers like Ephraim Kishon and producers from Geva Films. The 1960s and 1970s introduced auteur voices including Menahem Golan and Uri Zohar alongside international co-productions with France and Italy. The 1980s and 1990s brought independent cinema and documentary revival with names like Amos Gitai, Uri Barbash, and festivals such as Haifa International Film Festival. The 2000s onward saw global acclaim for works by Ari Folman, Joseph Cedar, Nadav Lapid, and awards at Academy Awards and European Film Awards.
Hebrew-language filmmaking interrelates with revived Hebrew language norms codified by figures like Eliezer Ben-Yehuda and institutionalized in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem curricula. Films negotiate multilingual realities involving Arabic language, Yiddish, Russian language, and Amharic language reflecting immigration waves from Poland, Russia, Ethiopia, and Morocco. Cultural organizations such as the Israeli Ministry of Culture and Sport and the Hebrew Writers Association influenced scripts and censorship debates alongside broadcasters like Israel Broadcasting Authority and commercial channels such as Keshet Media Group. Diasporic ties link productions to communities in United States, France, and United Kingdom through co-productions and festival circuits.
Recurring themes include sovereignty and conflict represented via works about 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Six-Day War, and Yom Kippur War; immigration and identity tied to histories of Aliyah from Soviet Union and Ethiopia; religious-secular tensions involving Haredi Judaism; and memory of the Holocaust featuring survivors from Auschwitz and Treblinka. Genres span social satire like the work of Ephraim Kishon, war cinema exemplified by Beaufort, intimate dramas from Joseph Cedar, neo-noir narratives by Nadav Lapid, and animation such as Waltz with Bashir. Musical and comedy traditions trace roots to Habima Theatre and variety shows on Kol Yisrael.
Directors and auteurs include Ephraim Kishon, Menahem Golan, Amos Gitai, Eran Riklis, Ari Folman, Joseph Cedar, Nadav Lapid, Shlomo Artzi, and Samuel Maoz. Producers and studio figures include Golan-Globus partners and executives tied to Israel Film Fund and Yes, while cinematographers and editors trained at institutions like Beit Berl College and the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School. Actors of note include Chaim Topol, Anat Atzmon, Ronit Elkabetz, Assi Dayan, Gila Almagor, Lior Ashkenazi, Sasson Gabai, Ayelet Zurer, Gal Gadot, and Sivan Levy. Composers and musicians collaborating on scores include Nurit Hirsh, Yoni Rechter, Shirley Clamp, and orchestras like the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Key milestones include early features produced in British Mandate for Palestine; box-office successes like Sallah Shabati; festival prizes for Waltz with Bashir at Cannes Film Festival; Beaufort nominated at the Academy Awards; The Band's Visit earning prizes at Cannes and rediscovery through American theatrical runs. Other landmark films: Late Marriage, Ajami, Footnote, The Syrian Bride, Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem, Foxtrot, Strangers No More, The Policeman, Summer of Aviya, The Little Traitor, Time of Favor, Broken Wings, Yana's Friends, Aviva My Love, Sh’Chur, Zohar, Operation Thunderbolt, and The Secrets. Television-to-film crossovers and adaptations involve series on Channel 2 (Israel) and Keshet.
Production infrastructure includes studios in Tel Aviv and post-production houses collaborating with entities in London and Los Angeles. Funding flows from the Israeli Film Fund, private companies like Golan-Globus, and broadcasters such as Channel 10 (Israel), Hot (Israel), and Reshet. Film schools—Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, Beit Berl College, and departments at Tel Aviv University—produce technicians and auteurs. Distribution networks involve cinemas like Cinematheque Tel Aviv, chains such as Lev Cinemas, and streaming partnerships with Netflix, Amazon Studios, and European distributors. Co-productions often involve partners from France, Germany, United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and Canada.
Critical reception is tracked by awards from Israeli Academy Awards (Ophir Awards), international recognition at Cannes Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, and screenings at New York Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. Influence extends to theater companies like Habima Theatre, journalism in outlets such as Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post, and academic study at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University. Films have shaped public discourse on issues tied to Knesset debates, military service in the Israel Defense Forces, and immigration policy, while shaping perceptions of Israel abroad through exhibitions at institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the British Film Institute.