The Israeli film and television market is growing at an accelerated pace and is gaining increasing international recognition.
In parallel, demand is rising for native English-speaking actors, both in local productions and in international productions filmed in Israel.
Of course, politics and the security situation affect the picture and are interdependent.
Opportunities for English-speaking actors:
International productions: Israel has become a magnet for many international productions, both because of government incentives and because of its diverse and attractive landscapes. Native English-speaking actors can integrate into these productions and gain valuable international experience.
Television series: Many Israeli series are now broadcast on international streaming networks and enjoy great success among an international audience.
This need requires casting native English-speaking actors, both for leading roles and for supporting roles.
Among the Israeli series that brought honor and aroused curiosity:
“Tehran” — this Israeli espionage series became an international hit and earned much praise for its suspenseful plot,
its complex characters and its excellent direction. The series aired on leading broadcast networks around the world and was highly appreciated by critics and viewers alike.
“Unorthodox,” which exploded on Netflix during the COVID period and made the world marvel at Amit Rahav and Shira Haas,
who, although they learned Yiddish for the series, their English opened doors for them to additional opportunities.
And how could we leave out the popular “Fauda,” which raised up the stars George Iskandar and Hisham Suliman,
who are currently signed with international agencies in collaboration with the Haim Shraga agency.
In local productions too, demand is rising for native English-speaking actors, mainly for roles requiring interaction with foreign characters or for roles in films intended for international distribution.
Alongside film and series productions, there are figures indicating that some 10,000 high-tech companies operate in Israel, alongside corporate-image film production.
A rough estimate: suppose 50% of high-tech companies in Israel use video production services on a regular basis,
and the average company investment in producing a video stands at 50,000 NIS.
Based on these figures, it can be estimated that the high-tech video and corporate-image film market in Israel turns over about 250 million NIS a year,
half of which target the international market and benefit from native English-speaking presenters living in Israel such as Danny Schoffman, Eric Willison, Aidan Turner and Asrael Mor —
all represented by the Haim Shraga agency.
Advantages for the Israeli film industry:
International exposure: Integrating Israeli actors into international productions grants them broad international exposure
and allows them to showcase their skills to a wider audience. This exposure can help them advance their careers
and open doors for them to additional international productions.
Raising Israel’s prestige: The participation of Israeli actors in international productions contributes to raising Israel’s standing in the world
and presents it as a creative and culturally rich country.
Enriching Israeli culture: Integrating Israeli actors into international productions allows them to experience different cultures
and learn new acting techniques. This knowledge can enrich Israeli culture and develop the local film industry.
Creating jobs: Filming international productions in Israel creates many jobs for production crews, actors,
professionals in makeup, costumes, set design and more.
