All you need to know about co-producing animation with Israel

The Animation Guild represents Israeli animators across all sectors — film, TV, gaming, and more. We provide legal support, industry advocacy, events, and promote Israeli animation internationally at festivals like Annecy and MIFA.

The Rabinovich Foundation for the Arts has been operating Israel Cinema Project since 1988 within the framework of the Foundation and under its management. The project is independently funded and supported by the Cultural Administration at the Israeli Ministry of Culture and Sport, and the Israeli Council for Cinema.

The aim of the project is to encourage the production of high quality original Israeli films. It provides assistance to films by Israeli artists in the fields of production, completion and project development, according to criteria of quality, cinematic experience and personal expression, combining all of these with considerations of commercial success. In this way, the project contributes to creating an Israeli cinematic oeuvre that has depth and relevance, is unique and meaningful and will bring about a genuine pluralistic debate on the problems of Israeli identity and heritage, as well as current topics.

Since Cinema Project was established, it has become an influential force in Israeli cinema in general and has helped towards the production of some of the best films created in the country during that period. To date the Foundation has supported the production of more than 1000 films.

Websites: cinemaproject.org.il / rabinovichfoundation.org.il

Email: [email protected]

Within the framework of its activity, the Cinema Project supports the production of: Full length feature films by both experienced and new directors; Documentary films dealing with fundamental problems in Israeli society and culture; Short films, both narrative and documentary; Animation films of all genres; International co-productions between Israeli producers and producers from countries that have a film co-production treaty with the State of Israel; Non-mainstream films originating from the Israeli periphery or from groups that lack a voice in Israeli mainstream cinema, such as immigrant directors, artists from the Arab sector, etc; Student graduation films made for cinema in universities and film schools (at college level) throughout the country, with an aim to enable graduates to expand their cinematic experience.

One of the Project’s goals is to promote and nurture a variety of initiatives in Israeli cinema. Help is provided to artists from the level of graduation projects in film schools through the new generation of filmmakers, to those who are better established, encouraging them all to realize their original ideas in both feature films and documentaries. The films are screened in cinemas and cinematheques around the country, as well as broadcasted on television, and often enjoy high viewer ratings.

1. Film Funding

National Film Funds
Rabinovich Foundation, The Israel Film Fund, Gesher Film Fund, Makor Foundation, and The New Fund for Cinema and Television (NFCT). These national funds support both feature-length and short films, in documentary and narrative formats, at various stages — development, production, and post-production.

Grants are awarded based on the script, artistic vision, and production plan. Each fund issues at least two public calls per year, open to Israeli citizens aged 18 and above.

A single project cannot receive funding for the same production stage (development, production, or post) from more than one national fund. However, combining a national fund with a regional one is allowed, provided each supports a different stage.

Regional Film Funds
Negev Film Fund, Galilee Film Fund, Galilee Film Project, Shomron Film Fund.

These funds provide support for projects with a geographic connection to their respective regions — through locations, local creators, or regionally relevant content.

Full criteria for eligibility are published on each fund’s website.

Mifal HaPais
Mifal HaPais is a public-benefit corporation with exclusive rights to operate lotteries and games of chance in Israel. Its proceeds are directed to public projects in education, health, culture, the arts, sports, and community development.

The organization offers funding for film and new media projects — including animation — primarily through an annual open call for proposals in various artistic disciplines.

2. Investment in Television and Digital Content

Commercial Broadcasters
Keshet, Reshet, HOT, and Yes invest in projects with clear commercial potential and defined target audiences.

Commercial Broadcasters’ Investment in Original Productions
Israel’s commercial broadcasters are legally required to allocate a portion of their revenues to the production of original Israeli content. This includes drama series, comedies, documentaries, and programming for children and youth.

• Keshet and Reshet invest tens of millions of shekels each year in original productions, following requirements set by the Second Authority for Television and Radio.
• HOT and yes, under the supervision of the Cable and Satellite Council, invest similar amounts in original Israeli content, including drama series and documentaries.
• Hop!, Baby TV, and BabyFirst are dedicated children’s channels that invest in original animated content.

Sources for further information:
The Second Authority for Television and Radio
The Cable and Satellite Council

3. Public Broadcasting Corporation (“KAN”)

KAN is Israel’s primary public broadcaster, dedicated to high-quality and culturally rich content. It supports both documentary and narrative projects — including animation — with a focus on diversity and Israeli identity. At times, KAN publishes dedicated calls for animation or children’s series.

KAN receives an annual government budget of approximately €53.7 million for content creation. Of this, at least €22 million is allocated to “quality productions”, including drama, documentaries, prestige series, and content for children and youth.

For more information:
Financial reports for statutory corporations can be accessed via Israel’s Ministry of Finance.

4. The Jerusalem Film and Television Fund (Municipal Fund)

Established by the Jerusalem Development Authority, The Jerusalem Foundation, and industry veteran Renen Schorr, the fund aims to promote the city’s film and television industry by supporting productions that take place in Jerusalem. It provides development and production grants for television series, web series, and animation projects — as long as they demonstrate a strong connection to Jerusalem, whether through narrative content or the involvement of local creators.

According to previously published data, since its founding the fund has invested approximately €35 million in the production of 60 feature films, 17 television series, 4 web series, and 2 international projects. It has also supported the development of 60 new projects and the creation of production infrastructure in the city.

In recent years, the fund’s annual budget has grown steadily:

2021: approx. €2.5 million
2022: approx. €4 million
These figures reflect a consistent increase in municipal investment in the local screen industry.

1. Short Films – Up to 60 Minutes

Investment levels for short films are categorized by the Ministry of Culture based on the amount contributed by the film funds. The greater the investment, the more credit the fund receives:

• Investment tier: Approximately €61,100–€85,500
• Investment tier: Approximately €85,500–€122,200
• Investment tier: Approximately €122,200 and above

2. Student Films

For each final project, film funds allocate approximately €7,300.
All national film funds are obligated to support student graduation films.

3. Mifal Hapais grants for short films

Mifal HaPais typically invests between approximately €36,500 to €61,000 in each short film.

1. Investment in Narrative Features

• National film funds usually invest up to €855,000, with the remaining amount raised from other sources.
• Regional film funds collaborating with national funds are expected to contribute at least €368,000 the total budget.

2. Investment in Debut Features

• For a director’s first or second feature film, the national fund investment is typically €368,000.
• When matching funds are required, the total production budget must be at least €490,000.

3. Investment in Documentaries

Film fund investment typically stands at €85,000, with the rest sourced from additional partners.

• Language: The film is primarily in Hebrew, Arabic, Yiddish, or Ladino.
• Spending in Israel: At least 50% of production expenses or 70% of labor costs are incurred in Israel.
• Crew: At least 75% of the crew and creative team are Israeli residents.
• Production Location: Most of the shooting takes place in Israel, or at least four key creative roles are filled by Israelis.
• Co-Production: Must comply with either an international treaty or local co-production rules (regarding control, financing, and content).
• Producer: Must be an Israeli resident or a company under Israeli control.
• Exceptions: A film that does not meet these criteria may still be recognized if it holds exceptional cultural value and receives ministerial approval.

1. A Dedicated Animation Category Introduced

For the first time, animated films have been officially recognized as a standalone category, rather than a sub-genre of fiction or documentary. This change allows film funds to receive bonus evaluation points for supporting animation, making them more competitive in Ministry of Culture grant processes.

2. Bonus Points for Funds Supporting Animation

Film funds are now rewarded with additional points based on their investment in animation: full-length animated fiction film; fiction film that incorporates animation; animated short or animated documentary; short or documentary that includes animation. This system creates a direct incentive for funds to support animation projects.

3. Regional Funds Also Rewarded for Animation

Regional film funds now receive bonus points for supporting animation — an inclusion that was not guaranteed in the past. This enables the development of animated content in regional and peripheral areas.

4. A Cultural Policy Shift

These developments place Israeli animation at the heart of national cinema discourse, opening the door to future dedicated budgets, new funding programs, and expanded international exposure.