Amidst ongoing political tensions and a backdrop of debate, the Berlin International Film Festival saw the launch of the FutureNarrative Fund, a new initiative designed to bolster German-Israeli co-productions across film, television, and theater. The fund aims to move beyond symbolic gestures of solidarity and establish a sustainable framework for collaboration between the two nations’ creative industries.
Unveiled at a co-production event attended by approximately 50 film and cultural professionals from Germany and Israel, the FutureNarrative Fund drew representatives from key public funders, broadcasters, production companies, and studios. The association’s core mission, as stated by its founders, is to build an independent and professional structure to support high-quality co-productions.
“If we want tomorrow’s world to be shaped by understanding, we must tell the stories today that create empathy,” said Sharon On, a theater and film director and co-founder of the fund. “Culture is not a side stage – We see a central arena of social discourse.” This sentiment underscores the fund’s ambition to leverage storytelling as a tool for fostering cross-cultural understanding and challenging preconceived notions.
Lihi Nagler, a film scholar and curator and also a co-founder, emphasized the importance of proactive engagement. “German-Israeli collaboration today is not a symbolic gesture, but a responsibility,” she stated. “When narratives are distorted, we cannot remain silent. We need professional structures that ensure our perspectives are made visible.” The fund intends to support both established industry figures and emerging talent, with a particular focus on projects with the potential for international distribution.
Producer and composer Mark Pinhasov highlighted the fund’s pragmatic approach. “We are not building symbolic bridges, but concrete working relationships – with strong partners and projects capable of standing their ground internationally,” he said. “Culture has the power to rebuild trust and create social impact. That is exactly what we stand for.” The fund will operate through a diversified funding model, combining private investment, sponsorships from the film and cultural sectors, and public funding, with a long-term focus on sustainability.
The launch event was attended by a significant cross-section of the German and Israeli film industries. Notable attendees included Kirsten Niehuus, president of the German Federal Film Board (FFA); Sarah Duve-Schmid, managing director of Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg; and Pnina Halfon Lang, artistic director of the Israeli Content Marketing Foundation. Producers Danna Stern (On The Spectrum, Your Honor), Johann Buchholz of Friday Films, Nataly Kudiabor and Marc Lepetit of Ufa, Christian Honeck of Disney, Carolin Halperin of Rbb/ARTE, and Andreas Knoblauch and Michael Lehmann of Studio Hamburg were also present. Directors Yaelle Kayam, Shirel Peleg and Dror Zahavi, along with actor Garry Fischmann, rounded out the attendees.
Beyond providing financial support, the FutureNarrative Fund aims to create a robust network for exchange, facilitating collaboration between producers, broadcasters, directors, and cultural institutions in both countries. The stated goal is to encourage projects that challenge stereotypes and promote nuanced narratives and shared perspectives.
However, the launch occurred against a challenging backdrop. The festival itself has been marked by political divisions and ideological debates, and the broader climate has seen increasing difficulty for Israeli productions in securing international financing and distribution. Several Israeli producers, speaking off the record to The Hollywood Reporter, have reported that Israeli stories are becoming harder to finance and sell internationally, with potential co-production partners expressing reluctance to collaborate.
This hesitancy was underscored by Canadian producer Bill Marks, who was in Berlin promoting his feature The Betrayers, set in Israel and Ukraine. Marks noted that the Israeli component of his project “makes it toxic” for many potential buyers, with concerns about potential protests and disruptions. This sentiment reflects a wider trend of caution within the industry, where geopolitical events are increasingly influencing investment decisions.
The challenges facing Israeli filmmakers are particularly acute given the historical reliance on international co-production funding. According to industry sources, approximately 30% of the Israeli film budget traditionally comes from overseas co-producers. The current climate threatens to significantly disrupt this funding model, potentially impacting the future viability of Israeli film and television production. The decline in festival selections for Israeli films is further exacerbating the problem, reducing the incentive for co-producers to invest in Israeli projects.
The FutureNarrative Fund, arrives at a critical juncture. While the initiative represents a significant commitment to fostering German-Israeli collaboration, its success will depend on its ability to navigate the complex political and economic headwinds facing the Israeli film industry. The fund’s emphasis on building “concrete working relationships” and projects with demonstrable international viability suggests a pragmatic approach designed to overcome these challenges and ensure the long-term sustainability of German-Israeli co-productions.
