Israel and New Zealand Sign Film Cooperation Deal

Image by Atomic Falafel Official Poster

By Maia Efrem March 3, 2016

Israel and New Zealand have signed a co-production treaty giving film makers access and funding as incentives to produce film, TV animation and digital productions in the two countries.

, the treaty was signed in Wellington, New Zealand by New Zealand’s Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Maggie Barry and Israeli Ambassador, Yosef Livne.

“(The treaty will) see the opening of a new door, through which the world-renowned talent and successful film industry of New Zealand and the effervescent film industry in Israel will begin a joint march,” said Livne.

The treaty followed the success of “Atomic Falafel,” a co-production venture between Israel,Germany and New Zealand. Written and directed by Israel’s Dror Shaul, the film was produced by New Zealand’s Matthew Metcalfe and was granted support by the New Zealand Film Commission.

Watch the official “Atomic Falafel” trailer (with English subtitles) here:

Maia Efrem is the former research editor and assistant to the editor and was also responsible for the Forward’s annual Salary Survey. Previously she served as the editor of Blognik Beat, a blog written by students who emigrated from or have ties to the Former Soviet Union. Maia is a graduate of Hunter College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO