TVF Brings New Titles to Israel

TVF International has closed a number of deals to bring blue-chip arts and current-affairs titles to major broadcasters in Israel.

The pubcaster Kan IPBC has licensed the four-part hosted travelogue Deciphering Japan. The series was commissioned by Singapore’s Channel NewsAsia, and takes a fresh look at how today’s Japan is dealing with contemporary social questions around topics like feminism, overwork and race.

BBC Studio’s Keith Haring: Street Art Boy has been licensed to YES Docu, with the pay-TV broadcaster bringing the film to general audiences in Israel after its territory premiere at December’s Docaviv Festival in the country’s capital. The film provides an intimate inside look at the celebrated street artist’s life in 1980s New York. YES Docu also recently acquired the rights to David Foster: Off the Record.

Slutzky Communications acquired the rights to Burning Bright’s Me and My Penis, which was commissioned by Channel 4. The film follows a photographer’s attempts to help men open up about their sexual anxieties and insecurities. The broadcaster also acquired current-affairs single Outbreak Onboard, which tells the story of how the coronavirus swept through the 3,700 guests onboard the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship.

Sam Joyce, senior sales executive at TVF, said: “We’ve seen a real demand for high-quality one-off documentaries with a strong and singular approach to social issues from broadcasters in Israel. Particularly in demand are films that combine great access with strong artistic and narrative sensibilities, allowing them to work for both festivals and commercial audiences. This was the case with both Keith Haring: Street Art Boy and the David Foster doc, which we are delighted to bring to a top-tier broadcast home after their strong festival runs.”