Procedures

Procedures for selecting readers (artistic consultants) and their work

Readers shall be appointed by the Foundation’s CEO based on the CEO’s professional judgment for a term covering at least one Open Call and no more than several Open Calls, over a maximum period of four consecutive years. Any interruption in a reader’s tenure shall last at least two years. The identities of the readers shall be published only after they have completed their work, in order to protect them from external influence or interference.

Upon signing an engagement agreement with the Foundation, each reader shall sign a Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Declaration. Should a conflict of interest arise during the evaluation of submissions, the reader shall immediately notify the Foundation, and the relevant submission shall be reassigned to another reader.

The Foundation’s Artistic Director shall review all submissions recommended by the readers, discuss their recommendations with them, and participate in the final ranking of the submissions from highest to lowest. The Foundation shall not disclose the identity of any reader in connection with a specific submission. The names of the readers shall be published on the Foundation’s website only after the relevant Open Call has concluded.

For each Open Call, every submission shall be evaluated by three readers. The panel of readers shall always consist of an odd number of members. At least 40% of the panel shall be women, and at least 40% shall meet the Foundation’s definition of Periphery*. Upon signing their engagement agreement, readers shall declare whether they satisfy the criteria for classification as readers from the Periphery.

A recommendation from at least one of the three readers shall advance a submission to the next stage, where it will be reviewed by the Foundation’s Artistic Director and discussed at a readers’ meeting attended by the Foundation’s CEO and Artistic Director.

All submissions shall be provided to the readers in anonymous form. The names of the applicants and creators (including the writer, director, producer and/or animator), together with all biographies, shall be removed from the submission materials by the Foundation and kept confidential until the completion of the initial reading stage and the receipt of the readers’ recommendations for discussion with the Artistic Director.

Any submitted audiovisual material that has not been properly anonymized will be returned to the applicant. The identities of the creators and the complete submission materials, including information regarding previous works, shall be disclosed only before the readers’ meeting with the Artistic Director. At that stage, the readers’ written evaluations and recommendations may not be amended.

Readers shall submit detailed, constructive, and professional evaluations using the Foundation’s official evaluation form (examples are available here). Reviews shall be respectful and shall not undermine the dignity or professional standing of the applicant or the creators. The reader’s role is to evaluate and analyze the submission, not to rewrite or develop it on behalf of the creators.

The Foundation’s CEO and Artistic Director shall oversee the evaluation process, compile the readers’ assessments and recommendations, and prepare the final ranking of submissions based on the readers’ evaluations and the overall quality of the projects.

  

*Definition of “Periphery”

A person shall be considered part of the Periphery if they satisfy at least one of the following criteria:

Place of Residence

• A locality situated more than 150 kilometers from Tel Aviv and classified by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) within socio-economic clusters 1–7. In accordance with the Ministry of Culture’s criteria, Jerusalem is included in this category.
• A locality classified by the CBS within socio-economic clusters 1–5.
• A neighborhood classified within socio-economic clusters 1–4 according to Table C of the CBS Statistical Areas Classification.

Population Groups

Individuals belonging to one or more of the following groups: Arab, Bedouin, Druze, or Circassian communities; Members of non-Jewish religious communities; Members of the Ultra-Orthodox community; New immigrants who immigrated to Israel within the ten years preceding the year of the support application; Individuals who, or whose parent, was born in Ethiopia; Persons with disabilities; or Members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Standards for Assessing Projects

The Foundation invests in cinematic works that present original stories or original adaptations with compelling dramatic structure, distinctive voices, and memorable characters.

In evaluating submitted projects, the Foundation seeks works with the potential to become significant cinematic achievements—works that resonate with audiences, broaden perspectives, stimulate meaningful dialogue, and make a lasting contribution to Israel’s audiovisual culture.

The Foundation is committed to supporting a broad and diverse range of subjects that reflect the richness and complexity of Israeli society, culture, and public life. It seeks to encourage projects that give voice to diverse communities, identities, viewpoints, and artistic perspectives. The Foundation believes that a plurality of creative voices is essential to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and dynamic Israeli cinema.

In addition to their artistic merit, projects will be evaluated, as appropriate to their genre and format, on the basis of:

• the quality and depth of the underlying research;
• the strength and coherence of the narrative structure;
• the development and authenticity of the characters;
• the originality of the concept;
• the quality and effectiveness of the cinematic language;
• the creator’s artistic vision and approach to the subject matter;
• the significance, relevance, and urgency of the issues explored; and
• the project’s artistic, professional, production, and financial feasibility.

 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the Foundation’s Submission Guides before submitting an application under any Open Call.

The Foundation's CEO, Artistic Director, and Management

The Foundation’s CEO shall possess substantial professional experience in the field of cinema, including experience in at least two of the following areas: production, directing, screenwriting, editing, academic teaching, or professional mentoring and instruction. The CEO shall also hold at least a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent academic qualification.

Where appropriate, and based on the CEO’s professional qualifications and experience, the CEO may also serve as the Foundation’s Artistic Director.

The Foundation’s CEO and Artistic Director shall be assisted by external artistic advisors (“Readers”), whose role is to evaluate submitted projects and prepare recommendations regarding projects suitable for Foundation support.

Following the close of each Open Call, the CEO shall appoint a sufficient number of Readers, taking into account the volume and nature of the submissions received. Each project shall be evaluated independently by no fewer than three Readers.

The Readers shall recommend projects for support in accordance with a quota established by the CEO, taking into consideration, among other factors:

• the Foundation’s available budget;
• the overall quality of the submitted projects;
• the Foundation’s existing portfolio of supported projects; and
• the Foundation’s strategic objectives.

The CEO shall review all recommendations submitted by the Readers, following which a concluding evaluation meeting shall be held to discuss, compare, and rank the projects.

Together, the CEO and the Readers shall formulate a recommended list of projects for support that reflects a broad diversity of subjects, viewpoints, artistic approaches, genres, creative styles, and voices, while encouraging participation by both emerging and established filmmakers from across Israel, including the geographic and social periphery.

The recommended list shall be submitted to the Foundation’s Program Committee for approval. The Program Committee shall consist of members of the Foundation’s Executive Board together with the Chairperson.

The Program Committee shall be chaired by a member elected by the Committee from among its members. Members of the Program Committee shall be appointed by the Committee Chair in coordination with the CEO.

The CEO may present objections concerning any project included in the recommended list. The Program Committee may accept such objections and remove the project from the list of recommended projects.

Likewise, the Program Committee may, on its own initiative, decide not to approve a project recommended by the CEO and the Readers, provided that the reasons for its decision are documented in writing and recorded in the Committee’s official minutes.

Decisions of the Program Committee

Decisions of the Program Committee shall be adopted by a simple majority vote. The CEO shall serve as a voting member of the Committee and shall have one vote. In the event of a tie, the Chair of the Program Committee shall have a casting vote.

The decisions of the Program Committee shall constitute recommendations to the Foundation’s Executive Board. Final approval of projects shall be granted by the Executive Board members who are not members of the Program Committee.

Appeals

An applicant whose request for support has been rejected after two rounds of evaluation may submit an appeal solely on the grounds of a procedural or technical error in the evaluation process. Appeals shall not be based on the professional judgment or artistic assessment of the Readers or the Artistic Director.

Appeals shall be heard by the Foundation’s Appeals Committee, which shall consist of three members: two members of the Foundation’s Executive Board, and one public representative appointed by the Foundation from the Foundation’s pool of Readers. The public representative must satisfy the following conditions: (1) must not be employed by the Foundation and must not have been employed by the Foundation during the two years preceding the appointment; and (2) must possess at least five years of relevant professional experience.

 

Tenure of the CEO, Artistic Director, and Members of the Executive Board

The term of office of the Foundation’s CEO, Artistic Director, and members of the Executive Board shall be limited to four years. The term may be extended once for an additional four years and subsequently for one further term of up to two years, provided that the total consecutive period of service does not exceed ten years.

Applying for the Foundation’s investment

Eligibility

Applications for Foundation support may be submitted by creators who are at least 18 years of age.

Support shall be granted only to projects that qualify as an Israeli Film, as defined in the Cinematograph Regulations (Recognition of an Israeli Film), 2005.

 

Submission of Applications

Applications for development, production, or production completion support shall be submitted exclusively through the Foundation’s online submission system, either in response to a published Open Call or, where applicable, through the Foundation’s Fast-Track Application procedure.

Unless otherwise stated, all application requirements, submission instructions, and eligibility conditions are published on the Foundation’s website.

The Foundation’s website also contains previous Open Calls for reference purposes. Applicants are encouraged to review these materials when preparing future submissions.

 

Submission Materials

Applications shall include, as applicable to the relevant funding track:

• a short synopsis;
• an extended synopsis;
• treatment, script, or project description;
• the creator’s statement of intent;
• a description of the project’s cinematic approach;
• financing plan;
• production budget (submitted as an Excel file);
• curriculum vitae of the principal creators;
• links to audiovisual materials relating to the project; and
• links to previous works.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the Foundation’s Submission Guides before preparing their applications.

 

Anonymous Evaluation

All submissions shall be evaluated anonymously during the initial reading stage.

In accordance with the Ministry of Culture and Sport’s allocation criteria introduced in 2019, all identifying information relating to the creators shall be removed from the submission materials before they are distributed to the Readers.

This anonymization includes the names of all creators, biographies, and other identifying information. Such information shall remain confidential until the completion of the initial evaluation stage.

 

 Audiovisual Materials

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit audiovisual materials related to the proposed project, such as selected scenes, teasers, promotional reels, or rough-cut sequences.

Links to previous works may also be provided; however, previous works shall not substitute for audiovisual material relating directly to the submitted project.

Where appropriate, links to previous works may be made available to the Readers during the discussion stage, at the discretion of the CEO.

All audiovisual materials submitted with an application shall be anonymized. They shall not include the names of the creators, production companies, logos, or any other identifying information, except for the title of the project.

Applicants shall ensure that all viewing links (including YouTube or Vimeo links) remain active for a minimum period of four months following submission. No changes shall be made to the submitted materials during that period without the Foundation’s prior written consent.

 

Underlying Rights

Where a project is based on an existing work—including a book, article, research, or any other protected material—the applicant shall obtain the necessary rights from the copyright holder before entering into a support agreement with the Foundation, in accordance with the applicable funding track.

Detailed submission requirements shall be published with each relevant Open Call.

 

Language of Submission

Applications must be submitted in Hebrew.

 

Multiple Applications

A producer who is not also the project’s director may submit an unlimited number of applications in each Open Call. However, the CEO may condition the approval of additional projects upon receiving satisfactory information regarding the proper management and progress of projects previously supported by the Foundation.

A creator who serves as both producer and director – or as director only – may also submit an unlimited number of projects in each Open Call. However, such a creator may receive Foundation support for only one project during any calendar year.

 

Debut Feature Films

A project shall be considered a debut feature film where it is submitted by a writer or director applying for support for their first or second narrative feature film.

A creator who has previously written or directed only narrative short films shall continue to be regarded as a debut filmmaker for the purpose of applying for support for a first narrative feature film.

The Foundation’s investment in a debut feature film shall be NIS 1.25 million. Where support is sought for a creator’s second narrative feature film, the project’s total production budget shall be no less than NIS 2 million.

 

Resubmission of Projects

A project may be submitted to the Foundation no more than twice. A project submitted for a second evaluation shall be reviewed by a different panel of Readers than the panel that evaluated the original submission. A third submission shall be permitted only where substantial revisions have been made to the project and only with the prior approval of the Foundation’s Artistic Director.

 

Development Support

The Foundation is under no obligation to provide production or production completion funding to a project that has previously received development support. However, where a project has received development funding from the Foundation, the Foundation shall have a right of first refusal to consider investment in the project’s production before the applicant seeks production financing from other funding bodies.

 

Decisions

Support shall be awarded in accordance with the applicable Support Criteria, the recommendations of the Readers, and the decision of the Foundation’s competent governing bodies.

Open Calls and Foundation Support

The Foundation shall publish at least two general Open Calls each calendar year. A minimum interval of four months shall be maintained between Open Calls relating to the same funding category. The Foundation reserves the right to publish additional Open Calls at its discretion. Open Calls may be either general or thematic, in accordance with priorities determined by the Foundation from time to time. Each Open Call shall be published on the Foundation’s website and official social media channels no fewer than thirty (30) days before the submission deadline. Applicants shall normally be notified of the Foundation’s decisions within four (4) months following the applicable submission deadline.

 

Fast-Track Applications

In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the Foundation’s available budget, the Foundation may consider a project under its Fast-Track Application procedure. Fast-Track Applications are intended for projects requiring an expedited funding decision due to exceptional production circumstances, including, but not limited to: urgent production or filming schedules; imminent participation in a film festival; scheduled television or digital broadcast commitments; or other circumstances that, in the Foundation’s judgment, justify accelerated consideration.

The Foundation shall notify applicants of its decision regarding a Fast-Track Application within forty-five (45) days of receiving a complete application. Further information regarding the Fast-Track Application procedure is available in the section entitled Approval of Project Support under the Fast-Track Application Procedure.

Foundation Support

The Foundation may provide financial support to projects in accordance with the applicable Support Criteria and subject to the limits established by law.

Except where otherwise permitted under the applicable Support Criteria, public funding for a project shall not exceed 80% of its approved production budget.

The maximum level of public funding may be increased to 90% for the following categories of projects:

• Student graduation films.
• A director’s or screenwriter’s first feature-length narrative or animated film, or first short narrative, animation, or new media project.
• A director’s or editor’s first documentary film.
• Yeudi Films, namely projects that concern or are set in the Periphery, as defined in these Regulations.

Projects Supported by Other Film Funds

The Foundation may support a project that has previously received funding from another public film fund in the following circumstances:

• The project has received support under a different funding stage (for example, development support rather than production support).
• The project has received support from a large national film fund (Makor Foundation is considered a small national fund).
• The project has received support from a regional film fund.

Approval of support for a project that has received funding from another public film fund shall be subject to the CEO’s written approval. In determining the level of support, the Foundation shall take into account: the overall production budget; the Foundation’s available resources; the Foundation’s annual work plan; and any other relevant professional considerations.

Amendments to the Regulations

The Foundation reserves the right to amend these Regulations, including their objectives, funding priorities, support mechanisms, eligibility criteria, and allocation procedures. Any amendments shall comply with the applicable criteria established by the Ministry of Culture and Sport and shall be published by the Foundation in an appropriate manner.

Principles of Funding

The Foundation shall determine the amount of support awarded to each project in accordance with its professional assessment, taking into consideration the project’s production requirements, artistic merit, available resources, and the Foundation’s annual budget.

Funding shall be awarded in accordance with the following principles:

Development Grants

Short Narrative Film, Animation, or New Media – Support of NIS 20,000.

Documentary Film – Support of NIS 20,000 for either a feature-length or short documentary film, or a documentary series.

Feature-Length Narrative or Animated Film- Support ranging from NIS 20,000 to NIS 50,000, depending on the project’s needs and the Foundation’s assessment.

 

Production Grants

Short Narrative Film, Documentary, Animation, or New Media Project (not longer than 59:59 mins.) – Support of up to NIS 250,000. In exceptional cases, the Foundation may approve increased support of NIS 350,000 or NIS 500,000, where justified by the project’s scope or special circumstances.

Feature-Length Documentary Film or Documentary Series (60 mins. and longer) – Support of NIS 350,000, provided that the total production budget is at least NIS 450,000. For international co-productions, the minimum total production budget shall be NIS 1 million.

First Feature-Length Narrative or Animated Film – Support of NIS 1.25 million for the first feature-length narrative or animated film of a screenwriter or director.

Second Feature-Length Narrative or Animated Film – Support of NIS 1.25 million, provided that the project’s total production budget is at least NIS 2 million.

Feature-Length Narrative or Animated Film – Support of NIS 2 million, provided that the total production budget is at least NIS 3 million. For international co-productions, the minimum production budget shall be NIS 4 million.

In all cases, the Foundation’s contribution shall represent not less than 20% of the approved production budget.

Student Graduation Film – Support of NIS 30,000 may be awarded to a graduation project produced by a student enrolled in: a recognized post-secondary professional film school, or the film department of a recognized institution of higher education. This category applies to feature-length narrative films, short narrative films, documentary films, and animated films.

Production Completion Grants

Support of NIS 100,000 may be awarded for projects of any genre or running time.

Yeudi Films

At its sole discretion, the Foundation may provide support for a Yeudi Film—a project that concerns or is set in the Periphery, as defined in these Regulations. The amount of support shall be determined in accordance with the applicable funding level for the relevant project category.

Exceptional Funding

In exceptional circumstances, the Foundation may approve support exceeding the funding levels specified above, taking into account the project’s complexity, its production requirements, exceptional artistic or cultural merit, and the Foundation’s available budget.

Amendments

The Foundation reserves the right to amend these Regulations, including the support objectives, funding priorities, eligibility criteria, funding levels, and allocation procedures, provided that any such amendments comply with the applicable criteria of the Ministry of Culture and Sport and are duly published.

Providing Filmmakers and Productions with Suitable Conditions

The Foundation’s Board shall make every reasonable effort, within the limits of its available resources and budget, to ensure that the projects it supports are produced under fair and appropriate working conditions consistent with accepted professional standards in the Israeli film industry.

The Foundation seeks to ensure that supported projects are provided with the financial and professional conditions necessary to achieve a high standard of artistic and technical quality, while enabling fair and reasonable remuneration for creators, cast, crew members, and other participants involved in the production.

In fulfilling this commitment, the Foundation shall have due regard to:

• the policies and guidelines of the Israel Film Council;
• the Foundation’s financial resources;
• industry standards and accepted professional practices; and
• the practical requirements of each production.

Accordingly, the Foundation may require supported productions to comply with the Guidelines for Appropriate Working Conditions, together with any additional policies or requirements adopted by the Foundation from time to time.

In assessing compliance with these requirements, the Foundation shall also take into consideration budgetary constraints and technological developments that may reasonably affect contemporary production practices.

Agreements and Project Supervision

Financial support from the Foundation shall be governed by a written agreement between the Foundation and the filmmaker or producer, as applicable. The agreement shall be prepared by the Foundation and its legal counsel and, once executed, shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties, superseding all prior discussions, negotiations, representations, understandings, or commitments relating to the project.

Condition Precedent to Support

The Foundation’s obligation to provide financial support is expressly conditional upon:

• the Ministry of Culture and Sport’s final approval of public funding for the Foundation for the relevant fiscal year and funding category; and
• the final allocation of funds to the Foundation for that fiscal year.

Should either approval not be granted, or should the approved allocation differ materially from that anticipated, the Foundation reserves the right to modify or withdraw its support accordingly.

 

Failure to Execute the Agreement

If the filmmaker or producer fails to execute the support agreement within three months after receiving notice of the Foundation’s approval, the Foundation may withdraw its offer of support by written notice.

The Foundation may also terminate the agreement in accordance with its terms if the filmmaker or producer materially breaches the agreement, including by failing to comply with the approved production timetable.

Budget Approval and Completion Financing

Before executing a support agreement, the Foundation shall satisfy itself that the proposed production budget is realistic and sufficient to enable completion of the project. See budget sample for the relevant genre.

Applicants shall submit:

• a detailed production budget;
• a production schedule;
• a production work plan; and
• any additional documentation reasonably requested by the Foundation.

The Foundation will ordinarily approve support only where the available financing is sufficient to complete the project. However, in exceptional circumstances, the Foundation may approve support before the entire financing plan has been completed, provided that:

• special reasons are documented in writing;
• the Foundation’s Board approves the exception; and
• the producer undertakes to secure the remaining financing.

In such cases, the producer shall provide satisfactory evidence of the outstanding financing no later than the second installment of the Foundation’s support (commencement of principal photography).

Acceptable financing may include commitments from broadcasters, distributors, public funding bodies, or private investors.

The producer shall have up to nine (9) months to complete the financing plan.

If the remaining financing is not secured within that period, the Foundation may suspend or terminate its financial support.

Payments

The Foundation’s financial contribution constitutes an investment in the project and shall be paid in installments in accordance with the production schedule and the terms of the support agreement. Any taxes, levies, duties, or other governmental charges applicable to the Foundation’s payments shall be the responsibility of the filmmaker or producer unless otherwise required by law.

Financial Reporting

Recipients of Foundation support shall submit all financial reports required under the support agreement, including:

• audited reports on the use of Foundation funds;
• annual reports concerning the project’s distribution, exhibition, broadcasting, licensing, and commercial exploitation; and
• any additional reports reasonably requested by the Foundation.

The Foundation shall be entitled to receive the share of revenues specified in the support agreement. Any revenues received by the Foundation shall be used to support future film projects in accordance with the Foundation’s public mission.

Awards

The Foundation shall have no entitlement to any monetary prizes or awards received by the filmmaker or producer in connection with the project.

Required Supporting Documents

Before execution of the support agreement, applicants shall provide, where applicable:

• production insurance;
• the current approved production budget;
• valid tax withholding certificates;
• the current production schedule;
• guarantees, where required;
• the agreement between the producer and director;
• agreements with broadcasters;
• agreements with co-financiers or investors;
• distribution or sales agency agreements;
• copyright licenses or option agreements for underlying works; and
• a signed declaration confirming that duplicate backup copies of all original production materials are maintained at two separate locations.

Professional Consultancy

The Foundation’s Artistic Director shall supervise the artistic development of supported projects.

Where appropriate, the Foundation may appoint or fund external consultants or mentors in specialist areas including:

• screenwriting;
• cinematography;
• editing;
• marketing;
• audience development;
• distribution; and
• any other professional discipline relevant to the successful completion of the project.

Completion of the Project, Credits, and Delivery Materials

Foundation Credits

As a condition of receiving Foundation support, the producer shall include the Foundation’s official animated logo in its entirety at both the beginning and the end of the completed film. The Foundation’s animated logo is available in Hebrew, English, and Arabic. The producer shall use the version corresponding to the principal language of the film. Immediately following the Foundation’s animated logo, the official logos of the Israel Film Council and the Ministry of Culture and Sport shall appear together in the same frame.

Mandatory Use of Logos

The inclusion of these logos is a mandatory condition of Foundation support. The Foundation’s animated logo shall be used in its complete and unaltered form, including both image and sound, with its full running time of approximately seven (7) seconds. The official logos of the Israel Film Council and the Ministry of Culture and Sport shall appear together with the Foundation’s logo wherever required under applicable governmental regulations.

Credit Block

The following credit shall appear in the closing credits of the film immediately after the principal creative credits:

On behalf of the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films

Amit Goren

Eveline Kluger-Kadish

Vicki Cohen

 

Promotional Materials

The Foundation’s official logo, together with the logos of the Israel Film Council and the Ministry of Culture and Sport, shall appear on all promotional and publicity materials relating to the supported project, including posters, trailers, promotional videos, festival materials, brochures, digital advertising, social media publications, packaging, websites, and any other promotional materials.

The language version of each logo shall correspond to the language of the relevant promotional material. Official logos shall be downloaded exclusively from the Foundation’s website.

International Distribution

Where a film is distributed or broadcast outside Israel, the producer shall use the English-language version of the Foundation’s logo or another officially approved translation appropriate to the territory of distribution. Any translation of the Foundation’s credit shall be subject to the Foundation’s prior approval.

Public Relations

The producer authorizes the Foundation to undertake public relations and promotional activities relating to the supported project. The Foundation shall not be obligated to conduct such activities but may do so in coordination with the producer and, where appropriate, with other financing partners.

Delivery Materials

Before receiving the final installment of Foundation support, the producer shall deliver the following materials to the Foundation:

• an accountant’s audited report confirming the use of the approved production budget;
• one master file in Hebrew;
• one master file in English;
• digital master files in the technical format specified by the Foundation (MPEG4 10Mbit); and

• trailers, promotional materials, and “making-of” materials, where available.
• detailed information about the film as required for the Foundation’s website

Delivery of these materials shall constitute a condition precedent to payment of the final installment of Foundation support.

Archival Deposit

For archival purposes, the producer shall deposit the required preservation materials with the Israel Film Archive at the Jerusalem Cinematheque or with another archive approved in advance by the Foundation.

The producer shall provide written confirmation of the archival deposit together with all information required for publication of the project on the Foundation’s website. Submission of these materials shall constitute a condition precedent to the Foundation’s final payment.

Foundation Investment and Revenue Participation

Foundation support constitutes an investment in the supported project.

Following recoupment of the approved production costs, the Foundation shall be entitled to participate in revenues generated by the project, including revenues derived from:

• theatrical exhibition;
• television broadcasting;
• streaming and digital exploitation;
• distribution and licensing;
• domestic and international sales; and
• any other commercial exploitation of the project.

Monetary awards, prizes, grants, and honorary distinctions received by the filmmakers shall not be included in the calculation of revenues.

The Foundation’s share of revenues shall be calculated in accordance with the support agreement and shall generally equal 50% of the Foundation’s proportional share of the project’s final approved production budget, after deduction of customary distribution fees and approved recoupable distribution expenses.

The Foundation reserves the right to adjust its revenue participation, where justified by the specific financing structure or production circumstances, provided that any such adjustment is expressly set out in the support agreement.

Appeals

An applicant whose request for Foundation support has been rejected may submit an appeal only on the grounds of a procedural or administrative error in the Foundation’s handling of the application.

An appeal shall not challenge or seek reconsideration of the professional or artistic judgment exercised by the Readers, the Artistic Director, or any other decision-making body of the Foundation.

Appeals shall be heard by the Foundation’s Appeals Committee, which shall consist of two members of the Foundation’s Executive Board, and one public representative appointed by the Foundation from among its pool of Readers, and who must satisfy the following conditions:

• must not be employed by the Foundation and must not have been employed by the Foundation during the two years preceding the appointment
• must possess at least five years of relevant professional experience.

Appeals shall be submitted electronically to the Foundation’s email office@kerenmakor.org.il

Submitting Projects in “Fast Track” Application

Eligibility

The Foundation may, in exceptional circumstances, determine that a project should be considered under the Fast-Track Application procedure rather than through the ordinary evaluation process. Fast-Track consideration is intended for projects requiring an accelerated funding decision in circumstances where delay may materially prejudice the project.

Such circumstances may include, without limitation: projects at an advanced rough-cut stage; projects requiring urgent completion in advance of a scheduled television broadcast or film festival; documentary projects requiring continuous filming in order to preserve the integrity of the subject matter; or projects that are otherwise production-ready and require an expedited decision.

The Foundation retains sole discretion to determine whether a project is suitable for Fast-Track consideration. The Foundation may also decide that a project meeting the Fast-Track criteria should instead be evaluated together with other projects under the regular Open Call process.

Submission Procedure

Applicants seeking Fast-Track consideration shall first obtain the Foundation’s approval before submitting an application. If the request is approved, the Foundation shall provide access to the appropriate Fast-Track application form. The CEO shall review the application together with the submitted audiovisual materials or, where applicable, a rough-cut version of the project. At least three Readers shall also evaluate the project independently. Where the Readers reach differing conclusions regarding support, the Artistic Director shall determine whether the project will be recommended for funding.

Approval of Fast-Track Projects

Projects approved through the Fast-Track procedure shall be submitted to the Program Committee for approval in the same manner as projects evaluated through the regular Open Call process. The CEO shall serve as a voting member of the Program Committee. In the event of a tie, the Chair of the Program Committee shall have a casting vote. Following approval by the Program Committee, written notice shall be circulated to the remaining members of the Executive Board. Unless an objection is received within forty-eight (48) hours, the recommendation shall be deemed approved. The Foundation’s CEO shall issue the formal written notification of the Committee’s decision.

Support for a Fast-Track project shall remain subject to execution of the Foundation’s standard support agreement.

 

 

Principles for Preventing Conflicts of Interest

Members of the Executive Board, members of the Foundation, employees, Readers, advisors, and all other persons acting on behalf of the Foundation shall perform their duties impartially, independently, and in good faith. They shall avoid any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest between their responsibilities to the Foundation and any personal, professional, or financial interest relating to the Israeli film industry, including any involvement in a project submitted to the Foundation. No person performing duties on behalf of the Foundation shall receive any benefit, remuneration, or consideration connected with those duties other than compensation lawfully paid by the Foundation.

Ineligible Applications

During their term of office or engagement, the Foundation shall not consider applications submitted by: members of the Executive Board; members of the Foundation; Foundation employees; Readers; or advisors serving the Foundation.

Disclosure of Conflicts

Any member of the Executive Board, Foundation employee, or other person acting on behalf of the Foundation who becomes aware of a conflict of interest relating to a submitted application shall immediately disclose the conflict to the Foundation. The disclosure shall be recorded in the official minutes, and the individual concerned shall take no part in the consideration, discussion, recommendation, or decision relating to the relevant application.

Former Board Members and Employees

Former members of the Executive Board and former permanent employees of the Foundation shall not apply for Foundation support until the later of: six months following the end of their appointment; or the conclusion of the fiscal year during which their appointment ended.

During their employment, neither the CEO nor permanent employees of the Foundation may undertake paid or unpaid work for any person or organization that could reasonably be expected to apply for Foundation support. Any professional activity undertaken by the CEO in the fields of film or television shall require the prior approval of the Foundation’s Executive Board.

The Executive Board may approve an exception to these provisions only in exceptional circumstances and shall record the reasons for any such decision in writing. The Foundation shall ensure that these conflict-of-interest requirements are communicated to all members of the Executive Board, employees, Readers, advisors, and members of the Foundation.

Readers’ Declaration

Every Reader shall execute the Foundation’s Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Declaration before undertaking any evaluation of submitted projects. Where a Reader or advisor identifies an actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest in relation to a project assigned for evaluation, the Reader or advisor shall immediately notify the Foundation’s CEO; refrain from participating in any discussion concerning the project; refrain from providing any recommendation relating to the project; and take no further part in the evaluation process for that project.

The Makor Foundation for Israeli Films wishes all applicants every success.