Jerusalem

Bound by a shared concern over terrorism and buoyed by growing cultural ties, a delegation from India’s film fraternity visiting Israel has said there is tremendous potential for creative collaboration between the two countries.

Israel hosted prominent Indian filmmakers and media professionals this week to showcase its visual diversity—from biblical deserts and Mediterranean beaches to modern and ancient cities—along with its strength in innovation and filmmaking technology. The six-day visit, which began on Saturday, comes as Israel continues to grapple with the aftermath of the October 7 terror attack and the prolonged conflict that has followed.

The Indian delegation toured several sites affected by the attack, met survivors and heard their testimonies—an experience many said resonated deeply with India’s own history of terror incidents, including the attack in Pahalgam.

“Our delegation sees immense potential for creative collaboration between our nations. Cinema can bridge hearts and minds, and we are eager to open new chapters of co-production, exchange and mutual inspiration,” said K G Suresh, Director of India Habitat Centre, speaking to PTI.

He said the group held “fruitful meetings” with leading Israeli filmmakers, distributors, officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Indian Ambassador, leaving the delegation optimistic about a “new era of India–Israel cinematic cooperation.”

Film commentator and cultural writer Murtaza Ali Khan said there is strong interest in Israel’s creative output among Indian audiences. “The MFA Bollywood delegation visit is an important step forward in boosting cultural ties through cinema and TV collaborations,” he said, noting that India and Israel already share a co-production treaty.

The 12-member delegation spans various creative domains. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), which facilitated the visit, described “Bollywood as a source of inspiration.”

“The Indian film industry is a global example of storytelling that touches millions. Your ability to evoke emotion, joy and colour while also addressing pain and human drama is something we deeply admire,” said Nurit Tinari, Head of the Culture Diplomacy Bureau at the MFA. “Your presence here is a powerful statement of solidarity and friendship.”

Israel, recognising the potential, is exploring ways to incentivise Indian filmmakers to collaborate.
Rajeev Dwivedi, Founder and CEO of Livepixel Technologies, said he is “thrilled to collaborate with Israel on animation features, and long and short formats in the Indo-Israel cultural and historical arena.”

The accounts of survivors of the October 7 attack left a profound impression on the delegates.
Suresh said both India and Israel are vibrant democracies that have endured “profound civilisational challenges” and continue to fight terrorism.
“At Yad Vashem, we were reminded of humanity’s darkest hour and the resilience of the Jewish people. We share your grief and stand shoulder to shoulder with you,” he said.

Filmmaker Sudipto Sen, Director of The Kerala Story, said the visit strengthened his views on “global injustice.”
“A community suffered for 2,000 years and still continues. World propaganda against Israel must stop now,” he said.

The solidarity expressed by the delegation moved the Israeli hosts, who continue to appreciate India’s swift condemnation of the October 7 attack.

“During one of the darkest moments in our history, India proved to be a true friend,” Tinari said. “Prime Minister Modi was among the first leaders to condemn the attack unequivocally. This bond goes beyond politics—it is a connection of shared values between two strong democracies fighting for life and liberty.”

The Indian delegation also observed the warm cultural connections between the two peoples.
Ordinary Israelis hummed classic Hindi melodies, recalled icons such as Raj Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan, and spoke affectionately about their travels to India—from Goa to Kerala—Suresh noted.

Filmmaker and author Bhuval Lall highlighted the long-standing contribution of the Indian Jewish community to Indian cinema.
“In my book Namaste Cannes, I write about Ezra Mir, a Jewish Indian filmmaker from Bombay who trained in Hollywood and made Pamposh, a Hindi film that competed at Cannes in 1954. He later headed the Films Division and is considered a pioneer of India’s documentary movement,” he told PTI.

The Indian Embassy in Israel has been actively promoting creative partnerships, particularly after successful exchanges during the WAVES Summit.

“Indian and Israeli cinema are natural partners in storytelling. With the momentum created by recent artistic exchanges, our creative collaboration is set to grow further,” said India’s Ambassador to Israel, JP Singh.

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The delegation includes Suraj Kumar, Managing Director of Johnsons Suraj Films International; filmmaker and screenwriter Sanjib Dey; noted wildlife cinematographer Rakesh Rana; Ganesh Shankar Raj of National Geographic Channel; screenwriter and director Anuraadha Tewari; second-unit and assistant director Tejas P. Sonawane; and acclaimed screenwriter Kumud Chaudhary.