Israeli Culture Minister Cancels Millions in Arts Awards While Spending 3 Million on Controversial Film Reform Campaign

Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar has faced sharp criticism for secretly canceling nearly all major cultural creation awards for 2025, valued at approximately 4.5 million shekels, while simultaneously allocating 3 million shekels of public funds for a contentious advertising campaign promoting his film industry reform. Documents obtained by Walla Culture via freedom of information requests reveal that the campaign, produced by government advertising agencies and featuring actor Golan Azoulay, aimed to clarify the reform’s principles and boost public legitimacy amid widespread industry protests.

The reform, signed by Zohar after two years of opposition, shifts funding toward commercial films over artistic quality and regional film funds, sparking fears of damage to short films and independent cinema. The campaign’s production and media placement costs included 1.3 million shekels for TV, 584,000 for digital platforms, 449,000 for radio and podcasts, and 179,000 for cinema screenings. Industry insiders condemned the campaign’s high cost and simplistic content, accusing Zohar of self-promotion and premature advertising before full legislative approval.

The campaign notably used clips from older Israeli films owned by United King, a company linked to Moshe Edri, provided free of charge despite the large budget. Critics highlighted the campaign’s focus on films from the 1960s to 1980s, largely ignoring the recent flourishing of Israeli cinema. Zohar’s office rejected allegations of misinformation, stating the reform was legally enacted in February 2025 and the campaign aired only after final parliamentary approval in January 2026.

The controversy intensified as cultural groups released satirical videos criticizing the campaign and Zohar’s approach to freedom of expression. Ahead of Likud primaries, Zohar released a provocative video accusing filmmakers of defaming Israel, which drew widespread condemnation from media and cultural figures. The debate underscores tensions between government cultural policy, public funding priorities, and artistic freedom in Israel’s film sector.