Sam Spiegel Film and Television School

Overview

The Sam Spiegel Film and Television School (JSFS) is a private film school at 3 Menorah Street in Jerusalem, founded in 1989 by director Renen Schorr and named after the Hollywood producer of The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. The Hollywood Reporter has ranked JSFS among the 15 best international film schools for eight consecutive years. The school enrolls a limited number of students each year and invests substantial financial and human resources per student, making admission selective: applicants complete home tests followed by a personal interview with the admissions committee.

JSFS offers two degree tracks: a four-year Film and Television program and a two-year Screenwriting program (established 1999). The school also runs a dedicated program for Palestinian and Arabic-speaking students, one of the few initiatives in the region where Israeli and Palestinian students study and create alongside each other. All instruction in the main track is in Hebrew; the screenwriting track operates bi-weekly. International applicants should contact the registrar's office (avital@jsfs.co.il) to verify language requirements before applying.

Tuition for the screenwriting track is 14,000 NIS (approximately $3,800) per year, with an additional 200 to 600 NIS for insurance, professional literature, and enrichment activities. Registration fee is 500 NIS ($135), reduced to 375 NIS ($100) for open-day attendees. Tuition for the main four-year track is approximately $5,464 per year. The school offers full and partial scholarships covering tuition, living expenses, production costs, and international residencies, funded by foundations, institutions, and private donors in Israel and abroad.

Programs Offered

• Four-Year Film and Television Program - covers directing, cinematography, editing, screenwriting, and production. Students begin school productions in their first year alongside workshops in direction, screenwriting, cinematography, production, editing, and documentary exercises. In the third year, students specialize in editing, cinematography, or production. The second half of year three is dedicated to writing the graduation film script. The program is built around the short film as a core teaching tool: each production receives full creative and financial backing from the school.
• Two-Year Screenwriting Program - established in 1999, bi-weekly schedule. Includes inspirational writing classes and workshops led by working Israeli screenwriters, theory classes shared with directing department students, workshops in directing, working with actors, one-on-one tutoring, and master classes with international guests. Culminates in a marketing and promotion event for industry professionals.
• Program for Palestinian and Arabic-speaking Students - a dedicated track conducted in Arabic, fostering cross-cultural creative collaboration between Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers.

Facilities and Equipment

JSFS operates from its Jerusalem campus at 3 Menorah Street. The school also runs the Sam Spiegel International Film Lab, launched in December 2011, one of only three film labs of its kind worldwide alongside the Sundance Institute and TorinoFilmLab. The Lab has developed feature films including the Academy Award-winning Son of Saul (2015, directed by Laszlo Nemes), Murina (2021 Camera d'Or winner, Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic), and Plaza Catedral (Panama's 2021 Oscar entry, Abner Benaim). The Lab director is Mor Eldar.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The school actively pursues scholarships from foundations, institutions, and private donors. Available scholarships include full or partial tuition coverage, living stipends, excellence prizes, production grants, and international residency funding. Jerusalem's cost of living is lower than Tel Aviv, which reduces overall expenses compared to studying in Israel's primary production center.

Notable Alumni

JSFS graduates have won prizes at Cannes, Berlin, and other major festivals. Key alumni include:

• Nadav Lapid - Director of Synonyms (Golden Bear, 2019 Berlin), Ahed's Knee (Jury Prize, 2021 Cannes), and Yes (Directors' Fortnight, 2025 Cannes). Also directed The Kindergarten Teacher (2014), which was remade starring Maggie Gyllenhaal.
• Rama Burshtein - Director of Fill the Void (2012, Venice Film Festival).
• Nir Bergman - Director and television writer.
• Talya Lavie - Director of Zero Motivation (2014, Tribeca Film Festival Best Narrative Feature).
• Tom Shoval - Director of Youth (2014, Berlin).
• Noah Stollman - Screenwriter (Footnote, Norman).
• Yehonatan Indursky - Creator of the Israeli series Shtisel.
• Amichai Chasson - Filmmaker and poet.
• Elad Keidan - Director of Anthem (2015, Cannes).
• Ra'anan Alexandrowicz - Director of The Law in These Parts (2011, Sundance).

What Students Should Know

JSFS is not a university. It is a specialized film school with a single focus: training filmmakers through intensive production practice. The four-year program does not offer a liberal arts education alongside film training. Students who want a broader academic foundation should consider university-based film programs instead.

The school's teaching method is built on progressive, stage-based learning. Students advance as a group and individually, with an open and pluralistic approach that allows each student artistic freedom and a personal voice. The core pedagogical tool is the short film: by focusing on short-form work, students learn to define a location and timeframe for each production, and the school provides full creative and financial backing for every student film.

Hebrew proficiency is required for the main track. The screenwriting track also operates in Hebrew. The Arabic-language program is the only track that does not require Hebrew. Prospective international students who do not speak Hebrew should contact the registrar before applying.

JSFS student films regularly screen at major international festivals. The school has produced multiple Academy Award-nominated short films, and its graduates are a driving force behind the international recognition Israeli cinema has received over the past two decades.

See Also

For understanding international co-production and festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. To plan your production budget for a student or independent film, use the Production Budget Calculator. For calculating return on investment for festival submissions, use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator.