Four out of Israel's major television broadcasters have join a new initiative seeking to increase the inclusion of people with disabilities in all jobs across the film industry, on and off the screen.
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Public broadcast Kan, Channel 13's parent company Reshet, and cable companies Hot and Yes have pledged to join the initiative, introduced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.
In the pledge, which the foundation presented in collaboration with the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund and the Israeli Directors Guild, is a continuation of a similar one the foundation circulated in Hollywood.
The latter saw entertainment giants NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures, CBS Entertainment, and Sony Pictures Entertainment together in the commitment of promoting more inclusive and authentic representation in the American film industry.
Kan, Reshet, Hot and Yes came together for an event hosted by the Ruderman Family Foundation, celebrating their pledge as well as their broader commitment to fostering authentic representation in the Israeli entertainment industry.
A recent poll commissioned by the Ruderman Family Foundation, the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund and the Israeli Directors Guild found that 70% of Israelis consider the authentic representation of people with disabilities in entertainment to be an important issue, with 91% of respondents reporting that they would be less willing to watch a film or show if the production's casting practices are not inclusive.
The survey, conducted by IPANEL, also found that 86% of Israelis believe government intervention is needed to address gaps in authentic representation on screen. Some 71% of Israelis feel that the authentic representation of people with disabilities is "very low to nonexistent" in Israel's film industry.
Kan CEO Eldad Koblentz hailed the initiative as a major step toward diversity but noted it was only a first step in a very long journey toward inclusion.
This initiative hit close to home for Culture and Sports Minister Hili Tropper, whose sister is disabled.
Tropper praised the pledge as a measure of a truly reformed society where everyone can perform to the best of their ability regardless of any physical or mental barriers they may have.
"Even though in the last year more authentic representation of actors with disabilities can be seen on screen in Israel, most productions remain inaccessible, and many actors as well as off-screen professionals give up in advance on their dreams of acting and working in the industry," said Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation.
"It is extremely encouraging to see four of Israel's major production companies make this commitment to bringing about a more inclusive film industry that offers far more opportunities to people with disabilities. These companies have now become powerful change-makers by affirming that they will no longer tolerate discriminatory practices in their midst."
Gesher Multicultural Film Fund CEO Ziv Naveh said that the"campaign is a call for awakening and action. There are talented people who have become transparent despite their abilities and skills.
"As part of an industry that creates content for the screen, we are well placed to influence and make a change. The small effort required of us will yield great benefit not only to the community of people with disabilities but to Israeli society as a whole."
Roei Alba, CEO of the Directors Guild, applauded the Foundation's pledge in "its ability to anchor the willingness of entities to mobilize for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the film and television industry.
"The pledge promotes and encourages equal employment in all the professions on set - creators, actors, production people, etc. We greatly appreciate the entities that have chosen to sign the pledge and take an active part in the social change on the issue of inclusion of people with disabilities into the film and television industry in Israel," he added.
Over the past five years, the Ruderman Family Foundation has spearheaded a campaign to ensure Hollywood becomes a more inclusive industry for people with disabilities, and last year awarded a $1 million grant to the Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to advance its diversity and inclusion efforts.
In addition to receiving the support of major Hollywood studios and organizations, a separate pledge initiated was signed by a host of A-list actors and directors which called on studio, production, and network executives to pledge to create more opportunities for people with disabilities.
Among those who signed the pledge were Oscar winners George Clooney and Joaquin Phoenix, Oscar nominees Ed Norton, Bryan Cranston and Mark Ruffalo, actors Glenn Close and Eva Longoria, and Oscar-winning director Peter Farrelly.
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