Head of Scripted Television, Endemol Shine Israel — Banijay Group
Creator, Screenwriter, Director and Actor
Gal Zaid is Head of Scripted Television at Endemol Shine Israel, part of Banijay Group. With more than three decades of experience in television, film and theatre, he combines writing and creative work with overseeing the development of drama and comedy series, nurturing talent and developing content for Israeli and international audiences.
His latest series is Heart of a Killer, a medical thriller starring Niv Sultan, which he co-created with Liad Shoham and Roni Yaddor. Produced by Endemol Shine Israel for HOT in partnership with SIPUR and The North Road Company, the series has been commissioned for a second season by HOT.
Zaid is the creator of Queens, which ran for two seasons on HOT and was sold to Sony. The series was HOT’s most-watched show of 2018. He also served as co-creator and script editor on Valley of Tears, the acclaimed war drama acquired by HBO Max.
During his tenure at Endemol Shine Israel, the company has developed and produced series including Yael Hedaya’s Fifty, nominated for an International Emmy Award; Just for Today, directed by Nir Bergman and an award winner at Series Mania; Harem; and Yossi Madmoni’s Killing Grandma. He also served as script editor on Nevsu, winner of the 2018 International Emmy Award for Best Comedy.
Zaid co-developed and starred in the comedy Miller Crossing and co-created The Orpheus Project, which ran for two seasons.
Before joining Endemol Shine Israel, he served as Head of Drama at Channel 10, where he co-developed Hostages, subsequently adapted for CBS.
Previously, as Head of Drama at Keshet, he script-edited and appeared in Prisoners of War, the Israeli series that became the basis for Showtime’s Emmy Award-winning Homeland. He also commissioned Yellow Peppers, subsequently adapted into the British series The A Word, and developed Traffic Light, winner of the International Emmy Award for Best Comedy and later adapted for FOX.
Earlier in his television writing career, Zaid co-created several successful daily dramas, including The Champion.
Zaid continues to lead scripted development at Endemol Shine Israel while developing new series for local and international audiences, alongside an original stage musical.
