Jonathan Gurfinkel is an Israeli film and television director based in Tel Aviv,
with over three decades of experience across cinema, high-end television,
and commercial work. His body of work moves fluidly between drama and satire, combining sharp social observation with a strong, character-driven approach.
He is the director of the feature film “Six Acts”
an internationally acclaimed social drama that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and won the “A Different Look” Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. The film sparked widespread public debate in Israel, including a special screening at the Knesset, and went on to secure international distribution across the United States, Europe, and Asia. It also received the Ophir Award for Best Lead Actress.
In television, Gurfinkel directed the drama series Unconditional
produced by Keshet International and Spiro Films, which was acquired by
Apple TV+ — a rare and significant international sale for an Israeli series, reflecting its global appeal and production value.
Alongside his dramatic work, Gurfinkel has been a leading director of
A Wonderful Country, Israel’s most successful and long-running political satire and the local equivalent of Saturday Night Live, consistently one of the highest-rated shows on Israeli television and a multi-year winner of the Israeli Television Academy Award for Best Entertainment Program.
His additional television work includes co-directing the drama series The Accursed (with Hagai Levy), the comedy-drama Ananda (with Ram Nehari), and directing episodes of the drama series Screenz. He has also directed numerous television films, including My Son, which was nominated for the Israeli Television Academy Award for Best Drama.
Gurfinkel’s work extends to documentary filmmaking, including The Arena, a film exploring the transformation of Rabin Square, which was broadcast nationally and screened at international festivals.
Across all formats, his work is defined by a focus on complex characters, moral ambiguity, and the intersection between personal stories and broader social and political realities. His storytelling combines emotional intensity with a precise visual language, creating narratives that are both locally grounded and internationally resonant.
He is currently developing Three Days in Bangui, a feature film that continues his exploration of power, identity, and the collapse of myth within a volatile geopolitical landscape.
