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Cinema Law, 5759-1999

חוק הקולנוע, תשנ"ט-1999

Published: 1999-01-10Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2026-08-02 · Last amended 2026-07-28✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-29
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

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The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

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Chapter IV: Miscellaneous Provisions

Conditions for Recognition of an Israeli Film§

13.

The Minister, in consultation with the Council and with the approval of the Committee, shall prescribe by rules the conditions for recognising a film made by Israeli parties as an Israeli film for the purposes of this Law, including conditions for recognising such a film as a co-production with non-Israeli parties.

Additional Support Track for a Film§

13a.
(a)Notwithstanding the provisions of this Law, the Minister shall prescribe by Regulations that a sum, at a rate of between 15% and 20% of the cinema budget, shall be allocated to each of the following:
(1)a person who is not a public institution, who assists in the production of Israeli films for the purpose of generating profits, in respect of such films whose production has not yet been completed;
(2)a person who is not a public institution, who has produced an Israeli film that achieved commercial success, in proportion to the degree of that success, provided that the film was produced without the assistance of a public institution; in this paragraph, "commercial success" means tickets to the film sold at screenings open to the general public, in the number, during the period and subject to the conditions that the Minister shall prescribe.
(b)In Regulations under subsection (a) the Minister may prescribe conditions and restrictions, inter alia on the matters listed below, provided that the conditions and restrictions for the allocation of the sum shall not relate to the content of the films, all while preserving freedom of expression and creation:
(1)the type of bodies eligible for allocation, provided that no allocation shall be permitted to a broadcasting body or to a holder of means of control therein at the rate to be prescribed; for this purpose, "broadcasting body" means a holder of a licence for television broadcasts as defined in the Second Authority for Television and Radio Law, 5750-1990, or a holder of a licence for broadcasts as defined in the Telecommunications Law;
(2)the manner of selection of the bodies eligible for allocation as referred to in paragraph (1);
(3)provisions for the prevention of duplicate funding in respect of the production of the same film;
(4)provisions with respect to the designation of the sum referred to in subsection (a), if it was not fully utilised under this section, without derogating from the Budget Foundations Law.

Implementation and Regulations§

14.

The Minister is responsible for the implementation of this Law and may, in consultation with the Council and with the approval of the Committee, make Regulations for its implementation, including rules of procedure for the work of the Council.

Repeal of the Law for the Encouragement of the Israeli Film§

15.

The Law for the Encouragement of the Israeli Film, 5714-1954 – is hereby repealed.

Commencement§

16.

Sections 11, 12 and 15 shall come into force on the 23rd of Tevet 5760 (1 January 2000).

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