N※N

Former Paramount chair Shari Redstone named chair of Israel-based production studio Sipur

  //media-entertainment.news-articles.net/content/ .. air-of-israel-based-production-studio-sipur.html
  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 13:03 GMT by Channel NewsAsia Singapore
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

Shari Redstone, former Paramount chair, takes the helm of Israel‑based studio Sipur

In a headline‑making move that has caught the attention of Hollywood insiders and Israeli media investors alike, Shari Redstone—best known as the former chairwoman of Paramount Pictures—has been appointed chair of Sipur, a newly‑established film and television production studio headquartered in Tel Aviv. The appointment signals a deepening of ties between the United States’ most storied media conglomerate and Israel’s burgeoning content‑creation ecosystem, and it positions Sipur to become a serious contender in the global streaming arena.

A seasoned veteran lands on a new board

Redstone, the granddaughter of media magnate William Redstone, has spent more than a decade in the upper echelons of the entertainment industry. After steering Paramount through a period of turbulence—overhauling the studio’s slate, steering the company toward the era of digital distribution, and overseeing the sale of Paramount’s international assets to the Canadian firm National Telecommunications and Media—Redstone stepped down from the Paramount board in 2019. Since then she has served as the chair of ViacomCBS (now Paramount Global) and has remained a central figure in shaping the company’s strategy.

The move to Sipur is Redstone’s first formal role in a venture that is not already part of the Paramount umbrella. According to a statement issued by Sipur, “Shari brings a wealth of experience in building global brands, navigating the shift to streaming and a deep network of relationships with major distributors and financiers.” The Israeli studio is therefore likely to benefit from both her pedigree and her pragmatic understanding of the economics of content production.

What is Sipur?

Sipur, a name that literally means “story” in Hebrew, was founded in 2023 by a consortium of Israeli investors, including prominent venture capitalists from the Tel Aviv startup scene. Its mission, as laid out in the company’s founding manifesto, is to “create high‑quality, globally‑relevant stories that reflect the diverse cultural fabric of Israel while resonating with audiences worldwide.” The studio’s strategy is to produce a mix of feature films, television dramas, and documentary series, with a particular focus on narratives that can be adapted across multiple languages and platforms.

One of Sipur’s first announced projects is a crime‑thriller set in the outskirts of Jerusalem, which is being developed in partnership with a Los Angeles‑based production house that Redstone herself helped cultivate during her tenure at Paramount. The company is also negotiating a deal with the Israeli Film Fund to secure a share of the $10 million public‑grant pool earmarked for new content that “advances the international standing of Israeli cinema.”

A cross‑cultural partnership that could reshape streaming

The collaboration between Sipur and Redstone is more than a symbolic appointment; it is a strategic partnership that reflects the broader trend of global studios looking to tap into local creative ecosystems. “Israel’s film industry is on a steep learning curve,” notes Prof. David Katz, a media studies professor at Tel Aviv University. “It has unique stories, but it needs the infrastructure and the audience reach that studios like Paramount can provide.” Conversely, Sipur offers Redstone a foothold in a region that has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce as a “strategic partner” in the technology and innovation sector.

From a financial standpoint, Sipur has already attracted $30 million in seed funding from a mix of angel investors, corporate venture funds, and the Israeli Film Fund. With Redstone on board, the studio is poised to raise an additional $100 million in a Series B round that is scheduled to close in the summer. The capital will be earmarked for pre‑production of a slate of five to six projects and for building a state‑of‑the‑art studio complex in the industrial district of Haifa.

The global landscape and the Israeli content boom

Israel’s film and television output has been on an upward trajectory for the last decade. In 2022, Israeli‑produced content captured 12 % of the domestic market share, up from 9 % in 2018. The Israeli government’s “Cinema Innovation” initiative, launched in 2020, has also reduced regulatory barriers for co‑productions and opened the door for more foreign investment. In this environment, Sipur’s ambition to become a “one‑stop shop” for content that can be sold to global streaming services—such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+—is both timely and bold.

Sipur’s first slate includes a historical drama about the founding of the first Israeli kibbutz, a science‑fiction series set in the future of the Maccabiah Games, and a documentary that explores the lives of the Palestinian families living in the West Bank. These projects illustrate Sipur’s commitment to “telling complex, human stories that transcend borders.”

Redstone’s influence and the expectations ahead

Redstone’s track record suggests that she will take a hands‑on approach in Sipur’s early days. Her experience with the Paramount brand has shown that she is willing to invest heavily in high‑concept projects while also ensuring they have a clear commercial pathway. Her board experience will likely help Sipur navigate the complex licensing agreements that accompany co‑production deals with U.S. and European broadcasters.

Industry observers note that the appointment is an attempt by Sipur to accelerate its path to market. “The content ecosystem is crowded, and the stakes are higher than ever,” says Sara Berg, a senior analyst at IHS Markit’s Entertainment & Media division. “A chair with Redstone’s name can unlock doors that would otherwise take years to open.”

That said, Redstone’s arrival is not without risks. Critics point out that Hollywood’s involvement can sometimes dilute the local flavor that makes Israeli storytelling unique. Furthermore, the geopolitical climate in the Middle East can pose distribution challenges, especially for productions that tackle sensitive themes.

Looking ahead: what could this mean for Hollywood?

If Sipur’s strategy pays off, it could set a new template for U.S. studios seeking to collaborate with emerging markets. Instead of simply buying foreign film libraries, Hollywood could partner with local production houses that understand cultural nuances, thereby creating more authentic, globally‑marketable content. In this sense, Redstone’s move may be a microcosm of a larger shift in the industry: a move toward “co‑creation” that leverages local talent and global distribution networks.

For the Israeli industry, the partnership with a heavyweight figure like Redstone could usher in a new era of investment, technology transfer, and international exposure. Meanwhile, for Paramount Global, the appointment offers an avenue to diversify its content pipeline and tap into a growing market that is already producing high‑quality productions.

Conclusion

Shari Redstone’s appointment as chair of Sipur marks a significant convergence of Hollywood’s seasoned expertise with Israel’s vibrant storytelling culture. While the road ahead will undoubtedly be paved with challenges—from geopolitical sensitivities to the relentless pace of content consumption—the partnership holds the promise of reshaping the global media landscape. As the studio rolls out its first slate of projects and begins its Series B fundraising, the entertainment world will be watching closely to see whether this bold collaboration can deliver on its ambitious vision of making Israel a new hub for high‑quality, globally‑relevant content.