Assaf Machnes (ISR)

is a writer-director based in Berlin. 

Assaf’s stories were selected for festivals such as Venice Biennale, Berlinale, Locarno, Sarajevo, BFI London, Palm Springs, Seattle, Raindance and Cannes Series. His films have won numerous awards, and were sold for distribution to HBO, RAI, Télé-Québec, Mediaset, ARTE ZDF, SBS, SVT, Pacific Voice and more.

Assaf’s first series GIMEL gained more than a million views and was broadcast on ARTE, RBB and YNET. An alumni of Locarno’s Filmmakers Academy, and Berlinale Talent’s program, Assaf is now in the final stages of post-production with his debut feature film “Where To”, which was developed during Berlinale Script Station and the Nipkow Program. 

Assaf’s next feature film has won a development grant from the Wolfgang Kohlhaase Stipendium and is destined for shooting in 2026, while he is also working on two drama series for Germany and the US.