MGM renews first-look deal with rebranded Israeli prodco Sipur

L-R: Gideon Tadmor & Emilio Schenker

US studio MGM has renewed its multi-year first-look production and distribution deal with Israeli TV and film company Sipur (fka Tadmor Entertainment).

The renewal comes as the recently rebranded Sipur, which is led by founder Gideon Tadmor and CEO Emilio Schenker, secured new investment from Israeli bank HaPoalim, insurer/pension fund Clal Insurance, investment firm IBI and Stella Handler,the former CEO of telecoms company Bezeq.

The company said that the funding will help it to grow its content pipeline across scripted, non-scripted, documentary and feature projects and pursue its ambition to become “a leading global independent.”

Sipur is currently developing and producing a range of projects, including the documentary film and series, The Devil’s Confession: The Lost Eichmann Tapes, co-produced with MGM.

The firm also recently partnered with LA-based Stampede Ventures to launch dating reality series Hungry for Love on Israel’s Hot Entertainment Channel. In another partnership with Germany’s Telepool and Israeli broadcaster Channel 8, Sipur is also producing Munich ’72, a new docuseries exploring the story about the 1972 Olympic terror attack that led to the deaths of 11 athletes from the Jewish State.

As Sipur looks to bolster its ties to Hollywood, it has also tapped Gersh Agency partner and global packaging agent, Jay Cohen, and Nancy Tellem, former CBS Network Television Entertainment Group president for its executive board.

“Sipur has been a great collaborator with MGM, and we’ve only just scratched the surface of what’s still to come and create with Gideon, Emilio and their impressive team,” said MGM Worldwide Television Group chairman Mark Burnett.”

Schenker added, “We are excited to build on our very productive creative partnership with Mark and his incredible team at MGM as we enter the next chapter of our evolution. They have been invaluable partners over the past two years, working hand-in-hand with us to build an impressive slate of projects, and we look forward to what comes next.”