Alon Zingman
Alon Zingman
Alon Zingman (Hebrew: אלון זינגמן) is an Israeli film and television director and screenwriter. He is best known for directing the award-winning series Shtisel, as well as other acclaimed Israeli dramas such as Manayek, Commandments, Red Skies, and Good Family. His work often explores emotional and moral dilemmas within tightly knit families and communities, particularly within religious and institutional frameworks.
Career
Zingman began his directing career in the early 2000s, working on short films and documentaries. His early work includes the short documentary Metro (2002), filmed in Barcelona.
In 2010, he directed his first feature film, Dusk (Hebrew: בין השמשות), a multi-narrative drama set over the course of a single day. The film examines themes of responsibility, grief, and redemption as it interweaves four stories connected by a car accident. Dusk won the Best First Feature award at the Haifa International Film Festival and received an Ecumenical Jury Prize at the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival.
Television
- Good Family (Hebrew: משפחה טובה, 2014–2015)
Zingman directed this 12-episode family drama created by Eitan Fux and Itai Segal. It follows the Baumann family in Jerusalem as they deal with the emotional and social upheaval caused by the parents’ sudden separation. The series aired on Israel's Channel 11 and was noted for its sensitive portrayal of generational and ideological conflict within a modern Israeli family.
- Commandments (Hebrew: כיפת ברזל, transliterated: Kipat Barzel, 2017–2018)
Zingman directed both seasons of this military-religious drama about three ultra-Orthodox young men who enlist in the Israeli army against the expectations of their community. The series explores the tension between religious identity and national service, and the personal cost of ideological decisions.
- Shtisel (Hebrew: שטיסל, 2013–2021)
Zingman's most internationally recognized work, Shtisel is a critically acclaimed series following a Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jewish family in Jerusalem. The show avoids political or religious polemics, focusing instead on intimate emotional stories within a tightly observant world. Shtisel won numerous awards in Israel, including Best Drama Series and Best Director at the Israeli Television Academy Awards, and gained a global audience through its distribution on Netflix.
- Manayek (Hebrew: מנאייכ, 2020– )
A gritty police procedural created by Roy Iddan, Manayek centers on a former police investigator who is drawn into a case involving corruption in the police force. Zingman directed multiple episodes of the series, which was praised for its writing, performances, and realistic portrayal of internal affairs.
- Red Skies (Hebrew: שמיים אדומים, 2023)
In 2023, Zingman directed the historical drama Red Skies, set during the Second Intifada. The story follows two childhood friends—one Israeli Jewish, the other Palestinian—as their lives and loyalties diverge amid the conflict. The series premiered on Channel 13 and was nominated for Best Series at the Series Mania Festival in France.
Style and Themes
Zingman is known for his humanistic approach, focusing on character-driven storytelling with emotional depth. His direction often blends naturalism with subtle symbolism, bringing attention to the internal worlds of his characters while placing them within socially or ideologically complex environments. Common themes in his work include family dynamics, religious identity, loyalty, personal freedom, and the cost of silence.
Selected Filmography
| Year | Title | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Metro | Short documentary | Early work shot in Barcelona |
| 2010 | Dusk (Bein HaShmashot) | Feature film | Multi-narrative drama, award-winning debut |
| 2013–2021 | Shtisel | Television series | Internationally acclaimed Haredi family drama |
| 2014–2015 | Good Family (Mishpacha Tova) | Television series | Domestic drama about a modern Jerusalem family |
| 2017–2018 | Commandments (Kipat Barzel) | Television series | Religious young men enlist in the army |
| 2020– | Manayek | Television series | Police corruption procedural |
| 2023 | Red Skies (Shamayim Adumim) | Television series | Set during the Second Intifada |
Awards and Recognition
- Best First Feature – Haifa International Film Festival (2010) – Dusk
- Ecumenical Film Prize – Mannheim-Heidelberg Film Festival (2011) – Dusk
- Best Director – Israeli Television Academy Awards – Shtisel
- Series Mania (France) – Nominee for Best Series – Red Skies (2023)
External Links
References
References
- ↑ Lis, Jonathan (1 January 2021). "How Shtisel Became a Global Sensation". Haaretz. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ↑ "Israeli drama 'Red Skies' to premiere at Series Mania Festival". The Times of Israel. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ↑ "Bein Hashmashot (Dusk)". Norma Productions. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ↑ "Kipat Barzel (Commandments)". IMDb. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ↑ "משפחה טובה (Good Family)". tvnetil.net (in עברית). Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ↑ Itzkovitch, Eran (19 September 2021). "HBO Max, Arte pick up Israeli police corruption drama 'Manayek'". Israel Hayom. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
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