It is with profound sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news of the sudden passing of Renen Schorr, the visionary founder of the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School.
His passing marks the end of an era, leaving an immeasurable legacy not only in Israeli cinema but also in the hearts of all those who had the privilege to learn from, work alongside, and be inspired by him. Renen was the visionary founder of the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, which he established in 1989 and led for over three decades delivering the school to great international recognition.

Schorr was a film director, screenwriter, film producer and Israeli film activist. Over the last 40 years he founded or co-founded the infrastructure of Israeli film funds and cinematheques.

Dana Blankstein Cohen, Executive Director of the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School said: “Our community is heartbroken by the news of the death of our teacher and founding director, Renen Schorr. He established what was to become not only his life’s work, but a project that changed Israeli cinema beyond recognition and thus Israeli culture as a whole. Renen was at the helm of the school for more than a generation and did so with unprecedented passion that allowed the school to become a leading and noteworthy institution in the world of cinema. Our hearts are with his family and with the many for whom Renen was a significant mentor in their own journeys as filmmakers and as humans”.