Israeli filmmaker Rotem Alima, 37, was first connected to The Jerusalem Post in the days following the Oct. 7 massacre. She was stretching herself to the ends of the Earth to find reporters to cover the stories of friends and their families who could not be contacted.
She was living in Los Angeles, far from her native country, where the rest of her family remained, which included her dying father. Instead of spending her birthday, October 8, celebrating in a festivity-filled weekend, she was trying to find answers about the nightmare that was thrust upon her people.
Within days of the massacre, she was in touch with the Post, seeking to connect those with missing loved ones to people who could tell the stories of their missing child, teen, brother, uncle, grandfather. Positive news was the last thing that came to her.
Running her own production company, Alima was fortunate to have the ability in the first few months to throw herself into efforts of helping soldiers, the displaced, and the families of those kidnapped. Among those she sought help with covering was Roni Eshel.
Slain hostage Roni Eshel was the niece of her friend Tair, and Alima had sought to advocate for Eshel and her family, along with the other 250 hostages taken into Gaza that painful day. “She was such a lovely soul, she was so happy, such a light in so many people’s lives,” Alima said of Eshel.
In the ever-evolving landscape of Hollywood, where talent meets opportunity, Alima has carved out a distinctive path. With a career marked by prestigious awards (an Israeli Ophir Award, for example) and collaborations and projects with global tech giants, such as working in AI at Apple, Alima’s journey reflects both artistic excellence and personal resilience.
How Rotem Alima's career was reshaped by the October 7 massacre
However, the events of Oct. 7 reshaped not only her professional trajectory but also her perception of the industry and its response, or lack thereof, to the largest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
Alima, who founded a community of Israelis in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, took that silence as action and as an opportunity to find projects that could create conversations in times of uncertainty.
One such project was a Paramount+ show about an Israeli-Palestinian boy band, as1one. On this endeavor, she opted to take credit for a role her skills exceeded, just to be involved in a show that created an important narrative in her home country.
She loved being able to contribute to a project that challenges the narrative around Israelis and Palestinians, both capable of peace and proving it is possible by those who want to accomplish it.
ALIMA’S PATH to filmmaking began in her youth, growing up as the youngest of six in Israel. Her early exposure to film in high school led her to create a short documentary on the separation between Israel and Gaza – a topic that would later hold deep personal significance.
Before being featured in the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Alima had worked under former Israeli president Reuven Rivlin.
Excelling in Tel Aviv University’s film program, she became a finalist in the Perlov Film Fund competition and attended the Berlinale Talents. Her graduation film, Paris of the Water, won an Ophir Award and the Best Foreign Student Film award at the Oscars, launching her into the international film scene.
In 2017, Alima took a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles. The transition was not easy; she faced isolation and the daunting challenge of establishing herself in a competitive industry. But her persistence paid off.
She founded a production company and secured projects with major companies like Samsung and ZipRecruiter, all while working to bring Israeli narratives to the American screen. Recognizing the struggles of fellow Israeli creatives in Hollywood, she helped build a community of Israeli entertainers, fostering a network of support in an often unforgiving industry.
Alima is single and wants to continue building toward the future of the Jewish people with a future husband.
The Oct. 7 massacre reverberated through Alima’s life and career in profound ways. Almost overnight, she witnessed an increase in antisemitic rhetoric, with some industry figures distancing themselves. The personal toll was immense. One of the most painful moments came when a close friend circulated a misleading video about Israel, shattering her trust.
Projects were abruptly canceled, but out of darkness came light as others took their place. She poured herself into fighting antisemitism and helping the displaced, the Supernova survivors, the hostage families, and the IDF. She’s taken on speaking engagements and met with Hollywood executives, pulling strings behind the scenes to bring a plethora of initiatives to life. She’s getting things done in the shadows to combat antisemitism.
She knew that she was taking a risk by doubling down on her Jewish identity when many people in the industry were standing against Israel. “This isn’t about my career. This is my life. We are in another period of time in which the Jewish people need to survive. I’d rather lose any fame and so-called friends and be alive rather than be quiet and let it happen,” she said.
THOUGH DEALING with antisemitism in the world around them, opportunities for Israelis have not necessarily been diminished in creative production.
“I don’t think that the war has affected [Israelis’] ability to get work, other than the projects that were canceled at the beginning of the war. I think Hollywood, in general, is in a rocky place right now,” Alima said. “So I think the industry as a whole is kind of having a crisis. Obviously, the war doesn’t help, and having so much politics about it within Hollywood doesn’t help, and it limits the projects that you pitch and sell.”
Alima noted that post-Oct. 7, projects about the army, missions, or sensitive stories that would have previously garnered more support – particularly after successes such as the TV series Fauda, which significantly raised the demand for Israeli content in the entertainment industry – received less interest.
As Hollywood grappled with global tensions, Alima found the industry’s response disheartening. She had anticipated more vocal support; but instead, silence prevailed. The muted reaction to the red hand pins and speeches at the Oscars only deepened her frustration, leading her to participate in a letter-writing campaign that garnered support from hundreds of Hollywood professionals.
“We were all shocked. I don’t think that people who wore those pins understand the meaning of it,” Alima said, recalling her response to red hand pins worn by celebrities such as Billie Eilish, Mark Ruffalo, and Ramy Youssef at the 2024 Academy Awards.
“I think that’s why, when people start to understand what it meant, they stopped wearing them. As I grew up in Israel when the Second Intifada happened, I remember vividly those hands covered in blood. So to me, it felt like I was stabbing the heart; I’m telling you, I felt like I was punching my stomach. It was very difficult to see.”
She also recalled film director Jonathan Glazer’s speech accepting the award for The Zone of Interest – a Holocaust film centered around the home next to Auschwitz – denouncing Israel’s actions in Gaza. Glazer said: “We stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation.” His words seemed hypocritical to Alima and other Jewish and Israeli people in Hollywood. “He was riding a wave,” Alima said. “He’s so far from the spotlight now, it’s not worth our energy.”
Shift in reality
For Alima, being an Israeli filmmaker in Hollywood post-Oct. 7 has meant facing a new set of challenges. Beyond professional setbacks, she has encountered a shift in how she is perceived. Despite this, she remains steadfast in her commitment to storytelling and advocacy. She has actively engaged in efforts to assist the IDF and locate missing persons from the war, even as the emotional toll of the conflict weighed heavily on her.
While antisemitism and Hollywood’s silence were pressing concerns, Alima believes the war’s impact on the Israeli film industry has been even more significant. The shift in focus toward war-related content and the depletion of government funding have forced filmmakers to adapt. Yet, amid the financial struggles, she sees a silver lining – the Jewish community has come together with an unprecedented level of unity and support for Israel.
“I don’t think that behind the scenes Israelis are canceled, fortunately. There’s still a lot of work being done and connections fostered within Hollywood. Things are still being developed,” she told the Post. “I know a lot of shows were paused, but after the war began Netflix bought Israeli content. It’s not necessarily harder to sell Israeli content at the moment – a bit more challenging than it was before, but it’s still happening.”
Alima said that she hasn’t felt like Israelis have been negatively flagged in the entertainment industry, but they have faced their fair share of people who will gladly accept work opportunities from Israeli producers, before turning around and accusing them of crimes against humanity.
Reflecting on the past year, Alima emphasizes the enduring strength of the Jewish community. One of her most cherished memories from this period is of a close friend in Israel who hosted her nephews and niece, providing a sense of warmth and connection during uncertain times.
For Alima, the key to overcoming adversity lies in unity. “We must remember who we are as Jews and the strength that comes from standing together,” she asserted.
Despite the challenges, she remains committed to her craft, determined to bring Israeli stories to the forefront of global cinema. With resilience and reinvention at the heart of her journey, Rotem Alima continues to navigate Hollywood while holding firmly to her roots and values.