Dana Blankstein Cohen
Holding a Space for Complexity, Humanity, and Healing through the Art of Cinema
In an era of crisis marked by political rupture, cultural erosion, and war, the Sam Spiegel Film & Television School Jerusalem has been called to respond not only as an academic and artistic institution, but as a community guided by values; a reflection on the role of courageous and compassionate leadership in a harsh and changing world, where maintaining human decency becomes a daily act of resistance.
Amid judicial overhaul and continuous regional turmoil, the school has worked to safeguard creative freedom and shared learning spaces. During the ongoing war, it has provided full scholarships, trauma-informed academic support, and emotional care to students facing displacement, grief, and uncertainty. Its Arabic-speaking study programs for Palestinian talents and creatives have remained active, fostering dialogue in the face of division, manifesting efforts to remain present, even in a multi-frontier, violent reality.
This keynote explores how film education can play an impactful role for the school’s community and extend to an act of civic courage, guided by conviction, grounded in compassion - asking how we as educators can hold space for complexity, humanity, and healing through the art of cinema.
Dana Blankstein Cohen is a film professional, cultural entrepreneur, and institutional leader serving as the Executive Director of the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School Jerusalem - recognized for seven consecutive years by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the top 15 international film schools worldwide. Under her leadership, the school has significantly expanded its international reach and inclusivity. In 2021, she led the establishment of the Sam Spiegel Series Lab, launched in partnership with Netflix to cultivate premium TV storytelling talent from Israel and the Middle East. She also spearheaded a fast-track pre-college program for aspiring Palestinian filmmakers from East Jerusalem, reflecting her deep commitment to shared society and diversity in storytelling. Previously, Blankstein Cohen served as CEO of the Israeli Academy of Film and Television, where she played a key role in shaping Israel’s cinematic landscape and served on the selection committee of the Ophir Awards (Israel’s national film prize). A graduate of Sam Spiegel herself, she has worked as a director and filmmaker and continues to be an active voice in the film industry. She sits on the European Film Academy and was a founding board member of an Israeli nonprofit advancing gender equity in the film and television industry.