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EXCLUSIVE: One of the few Israeli delegates who attended last week’s Mipcom Cannes has said he made the trip because “we will not let them win.”
“Hamas wants to stop our personal, professional and business life,” Dori Media boss Nadav Palti told Deadline on day one of the market. “And if we didn’t come then I would feel like they have won because they are trying to stop our daily life. This is why I go to all this effort.”
Some 70 Israelis were initially expected in the south of France but this number ended up being in the single figures following the brutal Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which led to around 1,400 civillian deaths and 200 people being kidnapped, the majority of whom are still being held captive.
Nadav Palti (right). Image: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
In the aftermath of the attacks, many Israeli execs we spoke with said they had canceled Mipcom plans and would stay put, while numerous flights were canceled. “We are not expecting to see anyone coming from Israel, but we would be very happy to welcome anyone who does,” said Mipcom Director Lucy Smith a few days before the start of the confab, adding that delegates would be offered a full refund. Smith subsequently kicked off the market by sending a message of support to Israel and telling attendees that security around the Palais had been tightened.
Palti and two other Dori Media colleagues did attend, along with the likes of ITV Studios-backed Armoza Formats boss Avi Armoza and some delegates who work for Israeli companies but are based in other countries.
“We have to show [Hamas] that they will not stop us and will not dictate what we do,” added Palti. “It is maybe the most important message to the world and to [Hamas]. We are a public company and have to show the people we will continue even with all the difficulties, the sadness and the tough situation.” Dori Media, which has offices in Argentina, Spain, Switzerland and Singapore, used to float on the London Stock Exchange.
In heading to Cannes, Palti briefly left behind a family including a son fighting in the army. The former IDF commander returned to Tel Aviv immediately after Mipcom ended. While he is now too old to be in the army, he is chair of his local settlement group and is helping with organizing aid to locals.
While TV production is currently on hold in Israel, Palti stressed that Dori is taking a business as usual approach, and is still developing, post-producing and selling. “Covid educated us in working from home so now we continue to work,” he added. “We will analyze production every day and take a decision when we can return [to production].”
Dori’s 7,500-hour strong catalog is its biggest ever, according to Palti, who said the company had a strong Mipcom. The producer-distributor sells the likes of thriller Losing Alice, which was picked up internationally by Apple TV+, hit drama Shtisel, licensed by Netflix, and comedy The New Black.
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