Shira Geffen

Shira Geffen is an Israeli actress, screenwriter, film director and children's book author whose work has helped shape contemporary Israeli cinema and literature. Born on April 30, 1971 in Ramat Gan, she grew up in a prominent cultural family; her father Yehonatan Geffen was a celebrated writer and her brother Aviv Geffen achieved fame as a rock musician, while her uncle Assi Dayan was a respected film director, giving her early exposure to storytelling and the arts. After completing her studies, Geffen entered the entertainment world in the late 1990s, earning her first major recognition when she won First Prize at the Haifa Children's Theater Festival in 1998, a milestone that marked the beginning of a prolific career that continues to the present day. As an actress she has appeared in acclaimed television series such as BeTipul and in numerous Israeli films, demonstrating a range that moves effortlessly between comedy, drama and socially charged narratives. Her talents as a writer emerged strongly when she co-wrote the screenplay for the 2007 Cannes-winner Jellyfish, a tender story of childhood set on the Tel Aviv beachfront that she also helped shape as a director alongside her husband, the celebrated author Etgar Keret. The film's success earned the duo the prestigious Camera d’Or award and the French Artists' and Writers' Guild Best Director prize, cementing Geffen's reputation as a visionary filmmaker. In 2014 she returned to the director's chair with Self Made (also known as Boreg), a bold exploration of identity and redemption that premiered at Cannes and the Jerusalem Film Festival, reflecting her continued commitment to challenging subjects. Beyond the screen, Geffen has written several children's books, using imaginative storytelling to address themes of empathy and cultural understanding. A vocal advocate for peace, she joined other filmmakers in 2014 to call for an end to the Gaza conflict, demonstrating that her influence extends into civic activism. Married to Etgar Keret, the couple share a son and remain active collaborators in Israeli cultural life.