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Hey Jude Productions
Hey Jude Productions is a Los Angeles–based international film production company devoted to creating positive, entertaining, and deeply inspiring stories that make a meaningful impact. Specializing in independent Israeli and Jewish inspirational films, the company is known for crafting powerful true-story narratives that connect with audiences worldwide.
Founded by Israeli Academy Award–winning writer and director Dani Menkin, Hey Jude Productions has produced numerous multi-award-winning Israeli documentaries and narrative features that have reached global audiences and helped elevate the voice of Israeli cinema on the international stage.
Dani Menkin - Writer / Director
Currently based in Los Angeles, California, Dani Menkin is a two-time Israeli Academy Award–winning filmmaker known for his powerful and inspiring contributions to independent Israeli cinema and Israeli inspirational documentary films. His acclaimed film 39 Pounds of Love was acquired by HBO Documentary Films and shortlisted for the Academy Awards, establishing him early on as a storyteller with the rare ability to move audiences worldwide.
Menkin’s award-winning documentary Dolphin Boy (co-directed with Yonatan Nir) was sold in more than 20 countries and later acquired by Walt Disney Pictures for a feature adaptation. His celebrated sports documentary On The Map, one of the most recognized Israeli sports documentaries, is distributed in North America by Lionsgate.
Beyond his filmmaking work, Dani Menkin serves as a speaker and film juror at international festivals around the globe and teaches as a film professor at universities across the United States, continuing to shape the next generation of storytellers.
Asaf Shaul - Producer
At just 25 years old, while completing his undergraduate studies, Asaf Shaul unexpectedly entered the world of filmmaking when he became a caretaker for Ami Ankilewitz and later a central figure in Dani Menkin’s award-winning Israeli inspirational documentary 39 Pounds of Love. Joining the project as both producer and partner, Asaf contributed to its international success, which included an HBO acquisition and a place on the Oscar shortlist. He went on to participate in special screenings around the world, sharing his personal perspective through Ami’s remarkable and inspiring life story.
Following his studies—earning a B.A. in Business Administration and an M.A. in Nonprofit Management—Asaf created a unique therapeutic program dedicated to supporting and rehabilitating youth who have faced significant emotional and physical trauma.
After years of entrepreneurship and project leadership in real estate, tourism, and healthcare, Asaf Shaul has embraced the belief that “the real world lives on the big screen.” Today, he is an integral part of Hey Jude Productions, helping advance its mission to create meaningful, uplifting, and inspirational Israeli and Jewish films that impact audiences worldwide.
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