Keshet International (KI) has completed a raft of sales for Israel’s highest-rating drama of 2023, Kuma Studios’ award-winning relationship drama A Body That Works (Goof Shlishi). 

Starring Rotem Sela (The Baker and the Beauty) and Yehuda Levi (Fire Dance) as a childless couple who enlist the help of a surrogate (Gal Malka), this intimate drama  – which also stars Lior Raz (Fauda) – stimulated national debate in Israel about fertility, family, and the autonomy of women’s bodies when it debuted strongly on Keshet 12 ahead of its international launch-to-market at last year’s London TV Screenings. 

Co-created by writers Shira Hadad (Wisdom of the Crowd, Preso No. 1) and Dror Mishani (Wisdom of the Crowd, The Missing File) alongside director Shay Capon (The Writer, Dumb), A Body That Works bucked decades of viewing trends to build viewership throughout its eight-episode run, garnering rave reviews along the way and cementing its position as Israel’s #1 rating drama of 2023 with a consolidated rating of 22.5% TVR. A Body That Works (Goof Shlishi) was also selected in competition at Series Mania 2023, where Rotem Sela and Gal Malka (Commandments) both together won Best Actress for their portrayals of childless Ellie and surrogate Chen. 

Kelly Wright, KI’s MD of Distribution, says, “We are thrilled our partners at Netflix, AMC Networks International, CBC and SBS have boarded this beautiful series. Now audiences around the world will get to enjoy this couple’s captivating journey to parenthood that had all of Israel buzzing with every new episode.” 

The most wide-reaching deal KI has completed for this intimate eight-part drama sees global streamer Netflix acquire the rights to stream the award-winning drama exclusively in territories across Europe, Latin America, and the US, as well as non-exclusively in Israel.  

KI has also signed a licensing agreement with AMC Networks International that will see A Body That Works premiere exclusively in Portugal and Spain on channels SundanceTV and AMC, respectively. 

In addition, KI has also licensed A Body That Works to CBC in Canada for its streaming platform CBC Gem, and to SBS in Australia, while also closing deals in a further 19 territories. 

The first of eight scripted titles on Keshet Broadcasting’s latest drama slate for Keshet 12, A Body That Works is currently being developed for the UK and global market by Keshet UK (as announced on 7 June 2023) with other options in discussion in multiple territories elsewhere. 

Other titles in KI’s current pipeline of dramas from Israel includes Spiro Films’ romantic drama The Best Worst Thing which premieres in Israel on 18 February on Keshet 12 (announced yesterday on 14 February 2024); Shenhar Productions’ hotly anticipated thriller Trust No One (9×60’), recently sold to Netflix; and Koda Communications’ second season of crime drama Line in the Sand (8×60’).  

Keshet 12’s upcoming pipelines of Israeli dramas features shows at various stages of production and post-production, with more news to be announced to buyers at the 2024 London TV Screenings, where Keshet International will preview its new Spring Slate at two invite-only showcase events hosted on 28 February at the Soho Hotel.