The deal was brokered by Fremantle’s Lisa Honig, Senior EVP Distribution North America and Jamie Lynn, EVP Co-Production and Distribution EMEA, and Nati Dinnar, CEO Israel Media Group. Written and directed by Shtisel co-creator, Yehonatan Indursky, Kugel is a Fremantle, Abot Hameiri and Menuetto Film production. The commissioning broadcaster is YES (Israel). Fremantle handles global sales.
Years before meeting her future husband, Akiva Shtisel, Libi lived in Antwerp, Belgium, with her father, Nuchem, a charming but rule-bending jewelry dealer, who faces turmoil when his wife Yides (Mili Avital) demands a divorce, weary of his swindling ways. Juggling dreams of business success, saving his marriage, and a budding romance with Pnina Baumbach—a widowed restaurateur known for her fine Jerusalem-style kugels—Nuchem struggles to balance ambition and the women in his life.Meanwhile, 22-year-old Libi, unsettled by her parents’ fractured marriage, pours herself into her dream of becoming a writer. Her plans falter when a chance meeting with an Orthodox man on an Antwerp tram forces her to choose between love, marriage, and her career.With the same humor and heart as Shtisel, Kugel explores the joys and struggles of Europe’s ultra-Orthodox community, celebrating its characters’ complexity—like a slice of irresistible kugel.
Jens Richter, CEO Commercial and International, Fremantle: “We’re thrilled to partner with IZZY, Abot Hameiri, and YES to bring this beautiful series to global audiences. Following the massive success of Shtisel, Kugel offers a rich, heartfelt story of love, misunderstandings, and humanity. I couldn’t be more excited to share this next chapter of Nuchem and Libi’s journey.”Nati Dinnar, Co-Founder & CEO, IZZY: “As a platform, we’ve dreamed of this moment—partnering with an incredible team on Israel’s most beloved TV brand, Shtisel. With millions of loyal fans, we’re confident they’ll join IZZY to rediscover Shtisel, experience Kugel, and celebrate Israel’s vibrant storytelling.”Dikla Barkai, Head of Drama, Abot Hameiri: “Kugel was created from the immense love for Shtisel. Thanks to IZZY, we’re excited to return this story to its passionate fans.”Keren Gleicher, Chief Content Officer, YES: “We’re delighted that Kugel, the prequel to our beloved Shtisel, will warm hearts worldwide.”
Kugel (8 x 60’) is written by co-creator and writer of Shtisel, Yehonatan Indursky, directed by Erez Kavel and produced by Fremantle, Abot Hameiri (a Fremantle company) and Menuetto Film. Executive Producers are Dikla Barkai, Guy Hameiri and Eitan Abot for Abot Hameiri, Hattie Burles, Olivia Sleiter and Hilary Martin for Fremantle, Jay Ruderman for Boston Rose, Dganit Atias Gigi and Uzi Karin for YES.The series was commissioned by Israeli Network, YES, who were also the original commissioners of the Shtisel series in Israel. Kugel is supported by Screen Flanders and the Belgian tax shelter, in collaboration with BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance. Fremantle handles global sales.
Shtisel launched in 2013 on YES and ran for three seasons, fast becoming a world-wide phenomenon as it followed the lives of the extended Shtisel family - a warm, closely-knit, and argumentative ultra-Orthodox family in Jerusalem. It has been saluted for providing a unique insight into daily lives and loves, positively portraying Haredi society. The series, which scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and praised as ‘groundbreaking television’ by the New York Times, won 11 awards at the Israeli Television Academy Awards in 2013 and again in 2015 taking home six awards.
Instagram widget 
