Daniel “Danny” Syrkin, also credited as Dani Sirkin, is an acclaimed Israeli film and television director, screenwriter, producer, and creator. Born on March 4, 1971, in Moscow, Soviet Union, to a Jewish family, Syrkin immigrated to Israel as an infant and grew up in Jerusalem. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he has established himself as a versatile creative force, moving fluidly between narrative features, high-stakes television dramas, and documentary series that have earned international critical acclaim and numerous prestigious awards.
- Early Life and Education
- Career Breakthroughs and Feature Films
- Documentary Work and Television Series
- International Prominence: Tehran and MobLand
- Personal Life, Leadership Style, and Philosophy
- Daniel Syrkin: Quick Facts
- Frequently Asked Questions
- When and where was Daniel Syrkin born?
- Where did Daniel Syrkin study filmmaking?
- What are Daniel Syrkin’s most famous television series?
- Has Daniel Syrkin won any major awards?
- Did Daniel Syrkin work on American adaptations of his shows?
Early Life and Education
Growing up in Jerusalem, Syrkin developed an early passion for visual storytelling and cinema. He received formal training at Tel Aviv University’s School of Cinema. His academic excellence culminated in his thesis film, And Now Rachmaninov (1998), which earned international recognition by winning a prize at the Turin Film Festival in Italy. This early success previewed a prolific career defined by technical precision and emotional depth.
Career Breakthroughs and Feature Films
Syrkin made his mark in the Israeli film industry in the late 1990s and early 2000s, quickly building a reputation for narrative depth. His major breakthrough came with the 2005 feature film Out of Sight (Lemarit Ayin). The film won Israeli Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Cinematography, was selected for “Tout Le Cinema du Monde” at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, and won the Ciclo D’or at the Festival Cinema d’Asie in Vesoul, France. Its success led to an American remake titled Lies in Plain Sight on Lifetime, on which Syrkin served as an associate producer.
His other notable early dramatic and comedic works include:
- Hallelujah (2003): A 50-minute comedy for Israeli cable television that won Best TV Drama at the Israeli Academy Awards and the Haifa International Film Festival.
- Two Minutes from Faradis (2002): Won Best TV Drama at the Banff Rocky Mountain Film Awards.
- Horey Hahalomot (2006): A celebrated television mini-series project.
Documentary Work and Television Series
Beyond narrative fiction, Syrkin has contributed significantly to documentary television and innovative series formats. His six-episode documentary series London Pinat Ben Yehuda (2009), which explored the modern Hebrew language, won the Israeli Academy Award for Best Documentary TV Series. He also directed Cutting the Cord, an international co-production nominated for Best European Co-Production by the EBU.
In television drama and comedy, Syrkin has repeatedly captured Israeli Television Academy recognition:
- Hakol Dvash (2010): Won Best Director of a Comic TV Series at the Israeli Academy Awards.
- Hasamba Dor 3 (2013): Won Best TV Series for Youth.
- Ta Gordin (Espionage Drama): Co-created and directed, winning a 2015 Best Director for a Dramatic TV Series award. The series was remade in the United States as Allegiance on NBC.
- Mossad 101 (2015): An action-drama series that achieved global distribution, premiering on Netflix in North America and the UK, and airing via Turner across South America and Europe.
International Prominence: Tehran and MobLand
In recent years, Syrkin’s work has reached unprecedented global audiences. In 2020, he directed the critically acclaimed international spy thriller series Tehran, bridging local Israeli storytelling with major worldwide streaming platforms. Continuing his trajectory into high-profile international television, he directed episodes of the crime drama series MobLand (2025), further cementing his adaptability across large-scale modern production workflows.
Personal Life, Leadership Style, and Philosophy
Syrkin maintains a private personal life regarding his wife, parents, and family, preferring to keep the focus on his artistic output. Professionally, his leadership style features clear creative control, consistency of tone, and seamless collaboration across diverse genres. His philosophy treats storytelling as a vital cultural conversation where emotional clarity and structural precision can translate universally across borders.
Daniel Syrkin: Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Daniel “Danny” Syrkin (Dani Sirkin) |
| Date of Birth | March 4, 1971 |
| Place of Birth | Moscow, Soviet Union (now Russia) |
| Education | Tel Aviv University School of Cinema |
| Profession | Film and Television Director, Screenwriter, Producer |
| Notable Works | Out of Sight, Tehran, Mossad 101, Ta Gordin, MobLand |
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Daniel Syrkin born?
Daniel Syrkin was born on March 4, 1971, in Moscow, Soviet Union. He immigrated to Israel with his family as an infant and grew up in Jerusalem.
Where did Daniel Syrkin study filmmaking?
He studied at Tel Aviv University School of Cinema, where his student thesis film, And Now Rachmaninov (1998), won an award at the Turin Film Festival.
What are Daniel Syrkin’s most famous television series?
Syrkin is widely known for directing international hits such as the espionage thriller Tehran (2020), the action-drama Mossad 101 (2015), Ta Gordin (remade as NBC’s Allegiance), and episodes of MobLand (2025).
Has Daniel Syrkin won any major awards?
Yes, he is a multiple Israeli Television Academy Award winner, taking home honors for Best Director in features, dramatic series, and comic series, alongside international festival recognitions at Cannes, Banff, and Turin.
Did Daniel Syrkin work on American adaptations of his shows?
Yes. His spy series Ta Gordin was adapted by NBC in the United States as Allegiance, and his feature film Out of Sight was remade in the U.S. as Lies in Plain Sight on Lifetime, with Syrkin credited as an associate producer.
