Ori Sivan (born July 30, 1964 in San Francisco) is an Israeli film director, television director, screenwriter, and film editor. Ori is married to Galit Sivan and they have five children. They live in Kibbutz Beit Nir in Israel.
Following his military service, Ori Sivan studied at Tel Aviv University's film and television department during the years 1985-1991. After finishing his studies, he co-directed the documentary film Sha'anan Si with fellow student Ari Folman, which was based on the events of the First Gulf War, particularly the development of matters in the united radio studios of the Kol Yisrael and Galei Tzahal radio stations while the first rockets fell. That same year the film was nominated for the Ophir Awards and won in the documentary film category.
In 1996, Sivan and Folman wrote and directed an additional film called Saint Clara, starring Lucy Dubinchek, Maya Maron, and Menashe Noi. The film received critical acclaim. In the Ophir Awards that year, the film won in six categories, including best actress in a leading role (Dubinchek), best film, and best director. Later, the film participated in the American Film Festival, and the Karlo and Yoari awards in the Czech Republic.
In 1997, Sivan changed directions and began focusing on television. Sivan wrote and directed, along with director Eytan Fox, the successful Israeli television show Florentine, starring Ayelet Zurer and Karin Ofir. Florentine achieved great success amongst viewers, and aired for three seasons. In 1998, Sivan participated in the project Short Stories about Love through the Israeli Keshet network, where he wrote and directed the short film "Domino" which won short film of the year in the London Film Festival, as well as best documentary in the Athens Film Festival. Later on the film was nominated and won awards in film festivals in New York, Slovakia, and Palermo.
In 2001, he began writing the third season of the popular Israeli television series "Saturdays and Holidays", starring Alon Abutbul and Lior Ashkenazi. "Saturdays and Holidays" achieved success amongst both viewers and critics, won the Israeli Film Academy Award for television and the Gold Screen Award. In 2003, Sivan wrote and directed the television film I Had a Happy Childhood.
In 2005, Sivan participated with a group of screenwriters and directors in the writing, directing, and editing of the original Israeli television series "In Treatment", starring Assi Dayan, Ayelet Zurer, and Maya Maron. "In Treatment" won great success. Ori Sivan currently teaches film in the Negev College.