BIOGRAPHY
Actor, Host, Filmmaker, Advocate and Activist
Yuval David is a celebrated and Emmy Award winning actor, host, director, and filmmaker, who has won over 100 international film festival awards. His creative mantra "to entertain, uplift and inspire" shapes his approach to “storytelling with boldness, vulnerability, and authenticity in representing characters and narratives.” Yuval uses his creative approach to communication within his work as a docu-journalist, news commentator, and socio-political activist.
As a filmmaker, Yuval directs, writes, and produces feature length and short films, documentaries, web-series as well as digital and episodic TV content. His most recent feature length documentary is getting industry and media buzz, and is currently in the film festival circuit, titled “Wonderfully Made – LGBTQ+R(eligion),” and is screening at international festivals and community impact screenings, having won Best Picture at Toronto LGBTQ Film Festival, Best Documentary at Phoenixville Film Festival, and was the featured highlight film at Woodstock Film Festival, Out On Film, and other international film festivals. Yuval’s series, “One Actor Short” have become an award winner and festival favorite, earning more than 75 awards from national and international festivals, including American Picture, Atlanta Film Festival, The Big Apple Film Festival, Global Webisode Festival, NYC Independent Film Festival, New Filmmakers Film Festival, Hollywood Just4Shorts Film Competition, IndieFest, Prague International Film Festival, Top Shorts Film Festival, and Vegas CineFest International Film Festival.
Yuval’s other narrative and documentary films and episodic series, including web-series, have also been awarded numerous awards, including Best Film, Best Short, Best Series, and for Yuval specifically as Best Director, Best Actor, Best Producer, and Best Writer in national and international film festivals.
As an actor, Yuval plays leading roles in film, television, theatre, web and digital media, as well as voice overs. His acting roles include leading and guest star roles on FX, NBC, ABC, CBS, Showtime, Disney, DreamWorks, Comedy Central, countless independent films, Broadway, Off-Broadway, theatres across the US and abroad, including film festivals and theatre festivals. He currently is acting in a new television show now in production.
Yuval creatively explores humanity with his roles on hit television shows, including “Feud” (FX/Hulu), “Madam Secretary” (CBS), “The Michael J. Fox Show” (NBC), “Days of Our Lives” (NBC), and “What Would You Do?” (ABC), “Unforgettable” (CBS), and “The Plot Against America” (HBO). Yuval’s leading and supporting roles in films include “Beauty and the Beast,” “Nephilim,” “Incipient,” “Awakening of Spring,” “You,” and “The Fifth Estate.” His acting roles in theatre range from contemporary to classic theatrical works, including: Broadway in “The Game;” Off-Broadway in “Romeo and Juliet,” “Leaving an Impression,” “Daddy Issues,” “Bunburry,” and “In The Swing.” As much as possible, Yuval enjoys performing in regional theatres across the United States and abroad, in addition to international theatre festivals. Yuval regularly does voice overs for animation, commercials, narration, documentaries, and industrials.
As a TV host and presenter, Yuval focuses on societal, humanitarian, food, travel, cultural and entertainment programming. His work is seen on network television, documentary films, web series, and regularly at live events. He also regularly is a host and MC for special events, galas, and advocacy events for social and political initiatives, institutions, and organizations, especially those focusing on US, Israel, LGBTQ, Arts, Humanitarian, and Cultural causes.
Yuval is a news commentator on broadcast news programs speaking about social and political issues and causes, often speaking about civil rights, social justice, and representation in politics, social movements, entertainment and media, Jewish, Israeli, and LGBTQ topics. These have been on major news networks and programs, including on Fox, NewsNation, NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, Reuters, Sky, i24, Kan, Keshet, Reshet, and Achshav news networks.
His writings have appeared in publications including The Hill, The Jerusalem Post, The Times of Israel, Out Magazine, AM New York, Yahoo News, Washington Blade, Queerty, Instinct Magazine, The Jewish Week, Yediot, and other international publications.
In addition to his work in entertainment and media, Yuval is a passionate advocate and activist. Advocacy for the marginalized and under-represented is a driving force, along with his focus on Jewish, LGBTQ, humanitarian, arts and creative initiatives. He uses his creative work as a vehicle for the greater good on behalf of highly respected American, Israeli, and international organizations.
Throughout Yuval’s advocacy work with organizations, he is brought in as a keynote speaker, workshop leader, and panelist for discussions regarding:
-Art for Social Change
-Creative Advocacy
-Identity Politics
-Marginalized identities and self-empowerment
-Self-Expression and Self-Empowerment
-Jewish Identity
-Zionism & Israel
-Jewish representation in Entertainment and Media
-Jewish, Zionist, and Israeli advocacy within Progressive movements
-Fighting Forward against Hatred, Bigotry, and Terror
-Trauma, Traumatic Stress
-Survival and Resilience
-LGBTQ Identity and Representation
-Content Creation
-Storytelling within Entertainment and Media
-Storytelling as Advocacy and Activism
-Filmmaking as advocacy
Yuval advocates for all marginalized communities through his creative work and social action, including supporting the organizations below.
- Stand With Us: Keynote Speaker, Panelist, Narrator and Host of documentary videos and social media content. LGBTQ Consultant.
- Jewish National Fund: Keynote Speaker and MC, and workshop leader, Host & Director of Documentary Content
- Combat Antisemitism Movement: Speaker, Content Collaborator on Social Media
- Israeli American Council: Speaker, MC of events and rallies
- World Jewish Congress: Content creator and host of social media videos, Judge of artistic and creative related events and programming
- Shoah Foundation: Speaker and panelist for events and initiatives. Member of the Creative Council, expanding the reach through new content creation incorporating testimonies filmed by The Shoah Foundation.
- Jewish Federations of North America: Keynote Speaker at rallies
- Jewish Council for Public Affairs: Speaker and Event MC. Host of video content.
- Natal, Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center: Speaker and auctioneer at events, focusing on trauma, and PTSD
- Elem: Speaker, focusing on initiatives strengthening and supporting troubled and at-risk Israeli youth
- Keren Kayemet: Speaker and panelist.
- Facts for Peace: On camera talent for Jewish activism social media videos.
- Jewish Unpacked: Host and collaborative creator of social media videos.
- American Israel Cultural Foundation: Member, Performing Artist, and Speaker
- Chabad: Speaker and Panelist.
- The Jewish Learning Institute: Speaker and Panelist.
- Zikaron BaSalon: Keynote speaker, Advocacy Partner.
- JewBelong: Speaker. Member of Board of Directors.
- Israel on Campus Coalition: speaker, workshop leader.
- Embassy of Israel to the United States: Keynote Speaker.
- Consulate General of Israel in New York: Speaker, Panelist, and MC for events and initiatives.
- Consulate General of Israel to the South East US, in Atlanta: Speaker, Panelist, and MC for events and initiatives.
- Club Z: speaker, empowering Jewish youth towards being leaders.
- End Jew Hatred: Consultant for civil rights and social justice. Keynote speaker and workshop leader.
- The Aguda, the Israeli LGBTQ rights organization: speaker, panelist, and host of events, including advocating on joint initiatives.
- A Wider Bridge: Speaker, MC, and advocate for the organization, connecting Israeli and American LGBTQ communities. Member of the Leadership Council.
- National LGBTQ Task Force: Speaker and Workshop Leader at annual Creating Change Conference; Advocate and Speaker at numerous events, including advocating to elected officials about LGBTQ initiatives; National Leadership Council; Host and Director of Documentary Video Content.
- GLAAD: Partner for advocacy initiatives in press/media.
- Lambda Legal: Speaker and host
- Covenant House NY: Speaker at events for homeless youth.
- Rainbow Railroad: Organizational Ambassador, advocating on behalf of LGBTQ people in need of rescue.
- Freedom House: Advocate and actively aiding in helping LGBTQ people and other marginalized people escape persecution and human rights atrocities.
- The Giving Group Community: Founding Member. Philanthropy connected to Israel.
- Creative Community for Peace: member, signatory, entertainment and media activist.
- The Black Jewish Entertainment Alliance: member, signatory, entertainment industry activist.
- Guest speaker, panelist, and workshop leader for Jewish organizations.
Please find samples of his advocacy work and speaking engagements below:
