Overview
The Haifa International Film Festival is Israel's longest-running international film festival. The 42nd edition runs September 26 to October 3, 2026, in Haifa, Israel's major northern port city on the Mediterranean coast of Mount Carmel. The festival presents competitive Israeli and international cinema across 4 competition sections, programmed by invitation only with no unsolicited submissions accepted.
Haifa's identity as a city where Jewish, Arab, Christian, and Druze communities have historically maintained relatively peaceful relations gives the festival a civic character distinct from Israel's other major film events. The festival is the largest public film event in Israel outside the Jerusalem Film Festival, with large open-air screenings along the Carmel range attracting broad audiences.
The festival's competition structure spans both Israeli and international cinema. The Israeli Feature Film Competition and Israeli Short Film Competition recognize domestic productions. The international competition is divided into the Carmel Competition (for established international cinema) and the Golden Anchor Competition (for first or second feature films from emerging directors worldwide).
Submission Details
The Haifa International Film Festival does not accept unsolicited submissions. All films are programmed by invitation through the festival's programming team. The festival does not use FilmFreeway or equivalent open submission platforms. Filmmakers who believe their film may be of interest to the festival's programmers should contact the festival office directly at film@haifaff.co.il.
Competition Sections and Awards
Israeli Feature Film Competition
- Best Film Award - top jury prize for Israeli narrative features
- Jury Award for Best Documentary Film
- Debut Film Award (Amit Peled Award) - for first-time Israeli filmmakers
- Best Screenplay Award (Anat Farhi Award) - for narrative features
- Best Research Award - for documentary films
- Best Acting Award - for narrative features
- Best Artistic Achievement Award - for craft recognition
- Honorable Mention (Pnina Blayer Award) - for social issues films
Israeli Short Film Competition
- Best Student Film - for films from Israeli film schools
- Best Independent Film - for independent Israeli shorts
- Best Animated Film - for Israeli animated shorts
Carmel Competition (International Cinema)
Open to established international cinema, programmed by invitation.
- Best Film Award - top international prize
- Honorable Mention
Golden Anchor Competition (Debut Films)
Open to first or second feature films from directors worldwide.
- Best Film Award - top debut film prize
- Honorable Mention
2025 Winners (41st Edition)
Israeli Competition:
- Best Film: A Burning Man by Eyal Halfon
- Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature (ex aequo): Of Dogs and Men by Dani Rosenberg and Some Notes on the Current Situation by Eran Kolirin
- Best Documentary: Proud Jewish Boy by Isri Halpern
- Best Debut (Amit Peled Award): Fadia by Shady Srour
- Best Screenplay: Shady Srour and Laurel Hunter for Fadia
- Best Acting: Shai Avivi for A Burning Man
- Best Artistic Achievement: Einat Glazer-Zarhin for editing No Cakes from the Homefront
- Honorable Mention (Pnina Blayer): Baghdad Files by Avida Livni
Carmel Competition:
- Best Film: Dreams by Dag Johan Haugerud (Norway). Also won the Golden Bear at Berlinale 2025.
- Honorable Mention: Mother by Teona Strugar Mitevska (Belgium, North Macedonia)
Golden Anchor Competition:
- Best Film: Late Shift by Petra Volpe (Switzerland, Germany), starring Leonie Benesch
- Honorable Mention: Nino by Pauline Loques (France)
2024 Winners (40th Edition)
Carmel Competition:
- Best Film: The Brutalist by Brady Corbet (USA). Later won the Oscar for Best Actor (Adrien Brody) and Best Original Score.
- Honorable Mention: The Seed of the Sacred Fig by Mohammad Rasoulof
Israeli Competition:
- Best Film: Real Estate by Anat Maltz (also won Best Screenplay)
Past Winners
The 2025 Carmel Competition winner Dreams by Dag Johan Haugerud also won the Golden Bear at Berlinale 2025, confirming that Haifa's international competition tracks with the top tier of the global festival circuit. The 2025 Golden Anchor winner Late Shift by Petra Volpe, starring Leonie Benesch, premiered at Berlinale 2025 and was distributed by Vertigo Releasing in the UK and Ireland.
The 2024 Carmel winner The Brutalist by Brady Corbet went on to win three Oscars (Best Actor for Adrien Brody, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography) and received ten Academy Award nominations total. The 2024 Carmel Honorable Mention The Seed of the Sacred Fig by Mohammad Rasoulof premiered at Cannes 2024 and was acquired by Neon for US distribution.
The 2019 Israeli Best Film winner Africa by Oren Gerner also won the Danny Lerner Award for best Israeli feature debut at Haifa. The 2008 Golden Anchor winner Three Monkeys by Nuri Bilge Ceylan later won the Best Director prize at Cannes 2008.
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
- *Bethlehem* (2013, dir. Yuval Adler) - Won the Israeli Feature Film Competition at Haifa. Became Israel's Oscar submission for the 86th Academy Awards. Adler's debut feature launched his international directing career.
- *Foxtrot (2017, dir. Samuel Maoz) - Screened at Haifa and became Israel's Oscar submission, making the Academy Award shortlist. Maoz's second film after his Venice Golden Lion winner Lebanon*.
- *Waltz with Bashir* (2008, dir. Ari Folman) - Screened at Haifa and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Produced with Israel Film Fund support.
- *Ajami (2009, dir. Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani) - Screened at Haifa and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Co-director Yaron Shani later won the 2019 Israeli Best Film Award at Haifa for Reborn*.
- *Sand Storm* (2016, dir. Elite Zexer) - Launched at Haifa's industry forum. Won the Ophir Award for Best Film and was acquired by Netflix for global distribution.
- *Zero Motivation* (2014, dir. Talya Lavie) - Launched at Haifa's industry forum. Received 12 Ophir Award nominations and secured international distribution.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
The Haifa International Film Festival does not accept unsolicited submissions. All films are programmed by invitation. Filmmakers should not submit through FilmFreeway or similar platforms. Instead, contact the festival office directly at film@haifaff.co.il with a screener link and festival history.
The Carmel Competition typically selects films that have premiered at major international festivals (Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto). If your film has played at one of these festivals, it is a strong candidate for a Carmel invitation. The Golden Anchor Competition is more accessible for emerging filmmakers, restricted to first or second features.
The festival's September-October timing overlaps with the Jewish holiday period (Rosh Hashanah), which affects scheduling and audience availability. Filmmakers attending should be aware of holiday-related closures and adjusted screening schedules.
The festival does not have an attached film market in the traditional sense. Its industry value comes from the Haifa International Forum, which promotes co-productions, and from networking with Israeli distributors, critics, and programmers.
Industry Reputation Notes
Haifa positions itself as Israel's first and biggest film festival, founded in 1983. It operates alongside the Jerusalem Film Festival (which runs in July) as one of the two most important domestic platforms for Israeli cinema. The two festivals serve complementary rather than competitive roles in the Israeli calendar.
The Haifa International Forum is the festival's industry initiative, promoting co-productions in all stages of Israeli films and television series. About 300 local and international industry guests attend the Cinemarket Haifa, receptions, masterclasses, and a marketing forum about Israeli cinema. The forum has launched films including Zero Motivation and Sand Storm, both of which secured international distribution.
The festival's industry offering includes the Chance Grant ($42,000, created in memory of producer Danny Lerner) and a Cinemarket Work In Progress competition with a post-production award from The Post Republic. International attendees have included representatives from France's CNC, Germany's Mitteldeutsche Medienforderung, and ZDF's Das Kleine Fernsehspiel.
Artistic director Pnina Blayer has been with the festival since its inception in 1983 and has served as artistic director since 1988. The festival is supported by the Israel Film Council, the Ministry of Culture and Sport, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Haifa municipality, with the mayor of Haifa serving as traditional patron.
Festival History
The Haifa International Film Festival was founded in 1983, making it Israel's longest-running international film festival. The festival was established during a period of expansion in Israeli cultural infrastructure, conceived as a public-facing event that would bring international cinema to Israeli audiences outside the Tel Aviv industry center while providing a competitive platform for domestic productions.
Over its 40-plus year history, the festival has maintained its focus on both Israeli and international cinema, with separate competition structures for each. The Carmel Competition and Golden Anchor Competition were established to provide competitive recognition for international work alongside the Israeli competition sections.
The festival's civic character reflects Haifa's identity as Israel's most multicultural city, with Jewish, Arab (Muslim and Christian), Druze, and Baha'i communities. The festival's programming historically includes Arab cinema and films addressing intercultural themes. The Baha'i World Centre and Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, symbolize the city's pluralist identity.
Practical Information
- 2026 dates: September 26 to October 3, 2026
- Location: Haifa, Israel (venues along the Carmel range)
- Submission policy: No unsolicited submissions (invitation only)
- Contact: film@haifaff.co.il, +972 4 835 3520 ext. 3
- Address: 142 Hanassi Ave, 34633 Haifa, Israel
- Website: haifaff.co.il
Watch
See Also
Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. For Israeli cinema and the Jerusalem Film Festival, see Jerusalem Film Festival. For Middle Eastern cinema and regional film markets, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit strategy and premiere planning, see Film Festival Strategy. For the Ophir Awards, Israel's national film awards, see Ophir Awards. Visit the official Haifa International Film Festival website for the current edition program and competition details.
