The mayor's blessing

Dear Guests,

Haifa is alive with celebration, and there are few moments more beautiful in our city than when the lights of the Haifa International Film Festival come on, and Mount Carmel comes alive with cinema, creativity, encounters, and tens of thousands of guests from Israel and around the world.

For the 42nd time, the Haifa International Film Festival places our city at the forefront of culture and cinema in Israel. Over the years, the festival has become Israel’s leading film event and one of the country’s most important and highly regarded cultural events.

This year once again, the festival presents a rich and compelling mosaic of Israeli and international cinema, bringing to the screen films, stories, and voices from Israel and around the world. Alongside established and acclaimed filmmakers, it continues to open its doors to a new generation of creators, giving audiences the opportunity to discover new voices, be moved, and see the world from fresh perspectives.

This year, I would like to extend a special greeting to director Avi Nesher, one of the most prominent and influential figures in Israeli cinema, on receiving the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award. His decades-long body of work is an integral part of the story of Israeli cinema and of Haifa itself, and the recognition he receives here in our city is both richly deserved and deeply moving.

We believe that a great city is measured not only by its achievements, but also by the cultural life it fosters and by its ability to serve as a home for ideas, creativity, and human connection. Haifa will continue to invest in culture, in its creators, and in the institutions that have made it a leading cultural center in Israel.

I extend my warmest wishes to the festival team and to all the filmmakers and creators taking part, and invite audiences to come to Haifa during Sukkot—to watch, be moved, explore the city, and enjoy all that our city has to offer.

Welcome to Haifa, and have a wonderful festival!

Yours sincerely,

Yona Yahav
Mayor of Haifa

Dear Guests,

Welcome to the 42nd Haifa International Film Festival!

This year, we have chosen to place Israeli cinema center stage. In these challenging times, it is more important than ever for us to embrace our local filmmakers, give voice to our unique stories and perspectives, and draw strength from original work that brings us all a sense of pride, hope, and inspiration.

Alongside the cinematic experience on screen, we have also renewed our public space. With the extensive renovation of the Auditorium Plaza now complete, the area is becoming Haifa’s cultural square—a vibrant hub for entertainment and connection, open and active around the clock, every day of the week. From a neighborhood café in the morning and an intimate wine bar in the evening, to live performances, colorful markets, and fairs.

We continue to invest significant resources and efforts in developing the city’s cultural, artistic, and leisure life, and in the coming year we will expand these activities even further, with a richer and more diverse offering than ever before.

Our heartfelt thanks to the ETHOS team for their dedicated and unwavering work in producing this exciting festival, and to all our many partners along the way.

We invite you to share in the excitement, celebrate, and enjoy the festival with us.

Wishing everyone a wonderful festival!

Yossi Shalom
Deputy Mayor and Head of the Culture Portfolio
Chair of ETHOS