Haifa - International Film Festival

Celebrating 40 Years December 31, 2024 – January 11, 2025 This year, the festival will open on new year's eve. Originally scheduled for Sukkot, the event has been rescheduled as a special winter edition. On December 31, 2024, coinciding with the seventh night of Hanukkah, the festival will launch with a celebratory lineup of films and events, ushering in the New Year in style. Festival Guest of Honor: Oscar-winning Jewish-French director Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) will attend the festival to present his latest film, The Most Precious of Cargoes , which premiered in the official competition at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The Festival Opening Film And Event The Seed of the Sacred Fig by Iranian film director Mohammad Rasoulof (Winner of the Critics' Prize and a Special Jury Prize at Cannes 2024) will officially open the festival and mark the beginning of 2025 on January 2. Israeli Cinema Premieres and New Competition Format The festival will showcase the finest in Israeli cinema, premiering 12 films in a newly introduced combined competition for both feature and documentary films . New Platform for Israeli Premieres: "First Exposure – New Israeli Cinema" will present the quality and diversity of Israeli filmmaking, offering audiences and industry professionals an exclusive look at the latest in Israeli cinema.

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