Haifa International Film Festival to Open with Avi Nesher's Latest Film

The 42nd Haifa International Film Festival will take place in Haifa from September 26 to October 3, 2026, during the Sukkot holiday. The opening night will feature the premiere of Avi Nesher's new film, "Our Love," which has received 12 Ophir Award nominations. The movie is based on real events and tells the story of individuals whose lives intersect in the lead-up to the events of October 7. The cast includes Shalom Michaelashvili, Maggie Azarzar, Yaniv Biton, and Hadas Yaron.

During the opening ceremony, Nesher will be honored with a lifetime achievement award for his significant contributions to Israeli culture. The festival will also introduce a new tradition, using a quote from Nesher's iconic film "Dizengoff 99" as its central image.

The Israeli film competition section will showcase 12 films, encompassing both feature and documentary formats. Highlights include Tomer Heyman's "I Want to Tell My Story," the drama "Hager-Land" about Ethiopian Jews' journey to Israel, the late Nitzan Giladi's final film "And You Loved," and the documentaries "Children of Hebron" and "The Place Called Hope."

Additionally, the festival will present special screenings of debut Israeli films, such as the sports drama "In a Moment" and the social thriller "Negative." A gala screening of "Yoram and Gila," featuring Gila Almagor and Yoram Gaon, is also planned.

The event is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sport, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Haifa Municipality.