Haifa Film Festival 2026: Must-See Films Unveiled

The Haifa Film Festival 2026 is set to showcase a diverse selection of films, including award-winning dramas, action thrillers, and animated features. Among the highlights is "Coward," a Belgian-French-Dutch production that earned its two lead actors the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Lukas Dhont, the film explores a forbidden love story between two soldiers during World War I, examining themes of love, art, and the horrors of war.

Another anticipated film is "The Weight," an independent American-German survival drama starring Ethan Hawke as a single father facing hardship during the Great Depression. Directed by first-time filmmaker Padraic McKinley, the movie transitions from a period drama to a gripping Hollywood-style survival story. "The Last Viking," from Denmark, is a dark comedy-drama by director Anders Thomas Jensen, known for his unique cinematic universe. The film stars Nikolaj Lie Kaas as a recently released convict searching for buried money, with Mads Mikkelsen in a standout supporting role.

The festival will also feature "The Electric Kiss," a French-Belgian comedy by Pierre Salvadori, which served as the opening film at Cannes. It tells the story of a painter who falls for a medium while trying to reconnect with his deceased love. "Three Days in September," a Romanian film, offers a unique take on a wedding disrupted by an unexpected revelation, filmed in a single continuous shot. "Tangles," an American-Canadian animated film in black and white, based on a graphic novel, addresses themes of family and Alzheimer's disease with humor and poignancy, featuring voice work from Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston.

Action enthusiasts can look forward to "The Furious," a Hong Kong martial arts film praised for its brutal and expertly choreographed fight sequences. The plot involves a deaf craftsman and a grieving husband teaming up to find their kidnapped daughters. "The Stranger," a French film directed by François Ozon, is an adaptation of Albert Camus's classic novel, exploring existential themes through the story of a young man who commits a seemingly motiveless murder. The festival will also screen the iconic 1969 American film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, celebrated for its perfect script and chemistry.

The Haifa Film Festival is scheduled to run with these and other selections, offering a rich cinematic experience for attendees.