Message from the Haifa Film Festival

Program Director Bernd Buder served as a jury member at the Haifa International Film Festival from October 6–12. Here is his detailed report:

"For the 41st time, the Haifa International Film Festival took place in the Israeli coastal city. I had the privilege of serving on the pitching jury for new feature film projects as well as on the wonderful jury for the Israeli Competition, which included eleven current feature and documentary films. Among them were OF DOGS AND MEN, which won the main award at the Jewish Film Festival Berlin Brandenburg in May and whose director Dani Rosenberg will be part of the Dialogue Jury at the FilmFestival Cottbus; ANNU, a feature film by Myia Hatav Hazaz set within the Druze community; and FADIA, a family drama by Shadi Srur, shot largely in Arabic. The film selection thus perfectly reflected the intercultural character of the port city of Haifa. The overall atmosphere was almost euphoric and reminded me of the mood in Germany around the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall: while the Haifa Film Festival ended two years ago with the tragic events of October 7, 2023, this year’s edition centered on the hope for the release of the remaining hostages and for peace in the Middle East. It was an impressive and deeply moving experience to be here — my heartfelt thanks go to everyone behind the Haifa Film Festival."