Haifa Arts Foundation supports the Festival since the beginning. The Foundation has helped various projects and productions. Later on, in an effort to encourage production of short films that deal with Haifa, in order to assist in documenting the life and history of the city, the Foundation distributed grants for screenplays and short, feature and documentary films, at the final stages of production, created by Haifa residents and/or taking place in the city. The Foundation also awarded prizes to Young Cinema films that competed during the Festival. In recent years, the Foundation gives the prize to first place winners in the Israeli Feature Film category. Haifa International Film Festival is held annually on Chol Hamoed Sukkot.
2016
"Personal Affairs"
Director: Maha Haj, producer: Baher Agbaryia, co-producers: Ehab Assal, Munther Haj
2015
"Women in Sink"
Director: Iris Zaki
Since its premiere in 2015, Women in Sink—produced with the support of Haifa Arts Foundation and Other Israel—was shown in over 100 festivals around the world, sold to TV Channels, and won thirteen international prizes, including Best Short Documentary, HIFF 2015.
"Vows"
In June 2015, Haifa Arts Foundation approved a grant for Tal Miller to produce his film debut, Vows.
The script tells the story of a man who comes home with the intention of informing his wife that he wants to leave her, only to find himself at a surprise party for their silver wedding, organized by his family.
Underwater Photographer of the Year Award
First prize at the Underwater Photographer of the Year was awarded to Itzik Yogev, in a ceremony that took place on 29.9.18.