SFIAF celebrates the arts by bringing together a global community of artists and audiences. SFIAF presents innovative projects that focus on increasing awareness and understanding within and across cultures. Their core values are based on principles of cultural and economic equity and coordinating the shared resources of multiple organizations in order to reach mutually beneficial goals.

SFIAF presents the work of innovative artists from the Bay Area and around the world; many of the international artists make their US debut at the Festival. From 2003-23, SFIAF and more than 100 presenting partners have coordinated, presented, and/or produced performances by over 600 arts ensembles from California and 60 other countries, and presented hundreds of educational and community engagement activities with diverse communities.

In addition to working with larger institutions, SFIAF places a high priority on the participation of culturally diverse and smaller entities—in particular, communities whose histories have been marginalized or left out of the prevailing American narrative. Activating and supporting relationships between such organizations and artists is a key component of SFIAF.