Overview
The Prague International Film Festival, known as Febiofest, is the Czech Republic's largest general-audience film festival. The 33rd edition runs April 28 to May 4, 2026, in Prague. The festival screens more than 130 films across seven cinema halls, presenting the most interesting contemporary world cinema to Czech audiences. The festival's primary focus is on feature films, with the majority of screenings being Czech premieres.
Febiofest operates four competition sections: the Main Competition (debut and second films competing for EUR 5,000), the Comedy Competition (audience-judged, EUR 3,000), the Amnesty International Febiofest Award (human rights films across all sections), and the "You Are the Filmmaker!" amateur short film competition. The festival also runs an Industry section and a VR Cinema program.
The Main Competition focuses on young and emerging directors, presenting debut or second films from filmmakers whose work has already screened at major international festivals.
Submission Details
Febiofest programs primarily through curatorial relationships rather than open submissions. The festival accepts entries via FilmFreeway.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| 33rd Edition Dates | April 28 to May 4, 2026 |
| Festival Venues | 7 cinema halls in Prague + satellite venues |
| Satellite Venues | Kino Pilotu, Ponrepo, Edison Filmhub, H55 |
| Industry Section Location | Kampus Hybernska |
| VR Cinema Location | Cafe Vzlet (April 29 to May 1) |
| Main Competition Prize | EUR 5,000 |
| Comedy Competition Prize | EUR 3,000 |
| Film Program Size | 130+ films |
| Regional Echoes | Selected films tour other Czech cities after Prague |
Competition Sections and Awards
Main Competition:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Focus | Debut and second films by emerging directors |
| Eligibility | Feature-length, Czech or international premiere |
| Jury | Three-member professional jury |
| Prize | EUR 5,000 |
Comedy Competition:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Focus | International comedy films |
| Eligibility | Feature-length, Czech or international premiere |
| Jury | 33-member audience jury |
| Prize | EUR 3,000 |
The Comedy Competition jury is unique: 33 film fans selected from public applicants of all backgrounds. Past honorary presidents include Miroslav Ondricek, Jan Kaplicky, David Cerny, and Dagmar Havlova. The 2026 jury president is Michal Suchanek. Any film fan over 15 can apply.
Amnesty International Febiofest Award:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Focus | Human rights, freedom, freedom of speech, dignified life |
| Eligibility | Films selected from across all festival sections |
| History | Awarded since 2015 (8th edition in 2026) |
The award is granted in cooperation with the Czech branch of Amnesty International.
Past Winners
Recent winners of the Main Competition (EUR 5,000):
| Year | Edition | Best Film | Director | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 29th | You Resemble Me | Dina Amer | France/Egypt/USA |
| 2021 | 28th | Charter | Amanda Kernell | Sweden |
| 2020 | 27th | Servants | Ivan Ostrochovsky | Slovakia |
| 2017 | 24th | Heartstone | Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson | Iceland |
| 2016 | 23rd | Sparrows | Rúnar Rúnarsson | Iceland/Denmark/Croatia |
The festival was not held in 2023 due to the bankruptcy filing of founder Fero Fenic. The 2022 winner You Resemble Me also won the Amnesty International Award. The 2020 winner Servants premiered at Berlin 2020 (Encounters). The 2017 winner Heartstone premiered at Venice 2016 (Venice Days).
Programme Sections
- Main Competition - debut and second films from emerging international directors
- Comedy Competition - international comedy films judged by audience jury
- Amnesty International Febiofest Award - human rights films across all sections
- You Are the Filmmaker! - amateur short film competition on specific themes
- International Feature Program - curated international films outside competition
- Czech Film - survey of new Czech cinema
- Tribute Programs - retrospectives and director celebrations
- VR Cinema - 11 virtual reality projects (April 29 to May 1 at Cafe Vzlet)
- Industry Section - industry events at Kampus Hybernska
Festival History
Febiofest was founded in December 1993 by Fero Fenic and Pavel Melounek through the independent film and television company FEBIO. The festival launched in the years immediately following the Velvet Revolution, as Czech cinema culture opened to international work after decades of state-controlled programming. Originally taking place in one city in two small theaters, the event grew within ten years to more than 140,000 viewers across two countries, 12 cities, and nearly 43 theaters.
In 2005, the festival presented 336 films from 65 countries at its peak. The Grand Prix for debuting European filmmakers in the New Europe section was introduced in 2008. The festival has historically been the Czech Republic's largest film event, complementing the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival's specialist documentary focus with a broader general cinema program.
The festival has undergone organizational changes and continues under new management. The 33rd edition is scheduled for April 28 to May 4, 2026.
What Filmmakers Should Know
For Czech filmmakers, Febiofest provides the most important Prague platform for national cinema. The festival's large Prague audience (historically 140,000+ at peak) makes it a significant market for Central European distribution exposure. International films seeking Czech distribution will find Febiofest's audience a valuable testing ground.
The Main Competition is specifically designed for debut and second filmmakers, making it one of the more accessible competitions for emerging directors. Films must be feature-length and presented as Czech or international premieres. The EUR 5,000 prize is modest by A-list standards but meaningful for a debut filmmaker.
The Comedy Competition's 33-member audience jury is distinctive. Rather than a professional jury, the winner is decided by film fans selected from public applicants, aged 15 to 100, from all backgrounds. This makes the Comedy Competition prize a genuine audience award, unlike the professionally juried Main Competition.
The Industry section at Kampus Hybernska provides networking and professional development opportunities. The VR Cinema section at Cafe Vzlet (April 29 to May 1) showcases 11 virtual reality projects, reflecting the festival's engagement with emerging formats. The festival also runs masterclasses and accompanying programs at satellite venues including Kino Pilotu, Ponrepo, Edison Filmhub, and H55.
Filmmakers should note that Febiofest programs primarily through curatorial relationships rather than open submissions. While entries are accepted via FilmFreeway, most selections come through established relationships with distributors, sales agents, and the festival's programming team. The festival does not operate a film market or co-production platform.
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
- You Resemble Me (Dina Amer, France/Egypt/USA) - Venice 2021 premiere, Febiofest 2022 Main Competition winner and Amnesty International Award. Executive produced by Spike Lee, Spike Jonze, Riz Ahmed. US theatrical release November 2022 (NYC, LA). UK and Ireland theatrical release February 2023 via Modern Films. Available on BFI Player, Apple TV, Amazon.
- Servants (Ivan Ostrochovsky, Slovakia) - Berlin 2020 premiere (Encounters), Febiofest 2020 Main Competition winner. US distribution via Film Movement (February 2022). Selected at New Directors/New Films 2020 at Lincoln Center.
- Heartstone (Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson, Iceland) - Venice 2016 premiere (Venice Days), Febiofest 2017 Grand Prix winner. TIFF 2016 selection. The director's follow-up Beautiful Beings became Iceland's Oscar submission for Best International Feature Film.
- Charter (Amanda Kernell, Sweden) - Febiofest 2021 Main Competition winner. Kernell previously directed Sami Blood (2016), which was Sweden's Oscar submission.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
The Main Competition is exclusively for debut and second films. If your film is your third or later feature, it is not eligible for the Main Competition. Films must be presented as Czech or international premieres.
The Comedy Competition is judged by a 33-member audience jury, not by professionals. This makes it a genuine audience award. Films with broad popular appeal perform better here than art house comedies. Any film fan over 15 can apply to join the jury.
The Amnesty International Febiofest Award selects from films across all sections that address human rights themes. If your film deals with freedom, human rights, or dignity, it may be considered for this award regardless of which section it screens in.
The festival programs primarily through curatorial relationships. While FilmFreeway submissions are accepted, most selections come through established distributor and sales agent relationships. Direct outreach to the programming team is more effective than open submission for international films seeking Czech premiere status.
Industry Reputation Notes
Febiofest complements the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) as the Czech Republic's two major film festivals. KVIFF is FIAPF-accredited and held in July, while Febiofest is non-FIAPF and held in spring. KVIFF has a larger international profile and operates the Eastern Promises industry market, while Febiofest has historically drawn larger local audiences (140,000+ at peak across two countries).
Compared to the Warsaw International Film Festival (Poland), which also programs Central European cinema, Febiofest's Main Competition is more specifically oriented toward debut and second films, making it a more targeted platform for emerging directors.
The festival's 2023 bankruptcy and subsequent revival under new management has created uncertainty about its long-term stability. Filmmakers should verify the festival's operational status before submitting. The festival does not operate a film market or co-production platform. Its industry value is limited compared to KVIFF's Eastern Promises program.
Watch
See Also
Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. For Czech and Central European cinema context, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For distribution deals, see Distribution Deals Explained. Visit the Febiofest website for current program and submission information.
