Prague International Film Festival - Febiofest

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. The 2025 Main Competition jury comprised Slovak filmmaker Ivan Ostrochovsky, Czech actor-director Jiri Madl, and Iranian director and women's rights activist Mahnaz Mohammadi.

After the Prague program concludes, selected films tour to other Czech cities as part of regional echoes (regionální ozvěny), extending the festival's reach beyond the capital.

Submission Details

Febiofest programs primarily through curatorial relationships rather than open submissions. The festival accepts entries via FilmFreeway.

The Main Competition is an international competition for feature-length debut or second films, presented as Czech or international premieres. The Comedy Competition is an international competition for feature-length comedy films, also in their Czech or international premiere. The Amnesty International Febiofest Award selects films from across all sections that address themes of freedom, human rights, freedom of speech, and the fight for a dignified life.

Competition Sections and Awards

Main Competition:

The Main Competition jury is a three-member panel of international film professionals. Past jurors have included Slovak filmmaker Ivan Ostrochovsky, Czech actor-director Jiri Madl, and Iranian director Mahnaz Mohammadi.

Comedy Competition:

The Comedy Competition jury is unique among major European festivals: it consists of 33 film fans selected from applicants of all ages, education levels, social backgrounds, and professions. The honorary president of the audience jury has historically been a prominent Czech cultural figure. Past honorary presidents include Miroslav Ondricek, Jan Kaplicky, David Cerny, Libor Pesek, and Dagmar Havlova. The 2026 jury president is Michal Suchanek. Any film fan over 15 years old can apply to join the jury.

Amnesty International Febiofest Award:

The Amnesty International Febiofest Award is granted in cooperation with the Czech branch of Amnesty International. Past juries have included cellist Terezie Vodickova Kovalova, filmmaker Vit Klusak, and Amnesty Czech Republic human rights education head Jiri Bejcek.

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

The festival guarantees high technical quality across all screening formats in its cinema halls. Festival projections run in seven halls throughout the festival period. The info booth and box office operate from April 21 to May 4, with screenings running April 28 to May 4.

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 in recent years. The current edition continues under new management, with the 33rd edition scheduled for April 28 to May 4, 2026. The festival's regional echoes program, which tours selected films to other Czech cities after the Prague program, extends audience access beyond the capital.

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.

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.