LIFFe - Ljubljana International Film Festival

Overview

LIFFe is the Ljubljana International Film Festival, Slovenia's largest cultural film event. The 37th edition runs November 11-22, 2026, across six venues in Ljubljana and three additional venues across Slovenia. The festival sells close to 50,000 tickets annually, making it one of the biggest cultural events in the country. It is produced by Cankarjev dom, the Cultural and Congress Centre of Ljubljana, and co-financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.

LIFFe holds FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations) accreditation as a specialized competitive festival. The festival received its FIAPF license in 1992, when it was still called Film Art Fest. It was renamed the International Film Festival in 1996 and acquired its current name, LIFFe, in 1998. The festival screens over 100 films per edition, with approximately 250 official screenings and around 10% of the program devoted to short films.

The festival's programming focuses on emerging European directors in its competitive Perspectives section, while also presenting winners from Cannes, Rotterdam, Berlin, and Venice in its non-competitive sections. The 36th edition (November 12-23, 2025) featured retrospectives on Kelly Reichardt and Yuliya Solntseva, and the 2025 Audience Award of the Adriatic Festival Network was won by Fabrice du Welz's Maldoror.

Submission Process and Fees

LIFFe does not accept open film submissions. The festival operates as a curated festival where films are selected by the programming team.

Perspectives (Competition Section): The Perspectives section features first and second feature films from emerging young directors. Films must have had their international premiere at an important film festival. The programming team selects these films from the international festival circuit. There is no open submission process.

Europe in Short (Short Film Competition): Short films by young filmmakers are selected by the programming team. No open submission process.

Filmmakers and sales agents who want their film considered should contact the festival's programming team directly. The festival does not maintain a FilmFreeway page or other public submission portal.

Contact: info@cd-cc.si or +386 1 2417 147. The festival's address is Cankarjev dom, Presernova cesta 010, SI-1000 Ljubljana.

Key Sections

• Perspectives - The official competitive section, featuring first and second feature films by emerging directors. Films compete for the Kingfisher Award.
• Avant-Premieres - Major international productions from established directors, scheduled for later Slovenian commercial distribution
• Kings and Queens - Films by notable and award-winning contemporary cinema auteurs
• World Cinema Panorama - Festival favourites from five continents
• Extravaganza - Late-night cinema exploring idiosyncratic, provocative, or sensual themes
• Kinobalon - Films for audiences aged 5 to 14, presented in cooperation with Kinodvor Cinema
• Tribute - Short retrospective of a filmmaker who has received significant festival and media attention (2025: Yuliya Solntseva)
• Retrospective - Full presentation of an important contemporary filmmaker's work (2025: Kelly Reichardt), presented with the Slovenian Cinematheque
• Europe in Short - Competitive programme of short films by young filmmakers
• Network of Festivals in the Adriatic Region - Joint project of eight regional festivals, with an associated audience award
• Focus - Spotlight on one or more national cinematographies

Awards and Prizes

LIFFe presents the following awards each year:

• Kingfisher Award (Vodomec) - EUR 5,000 cash prize for the best film in the Perspectives section, selected by a three-member international jury. Sponsored by Telekom Slovenije. The jury comprises two foreign film professionals and one Slovene filmmaker or critic.
• FIPRESCI Prize - Awarded by a three-member jury from the International Federation of Film Critics, selecting the best film from the entire program. The prize typically promotes fresh and innovative approaches, usually among young or unknown filmmakers.
• Best Short Film Award - Awarded by a separate three-member international jury for the best film in the Europe in Short section.
• Dragon Audience Award (Nagrada Obcinstva Zmaj) - Audience award for the best-rated film across the entire program. The winning film receives commercial distribution in Slovenian cinemas. Introduced in 2000 as the Golden Reel Award.
• Kinotrip Young Jury Award - Awarded by a young jury panel
• Slovenian Art Cinema Association Award - Recognizes achievement in art cinema programming

What Filmmakers Should Know

For emerging filmmakers (first or second feature): The Perspectives section is LIFFe's competitive platform for first and second feature films. To be considered, your film must have had its international premiere at an important film festival (Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Rotterdam, Locarno, etc.). There is no open submission. Contact the programming team at info@cd-cc.si with screening links and festival history. The Kingfisher Award carries a EUR 5,000 cash prize and is judged by an international jury.

For short filmmakers: The Europe in Short section is competitive, but also curated. Short filmmakers should contact the programming team directly. The Best Short Film Award is judged by a separate international jury.

For sales agents and distributors: The Avant-Premieres section is the most commercially oriented part of the program, featuring films acquired for Slovenian distribution. The Dragon Audience Award winner also receives Slovenian theatrical distribution. LIFFe does not operate a film market or industry forum.

For Slovenian filmmakers: LIFFe is the most significant international film festival in Slovenia. The festival screens across six Ljubljana venues (Cankarjev dom's Linhart and Kosovel Halls, Kinodvor Cinema, the Slovenian Cinematheque, Kino Bezigrad, Kino Siska, and AGRFT Hall) plus three regional venues (Maribox Maribor, Anton Podbevsek Teater Novo mesto, and Kino Union Celje), providing national reach.

Festival attendance context: With close to 50,000 tickets sold annually and around 180 domestic and foreign journalists covering the event, LIFFe offers strong audience exposure in a market of 2.1 million people. The festival attracts international guests (directors, actors, producers) in increasing numbers each year.

Festival History

LIFFe was launched in 1990 as the Film Art Festival Ljubljana. In 1992, the International Association of Film Producers (FIAPF) granted the festival a license, confirming it met all conditions for inclusion on the official list of global film festivals. The festival was renamed the International Film Festival in 1996 and acquired its current name, LIFFe, in 1998.

The Kingfisher Award was introduced in 1996 as the festival's main competitive prize. The Dragon Audience Award was first introduced in 2000 as the Golden Reel Award and was later renamed. Between 2005 and 2007, LIFFe also presented the Amnesty International Award, which was subsequently moved to the International Documentary Film Festival.

The Europe in Short competitive section was introduced in 2008, adding a short film competition to the festival's program. In recent years, the festival has expanded its educational programs for young audiences and introduced digital innovation initiatives as core components of its mission.

The festival has been produced by Cankarjev dom since its inception. The festival director is Simon Popek.

Practical Information

• 2026 dates (37th edition): November 11-22, 2026
• 2025 dates (36th edition): November 12-23, 2025
• Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia, plus regional venues in Maribor, Novo mesto, and Celje
• Venues (Ljubljana): Cankarjev dom (Linhart and Kosovel Halls), Kinodvor Cinema, Slovenian Cinematheque, Kino Bezigrad, Kino Siska, AGRFT Hall
• Venues (regional): Maribox Maribor, Anton Podbevsek Teater Novo mesto, Kino Union Celje
• Submission: Not open to public submissions. Contact programming team at info@cd-cc.si
• Submission fee: N/A (curated festival)
• Tickets sold: Approximately 50,000 per edition
• Films screened: Over 100 per edition (approximately 10% shorts)
• Official screenings: Approximately 250 per edition
• Journalists: Around 180 domestic and foreign
• Producer: Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre Ljubljana
• Festival director: Simon Popek
• Co-financed by: Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia
• Kingfisher Award cash prize: EUR 5,000
• Official website: liffe.si

See Also

For Central European cinema markets, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit planning, see Film Festival Strategy. Use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator to evaluate the cost-benefit of festival submissions. For Serbia's leading festival, see FEST - Belgrade International Film Festival.