Karlovy Vary: Europe’s most welcoming film festival
Every summer since 1946, Central and Eastern Europe’s biggest A-list film festival has welcomed guests with great cinema and homey goulash. The picturesque town of Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic provides a venue for many directors to sit back and actually enjoy the films on show.
Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa (Maidan) described the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival as the “cherry on the cake for my year. Venice and Cannes are for work – here, I relax!” With over 150 films to relax to, including world premieres and the best of the Cannes, Berlin and Sundance Festivals, there is plenty of choice.
Filmmaker Jonas Carpignano (Mediterranea) finds the film festival circuit insular at times. But at Karlovy Vary, the larger number of students and civilians in the audience allows filmmakers to see first-hand which films really leave an impression. “You realize how the real world responds to the movies that are out there. That’s one thing I really appreciate about this festival.”
Recent Award Winners
The festival’s main prize remains the Grand Prix Crystal Globe, and recent editions have continued to spotlight strong international and regional work. At the 59th edition in 2025 the top award went to the Czech-Slovak documentary Better Go Mad in the Wild directed by Miro Remo. The Special Jury Prize that year was awarded to the Iranian drama Bidad from Soheil Beiraghi, while the Proxima Grand Prix recognized Sand City by Bangladeshi filmmaker Mahde Hasan. Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård received the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution, underscoring the festival’s habit of honoring performers who have left a mark on global cinema.
60th Edition and 80th Anniversary Milestones
The 60th edition is set for July 3–11, 2026 and will mark the 80th anniversary of the festival’s founding. Organizers are planning a series of retrospective screenings and special events to celebrate the milestone. Dustin Hoffman and Juliette Binoche are both scheduled to receive Crystal Globe awards for artistic contribution, continuing a tradition of spotlighting legendary figures whose careers have shaped decades of film. The timing also allows the town to lean into its role as a cultural destination that blends cinema with its historic spa-town setting.
Notable Guests and Tributes
Recent lineups have drawn an expanding roster of international talent. In 2025 the festival welcomed Dakota Johnson and Peter Sarsgaard for tributes and public conversations, while Stellan Skarsgård collected both the President’s Award and the artistic contribution honor. Harvey Keitel is expected back for the 60th edition, adding another familiar face to the red-carpet mix. Programming has also included special screenings that revisit classic cinema alongside newer tributes to video-game adaptations, giving audiences a range of entry points into film history.
Programming Scale and Accessibility
Typical recent editions screen around 175 films across hundreds of screenings. The slate mixes dozens of world premieres with selections from other major festivals, preserving the mix that originally drew directors like Loznitsa and Carpignano. The event stays open to the public, and student and local attendance remains high, which keeps the atmosphere distinct from more industry-gated gatherings. That accessibility continues to be one of the reasons filmmakers cite when they describe Karlovy Vary as a place to watch movies rather than work the circuit.
Over the decades the festival has held onto its reputation for combining serious programming with an unhurried pace. The spa-town setting, the steady presence of civilian audiences, and the consistent emphasis on discovery all contribute to that character. As the 60th edition approaches and the 80th anniversary draws closer, Karlovy Vary continues to offer a reliable stop on the festival calendar for directors and viewers who value both the films and the setting in which they are shown.
