Karlovy Vary IFF

June 30^th | July 8^th 2023

57^th Edition

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is the largest film festival in the Czech Republic and the most prestigious such festival in Central and Eastern Europe. It is one of the oldest A-list film festivals (i.e., non-specialized festivals with a competition for feature-length fiction films), a category it shares with the festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, San Sebastian, Moscow, Montreal, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Among filmmakers, buyers, distributors, sales agents, and journalists, KVIFF is considered the most important event in all of Central and Eastern Europe. Every year, the festival presents some 200 films from around the world, and regularly hosts famous and important filmmakers. The Karlovy Vary festival is intended for both film professionals and the general public, and offers visitors a carefully designed programme, excellent facilities and a broad range of other services.

KVIFF TALKS – Meet the Filmmakers

Regular meetings have been organized with directors, actors, and other filmmakers who present their work as part of the festival program. During the ten years of KVIFF Talks existence large number of filmmakers have shared their experiences with the audience; such as directors Oliver Stone, Todd Solondz, Michel Gondry, William Friedkin or Charlie Kaufman or actors Harvey Keitel, John Malkovich, Christopher Lee and Michael Shannon or film editor Thelma Schoonmaker. The meetings are held at the Vodafone Lounge and in cinemas A and C at Hotel Thermal. Unless indicated otherwise, the meetings take place in English, are not translated, and do not require a ticket or accreditation.

The film you wish to enter must meet the following general requirements

The submitted film must be world, international or European premiere in order to be considered for the program.
Production of the submitted film must have been completed within the eighteen months prior to the starting date of the festival.
Submitted films must not have been released anywhere in any form (including festival screenings, DVD release, or television or internet broadcast) more than eighteen months prior to the starting date of the festival.
All films must be at least 60 minutes long to qualify for submission. The festival does not accept submissions of short and medium-length films (up to 60 minutes). In addition, any film that is solely promotional, educational, or scientific in nature is not eligible for selection by the festival.

Competitive sections

Crystal Globe Competition
A non-specialized international competition of feature-length fiction and documentary films presented as world or international premieres.

East of the West Competition
An international competition of first and second feature-length fiction and documentary films from Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the countries of the former Soviet Union, the Middle East and North Africa presented as world, international or European premieres.

Film selection for the program of the Karlovy Vary IFF

Only online screeners are accepted as preview screeners for pre-selection. DVD, Blu-ray and other formats are not accepted. You will be informed about the final decision of the Selection Committee by the beginning of July at the latest. The Selection Committee is led by artistic director Karel Och.

An online screener must be valid (with the same password) until June 9, 2023. If the link or password has to be changed by June 9, 2023, please send the new online screener info to submissions@kviff.com.Please clearly indicate if the submitted screener is the final version or a work-in-progress.