The 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival took place from 3 to 11 July 2026 in the Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary, celebrating six decades as one of Europe’s most respected showcases for independent and auteur cinema. While Cannes, Venice and Berlin often dominate the headlines, Karlovy Vary has carved out its own identity by championing emerging filmmakers and offering a platform for films that combine artistic ambition with strong human stories.
The anniversary edition once again presented an impressive selection of world premieres in the Crystal Globe Competition, alongside the Proxima section dedicated to innovative filmmaking. The festival also welcomed distinguished guests from across the international film industry, with Dustin Hoffman, Juliette Binoche, and acclaimed cinematographer Robert Richardson receiving Crystal Globes for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema. Beyond the awards, Karlovy Vary continued to reinforce its reputation as a festival where new cinematic voices receive the same attention as established masters.
Main Awards
- Crystal Globe (Grand Prix) — Fruit Gathering by Aung Phyoe
- Special Jury Prize — The Guest by Zuzana Kirchnerová
- Best Director — Mads Mengel for The Guest
- Best Actress — Anna Schinz for A Happy Family
- Best Actor — Ghassan Saad for Pipes
Proxima Competition
Outside the main competition, the Proxima Competition once again highlighted some of the festival’s boldest and most innovative works.
- Proxima Grand Prix — Lover, Not a Fighter – Martina Buchelova
- Proxima Special Jury Mention — Incinerator – Shuntaro Uchida
- Proxima Special Mention — 33 Steps – Anna Domček, Šimon Domček
- Proxima Best Director Award: Efthimis Kosemund-Sanidis for A Whole Person Almost
Karlovy Vary once again demonstrated why it occupies such a distinctive place on the international festival calendar. Rather than chasing prestige alone, the festival continues to prioritise discovery, giving emerging filmmakers an opportunity to reach international audiences while celebrating cinema that often falls outside the mainstream.
As the 60th edition came to a close, Karlovy Vary reaffirmed that some of the year’s most exciting films are not always those arriving with the greatest expectations, but those that find their first champions in festivals willing to embrace artistic risk. For many of this year’s winners, the journey has only just begun.
