S Viswanath

Twin celebrations will mark the 2026 milestone edition of the much admired and anticipated annual Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF). The leading film congregation and cinematic celebration in the Central Europe.

The second oldest film festival in the world, this time around, the KVIFF will commemorate two important milestones in its long, cherished chequered history. A festival which was part of the “first wave” of postwar European Film Festivals.

The 80 years since the festival took that toddling steps to raise in stature, scope and standing. As also fete the festival’s 60th edition which will be on for nine days from July 3-11, 2026.

Taking a moment, and travelling back in time one may recall that the pre-war dream of many enthusiastic Czechian filmmakers materialised in 1946 when a non-competition festival of films from seven countries took place in the twin spa cities of Marianske Lazne, the spa town in Cheb District, in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republicand Karlovy Vary the spa town in the West Bohemia region of the Czech Republic.
Both famed for its numerous thermal springs making it the popular health resort since 19th C besides the riverside spa district being home to several colonnades with columned walkways wooing itinerant tourists by the droves.

More importantly, the genesis being primarily to screen the results of the then newly nationalised Czechoslovak Film Industry. However, after the initial first two years the festival found its permanent residency in Karlovy Vary.

The first edition of Karlovy Vary film festival was a non-competition event with international participation. Held from August 1 to 15, 1946, taking place even before the inaugural editions of both the Cannes and Locarno Film Festival while also predating the first postwar edition of world’s oldest film festival, Venice Film Festival (founded 1932, renewed 1946).

“The festival aims not just to express its respect for the performances of one of the greatest Slovak actresses of all time, but also to remember the unique artistic connection between the Czech and Slovak filmmakers who shaped our two countries’ shared cinematic history.,”

Stating that more programming for the dual anniversary year will be disclosed in the weeks to come, KVIFF Executive Director Kryštof Mucha “Karlovy Vary festival is an event at which long-term tradition and the format of a modern film festival come together in a unique way.”

“Few domestic cultural events can boast such a rich and varied history. This, thanks to the distinctive personalities who have shaped its identity at various points in its history. There is much that has formed its character over the course of its 80-year history. The extent to which the State’s cultural policy, international situation, and other factors have influenced festival’s organisational and artistic qualities,” he added, was “for the historians to assess.”

“Having survived internal tensions and external influences, withstood ideological control and moves to abolish it, KVIFF has succeeded in transforming itself into an internationally recognised showcase and a venue where filmmakers and audiences meet in a unique atmosphere of harmony. A festival that honours its legacy and manages to reflect the present while confidently shaping the future of cinema.”

According to KVIFF’s Artistic Director Karel Och: “thanks to one of the founders of KVIFF – Antonín Martin Brousil – films from Africa, Asia, and Latin America are admired at leading film festivals around the world. As early as 1962, Brousil created a platform for film pioneers from these very continents within the legendary section ‘Symposium of Young and New Cinemas‘.”

History has it that the festival’s first edition featured thirteen films, with premiere screenings in Mariánské Lázně and repeat showings the following day in Karlovy Vary.

The festival began the presenting awards in 1948.In 1950 the festival moved permanently to Karlovy Vary. The Grand Prize – Crystal Globe – although its form has often changed over the course of the years, has stood not only as a singular honour but also as symbol of KVIFF’s mission of melding the traditions of Czech artistry with the ever-evolving dynamic landscape of world cinema.From the 35th Karlovy Vary IFF 2000 onwards the Crystal Globe took on a new avatar – the figure of a woman standing raising a crystal ball.

Since 1951, the festival put in place the concept of an international jury which has since evaluated the films that stake their claims for the coveted prizes in the various competitions. The Karlovy Vary competition quickly found a place among other developing festivals and by 1956 with FIAPF ((International Federation of Film Producers Associations) stamping the prestigious quality seal for international film festivals, certifying high standards, professionalism, and support for filmmakers ensured Karlovy Vary became the Category A festival. Thereby, ensuring The Karlovy Vary competition quickly found a place among other developing film festivals of the world.

Incidentally, with the creation of Moscow Film Festival and the political decision to organise only one “A” festival for all socialist countries Karlovy Vary was forced to alternate annually with Moscow International Film Festival between 1959 and 1993.

As has always been the case with the clash of culture and politics of the time, the earliest editions of the festival had to contend with political realities that significantly intervened in its programming decisions with the social and political changes that took place after the Velvet Revolution of November 1989 pushing the Karlovy Vary IFF to the periphery.

The year 1994, saw the 29th edition of Karlovy Vary IFF heralding an entirely new tradition. After nearly four decades alternating with the Moscow IFF, the festival began to be organised every year. This resulting in the setting up of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival Foundation in 1993 co-created by the Ministry of Culture, The City of Karlovy Vary, and the Grand Hotel Pupp.

With actor Jiří Bartoška taking over as the Festival President, and actress Eva Zaoralová the ProgrammeDirector in 1995. Since 1998, the festival is organised and hosted under the aegis of Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary, a joint stock company with Korel Och taking over the festival mantel as its artistic director.

The prominent person responsible to provide the festival its character and chutzpah for several decades was the journalist, educator, and internationally respected expert Antonín Martin Brousil (1907–1986). Besides contributing to the festival’s founding, Antonin chaired its main juries for several years essentially serving as its unofficial programming director.

Over the course of its long existence, the Karlovy Vary festival has experienced a number of turbulent changes. After spending the 1950s in search of a meaningful identity, the festival truly spread its wings in the following decade, when it hosted numerous representatives of international cinema, only to suffer two decades of normalisation – a period full of restrictions that influenced both the selection of films and the awarding of prizes.

Only with the easing of outside pressures in the second half of the 1980s did more substantial foreign films and interesting guests gradually return to the festival. The first post-Velvet Revolution edition in 1990 featured participation by a number of exiled or banned filmmakers and the screening of titles that had previously been censored.

Instead of the festival’s expected flowering, however, there followed several years of uncertainty and deliberations as to the event’s purpose, and the festival was on the verge of being cancelled. Thanks to the initiative of the forward-thinking filmmaker, artist, and Ministry of Culture official Igor Ševčík, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Foundation was established in order to take the festival’s organisation out of the hands of the state, and the festival’s organising team headed by Jiří Bartoška as president and Eva Zaoralová as artistic director.

The festival also successfully fought off attempts to move it to Prague, and after two years of stiff competition from the Prague Golem festival, KVIFF reasserted its status as the country’s most important cinematic event. The festival’s ongoing evolution was paused just once due to the international Covid pandemic, and so 2026 marks the festival’s 60th anniversary edition.

The festival team that Jiří Bartoška and Eva Zaoralová built up over the years has continued to successfully meet these two important figures’ vision even after their passing. The festival’s identity has long been shaped by such people as moderator Marek Eben, designers of the festival’s opening and closing ceremonies Michal and Šimon Caban, graphic designer Aleš Najbrt and Studio Najbrt, photographer Tono Stano, PR coordinator Uljana Donátová, and dozens of others who make up the event’s tight-knit organizational structure.

Since last year, the entire team has been headed by Executive Director Kryštof Mucha, Artistic Director Karel Och, and Head of Production Petr Lintimer. With the entry of strategic partner Rockaway Art several years ago, the festival has gained a solid and stable foundation for its future growth.

The festival has also successfully fought off attempts to move it to Capital City Prague. After two years of stiff competition from Prague Golem festival, KVIFF, the organisers said, asserted its status as country’s most important cinematic event.”

Today Karlovy Vary International Film Festivals stands as true epitome and enduring symbol of“an unpretentious festival where celebrities walk among the crowd, and locals stand in line for tickets just like everyone else. Karlovy Vary acts not only as a showcase for global cinema but also as a venue to discover future classics before they arrive in theatres as cultural artifact and the Czech nation’s rich cinematic heritage.”