2026 Prague Film Festival

At this year’s edition of the Prague Film Festival, a total of 17 film projects were awarded across categories ranging from feature films to short experiments, screenplays, and music videos. The results point to a noticeable shift toward more personal, intimate storytelling, alongside a growing confidence in genre-driven approaches.

Among the winning works, recurring themes include identity, coming of age, and internal conflict. Films such as Dog and Wolf and The Kitchen explore the experiences of young people and their place in society, while titles like Death Lives and My Plastic Mother delve into psychological depth and personal trauma. A strong sense of loneliness, fractured relationships, and the uncertainty of the contemporary world also resonates throughout the selection. At the same time, darker, genre-oriented works—thrillers, sci-fi, and experimental films—have gained prominence, as seen in Visitor and Conversations and Dreams.

The top award for Best Feature Film went to Under the Grey Sky, directed by Mary Tamkovich. In the short film section, Death Lives by Lukáš Vacula stood out, also receiving the award for Best Short Film Director. In the Czech category, Dog and Wolf by Terézia Halamová attracted significant attention, having already generated notable media interest.

The festival also highlighted strong formal diversity. Awards were given to fiction films, animations, documentaries, and experimental projects, confirming that contemporary cinema continues to blur the boundaries between traditional formats. Particular attention was drawn to projects focused on younger generations within the Generation XYZ section, which brings together актуálne themes with bold genre exploration.

Support for screenwriting remained an important part of the festival. Three scripts were awarded—short (Les larmes écarlates), feature (The Unweeded Garden), and TV pilot (12:37 — The King David Hotel)—reflecting the festival’s commitment to developing projects at an early stage.

The Audience Award went to Eyes of the Forest, directed by Anna Veisman, demonstrating that atmospheric and artistically ambitious works can also connect strongly with audiences.

Overall, this year’s Prague Film Festival confirms a growing emphasis on authorial voice, generational change, and a willingness to experiment. It also highlights how contemporary cinema is increasingly shaped by both personal and societal tensions of the present moment.

The full list of winners can be found below: Best Feature Film

UNDER THE GREY SKY (Poland, dir. Mara Tamkovich)

Best Short Film

Death lives (Czech Republic, dir. Lukáš Vacula)

Best Czech Short Film

Dog and Wolf (Czech Republic, dir. Terézia Halamová)

Best Short Fiction/Narrative

Miracle of Christmas (Finland, dir. Jarno Harju)

Best Short Animation

Ebb and Flow (Czech Republic, dir. Živa Divjak)

Best Short Documentary

Nara and Her Camera (Canada, dir. Jérémi Roy)

Best Short Experimental

Conversations and Dreams (Armenia, dir. Melanya Hamasyan)

Best Student Film

The Kitchen (Czech Republic, dir. Valér Futej)

Best Generation XYZ (Thriller, Sci-fi, Horror, Fantasy)

Visitor (Czech Republic, dir. Vojtěch Konečný)

Best Music Video

Berlin Manson – AFD (Czech Republic, dir. Petr Racek)

Best Director Short Film

Death lives (Czech Republic, dir. Lukáš Vacula)

Best First-Time Director Short Film

My Plastic Mother (Indonesia, dir. Amar Haikal)

Best Cinematography

CLEARING (Poland, dir. Magdalena Ewa Pieta, DOP: Mateusz Czuchnowski, Szymon Kluz)

Best Super Short Film (under 5 min)

Mushrooms (Czech Republic, dir. Theodora Pfeffermannová)

Best Short Screenplay

Sarlet tears (France, Eddy Dépollier)

Best Feature Screenplay

The Unweeded Garden (United Kingdom, Michael Britten)

Best TV Pilot Screenplay

12:37 — THE KING DAVID HOTEL (United States, Michael John Fedun)

AUDIENCE AWARD

EYES OF THE FOREST (Estonia, dir. Anna Veisman)

Congratulations to all the winners, as well as to all filmmakers and audiences of the Prague Film Festival 2027. We look forward to welcoming you to the 3rd edition of the Prague Film Festival, taking place from April 28 to May 2, 2027.