Prague Independent Film Festival (12)

Festival start: 22 September 2026      Festival end: 24 September 2027

A Celebration of Independent Cinema in the Heart of Prague

Founded in 2016, the Prague Independent Film Festival (PIFF) is an annual celebration of independent cinema, bringing together filmmakers, actors, artists, and film lovers from around the world.

The festival takes place at the legendary Lucerna Cinema, one of Prague’s most historic and atmospheric venues. More than a series of screenings, PIFF is an international meeting place where filmmakers and audiences can discover original films, exchange ideas, and connect across cultures.

Over the years, the festival has welcomed filmmakers and distinguished guests from around the world, including renowned actors Lazar Ristovski, Ed Stoppard, and Artur Smolyaninov.

PIFF celebrates films made with imagination, talent, artistic freedom, and a distinctive vision. We believe that great cinema is not defined by budget, production scale, or industry connections, but by originality and the filmmaker's ability to bring a unique perspective to the screen.

We welcome films from all countries, budgets, and genres, including drama, comedy, thriller, horror, animation, documentary, and experimental cinema. We are particularly interested in original ideas, inventive cinematography, memorable performances, and films that challenge conventions or explore new possibilities in cinematic storytelling.

Our aim is to give filmmakers the freedom to experiment, take creative risks, and present work that audiences might not encounter elsewhere.

PIFF has a special appreciation for auteur cinema and filmmakers with a distinctive artistic vision. We admire directors such as Orson Welles, Federico Fellini, Sergio Leone, Michelangelo Antonioni, Jean-Luc Godard, and Andrei Tarkovsky, whose work has expanded the possibilities of cinema.

Their films demonstrate that cinema can be much more than storytelling: it can be a deeply personal form of artistic expression.

We are equally interested in discovering contemporary filmmakers who are developing their own cinematic language. Supporting emerging talent and introducing new voices to international audiences is an essential part of our mission.
Lazar Ristovski receiving his Grand Prix for the film Train Driver's Diary in 2017.

PIFF is about people as much as it is about films. We aim to create a welcoming environment where filmmakers can meet, exchange experiences, engage with audiences, and establish lasting professional and personal connections.

PIFF has also recognized an impressive range of international filmmakers and performers, with festival awards going to artists including Anthony Head, Mickey Rourke, Lena Olin, Lazar Ristovski, Kostadin Bonev, Anna Eriksson, and John Musker, among many others.

With its rich artistic heritage and vibrant cultural atmosphere, Prague provides an inspiring setting for this international gathering.

All submitted films are viewed by a jury of film professionals. Our selection and awards recognize artistic achievement rather than production budgets, commercial success, or industry status.

We value originality, innovative cinematography, strong performances, compelling storytelling, and, above all, a distinctive artistic voice.

The festival culminates in an award ceremony celebrating outstanding achievements in independent filmmaking and recognizing films that have made a lasting impression on the jury.

The Prague Independent Film Festival was founded on a simple principle: independent cinema matters.

We believe filmmakers deserve the opportunity to present their work to international audiences, regardless of their resources or position in the film industry. Our mission is to support artistic freedom, encourage experimentation, discover emerging talent, and foster international collaboration.

We welcome filmmakers with original stories, unconventional ideas, and distinctive visual styles to submit their work and become part of PIFF.

Come to Prague. Discover independent cinema. Meet filmmakers from around the world.

We truly are independent.

Grand Prix
Grand Prix of the Festival – The Golden Eagle

Feature Film
Golden Star and certificate is awarded to the Best Feature Film

Short Film
Golden Star and certificate is awarded to the Best Short Film

Documentary
Golden Star and certificate is awarded to the Best Documentary.

Animated Film
Golden Star and certificate is awarded to the Best Animated Film

Music Video
Golden Star and certificate is awarded to the Best Music Video

There will also be the following awards for:
Best Actor – Golden Star and certificate.
Best Actress – Golden Star and certificate.
Best Director – Golden Star and certificate.
Best Screenplay – Golden Star and certificate.
Best Cinematography – Golden Star and certificate.
Best Original Music Score – Golden Star and certificate.

We encourage the submission of international film or video entries, but all entries must be in english or have english dubbing or subtitles. For films in english, we recommend to have Czech subtitles but it is not obligatory.

All entries must be available for screening during the festival. We welcome Feature Films, Short Films, Documentaries and Music Videos.

You may submit as many entries as you like. Each entry requires its own entry fee. Fees are not refundable.

We accept film submissions with Festhome.

If your film is chosen to show at the Prague Independent Film Festival, the MP4 file must be sent to us at least 1 week prior to the festival screening.

Films are screened MP4 files which must be sent electronically. In case we do not receive a file, we can use the provided screeners.

Prague Independent Film Festival is not responsible for any materials which participants send to Prague Independent Film Festival. The sender pays postage fees and any additional shipment costs, such as customs fee, taxes or others costs and Prague Independent Film Festival is not responsible for them.

Acceptable ratios: 1:1,37; 1:1,66; 1.1,85; CinemaScope; 16:9 (1:1.77)
Acceptable sound: Dolby A/SR/SR.D/DTS

All films should have been completed within 2025-2027.

All awards are based on the overall merit of the entry. Decisions by the judges are final.

Festival does not deal with any copyright issues. All copyright issues should be resolved by the film authors.

Filmmakers and screenwriters retain 100% all of the rights to their projects and materials that they submit to the Prague Independent Film Festival but the film festival organizers have the right to use excerpts from the submitted films for promotional purposes

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless us, our officers, affiliates, employees, and partners from any and all claims and liability arising out of entering or transmitting your film to the Prague Independent Film Festival.

Filmmakers are not paid for screening at the Festival and Prague Independent Film Festival does not provide submission fee waivers, accommodation or any other financial assistance.

At least one representative of the team should be present at the award ceremony.

If a feature film exceeds 120 minutes, filmmakers might be asked to pay an extra fee if their film is selected for screening.

We do not write reviews or provide written feedback on film submissions. Selection of films is a collective decision.

The festival reserves the right to ban filmmakers or their team members who behave aggressively, harass staff or other participants, or deliberately spread false information about the festival. Such actions may result in disqualification from current and future events, as well as the withdrawal of awards, at the discretion of the festival organizers.