The 60th Karlovy Vary International film festival is set to captivate audiences with a diverse and compelling lineup. This year’s event features over 130 feature films across various sections, including the Crystal Globe CompetitionHorizons and Special Screenings. The festival showcases a rich tapestry of cinema, from Cannes winners to Czech and Central European productions, promising an unforgettable cinematic experience.
The festival’s Horizons section remains a cornerstone, presenting recent world cinema with award-winning titles and works from established auteurs. Additionally, the Imagina section highlights experimental storytelling, while the expanded Afterhours strand continues the festival’s tradition of genre-focused midnight programming.
The Standout Films of the 2026 Karlovy Vary Festival
Among the most anticipated titles is Fjord directed by Cristian Mungiu. This Palme d’Or winner from the 2026 Cannes Film Festival follows a Romanian-Norwegian family navigating life in rural Norway. The film stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve exploring themes of cultural identity, parenting norms, and the delicate balance between personal beliefs and state authority.
Another highlight is Fatherland the latest film from Oscar-winning director Paweł Pawlikowski. Fresh from winning Best Director at Cannes this film follows writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika as they travel through post-war Germany in 1949. Starring Sandra Hüller and Hanns Zischler the film continues Pawlikowski’s exploration of European history through intimate and emotionally restrained storytelling.
Classic and Contemporary Gems
The festival also pays tribute to classic cinema with a screening of Mike Nichols’ landmark film The Graduate. This 1967 masterpiece, introduced by honored guest Dustin Hoffman remains a defining work of the New Hollywood era. The film follows a disillusioned college graduate navigating alienation, desire, and generational conflict in suburban America.
Pedro Almodóvar returns to the festival with Bitter Christmas a tragicomedy that premiered at Cannes. The film opens the festival with a special screening in Mariánské Lázně on July 1. It follows screenwriter Raúl and Elsa the protagonist of his latest script, as their lives become intertwined through grief, work, and creative dependence. The film raises ethical questions about artistic exploitation and the boundaries of creativity.
Documentaries and Genre Films
The festival’s documentary section features Rehearsals for a Revolution a Czech co-production directed by Pegah Ahangarani. This film won the L’Œil d’or documentary prize at Cannes and reconstructs modern Iranian history through five intimate personal portraits. It blends archival material, family memory, and political testimony, spanning from the Iranian Revolution to recent unrest, including the Women, Life, Freedom movement.
For genre enthusiasts, the Afterhours section presents Family Movie a horror-comedy directed by Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. Premiering at SXSW this film features the entire Bacon family on screen, including Sosie Bacon and Travis Bacon with Travis also contributing to the score. The story follows a family of low-budget horror filmmakers whose latest production takes a dark turn when reality intrudes on set.
Archival Discoveries and International Showcases
The festival’s Out of the Past section features a major archival discovery with Captain Thunderbolt a 1952 Australian Western by Cecil Holmes. Long considered lost, the film was recently rediscovered in the Czech National Film Archive in Prague. It tells the story of an outlaw figure often compared to Robin Hood reflecting the festival’s focus on politically and historically significant cinema from its own archival past.
The Crystal Globe Competition includes Only Beautiful Things to Look At directed by Ivan Ostrochovský. Set in 1980s Czechoslovakia the film follows a doctor involved in a complex narrative that explores the intricacies of human relationships and societal expectations.
