Authorization type

    Proxy Submission

Duration (several sessions)

    65

Film Festival Features

  • Red Carpet
  • Celebrity Guest
  • Filmscreen
  • Cash prize
  • Trophy
  • Copyright transactions
  • Certificate

Dates & Deadlines

  • 2025-10-01
    Submission start time

  • 2026-01-29
    Submission end time

  • 2026-04-30
    Finalist notification start time

  • 2026-04-30
    Finalist notification end time

  • 2026-05-31
    Award ceremony start time

  • 2026-06-07
    Award ceremony end time

Introduction to the film festival

Krakow Film Festival is one of the oldest events in the world dedicated to documentary, animated and short feature films. It core consists of three competitions of equal rank: documentary film competition, short film competition and national competition. During the eight festival days, the viewers have a chance to watch about 250 films from Poland and from around the world. They are shown in competition sections and in special screenings

Awards

Golden Horn for the director of the best film Silver Horn for the director of the film of outstanding artistic value Silver Horn for the director of the film focusing on social issues INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION Golden Dragon for the director of the best film Silver Dragon for the director of the best documentary film Silver Dragon for the director of the best animated film Silver Dragon for the director of the best fiction film INTERNATIONAL DocFilmMUsic COMPETITION Golden Heynal for the director of the best music documentary NATIONAL COMPETITION Golden Hobby Horse for the director of the best documentary film with a running time exceeding 30 minutes Golden Hobby Horse for the director of the best documentary film with a running time not exceeding 30 minutes Golden Hobby Horse for the director of the best animated film Golden Hobby Horse for the director of the best fiction film OTHER AWARDS Audience Award for the best film of the festival screened in selected sections Dragon of Dragons Special Award for extraordinary achievement in the documentary and animated film genre granted by the Programme Council of the Krakow Film Foundation Other awards approved by organisers and funded by associations, partners or institutions

Rules

Genre ：Action Comedy War Science fiction Ethics Terror Thriller Violence Adventure Crime Family Music Love VR/3D Magic Fantasy Shootout Suspense Youth Inspirational Literary Biography Western Drama others Documentary
Subject ：Unlimited
Video Format ：MPEG4 MOV

1. COMPETITIVE SECTION

  • The following films may take part in competitions:
    • foreign films made in 2025 and 2026 that were not screened publicly before 2 June 2024,
    • Polish films made in 2025 and 2026.

    • Polish producers submit films to the Polish competition only. Out of the films submitted, the selection committee chooses those that will take part in international competitions (they have to meet the requirements set for individual competitions).

    • Competitions:
      • International Documentary Film Competition: documentary films with the running time of 50 minutes and more,
      • International Short Film Competition: documentary, animated and fiction films with a running time not exceeding 30 minutes,
      • International DocFilmMusic Competition: music documentary films with the running time of 50 minutes and more,
      • National Competition: Polish films only
        • documentary films with an unlimited time,
        • animated and fiction films with a running time not exceeding 30 minutes.

    2. NON-COMPETITIVE SECTION

    Out of the films submitted for selection, the organisers may choose films to be screened in non-competitive cycles.

    3. PREMIERE REQUIREMENTS

    • To be eligible for international competitions, the film must be a Polish premiere and a world premiere is preferred. The film cannot be presented at any film festival or film review, theatrically released, broadcasted on TV, streamed on VOD platform or any other online media in Poland prior to the festival dates.
    • To be eligible for national competition, the film must be a Polish premiere. The film cannot be presented at any film festival, theatrically released, broadcasted on TV, streamed on VOD platform or any other online media in Poland prior to the festival dates.
    • A Polish premiere is preferred in non-competitive section.

    4. LANGUAGE VERSIONS

    Preview and screening copies must have English subtitles (not applicable to films where English is the original language).

    FINAL PROVISIONS

    • The films qualified for competitions shall be made available to the festival organisers free of charge.
    • The Festival Director determines whether the film submitted to the festival shall be included in festival screenings.
    • There is no option of appeal against the decision of the Festival Director.
    • The films submitted for selection in the previous editions of the festival shall not be considered.
    • The organisers may withdraw from the requirements provided in the Rules and Regulations for films of exceptional artistic value.
    • All matters not included in these Rules and Regulations shall be determined by the organisers represented by the Festival Director.
    • Submitting a film to the Krakow Film Festival is equivalent to accepting the provisions of these Rules and Regulations.
    • The Rules and Regulations of the Festival are in conformity with the International Rules and Regulations issued by FIAPF. 
    Jury Profile
    Jury Name Judge photos Jury Profile
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