The top winners of the 2026 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) have been revealed. They are the honorees in KVIFF’s Market and Industry in Action Promises section.
The 60th session of the festival will be held from July 3 to 11.
“This region of Central Europe has the potential to become a real powerhouse for the audiovisual industry,” said Hugo Russak, Head of the Film Industry Bureau at KVIFF. “Through industry activities at the festival,…we hope to make industry professionals more aware of the films being made here, the talent behind them, and the wide range of potential collaborations that could start here.”
A total of 38 film and series projects or IPs were screened this year. Check out the winners below.
Euroimages Co-Production Development Award
The jury decided to award the cash prize of €20,000 ($22,830) for further development, sponsored by the Eurimages Fund, to Salamlik (Sweden, Denmark), directed by Jiri Carlsson, written by Khaled Al-Ismail, produced by Frida Mårtensson.
Jury statement: “The jury decided to award the Eurimages Prize for co-production development to a project about a love story made impossible by war – set between the past and the present, between countries lost and found. It is a story that resonates strongly in today’s geopolitical context, with so many sadly displaced individuals. We hope that this award will contribute to Salamlik At the heart of the European co-production scene, we are confident that her team will find dedicated collaborators to bring this powerful story to life.
Eurimages Special Award for Co-Production Development
An additional prize was donated by Eurimages to support a particularly promising Ukrainian project. The jury decided to award a special cash prize of 20,000 euros ($22,830) for further development. Memory (Ukraine), directed and written by Anastasia Tykha and produced by Daria Basil.
Jury statement: “This award goes to a project led by a female creative team – an emerging director and an established producer – that tells a story that explores universal themes of loss, grief and survival, with the desire to find a way to continue living in Ukraine today. We are confident that this award, given at such an important stage of development, can help encourage other European partners to join us.” Memory“.
Works in development – feature launches and Queer focus
MIDPOINT & KVIFF DEVELOPMENT AWARD
The jury decided to award the cash prize of €10,000 ($11,415) for further development, co-sponsored by MIDPOINT, Barrandov Studio and KVIFF, to They bloom at dawn (North Macedonia), directed and written by Angela Demiska and produced by Eugnine Antov.
Jury statement: “The jury decided unanimously in favor of a project about human and family relationships in the context of an environmental crisis. It brings the community together and reminds us that personal courage and collective responsibility are inextricably linked.”
Link to the Cottbus Award
Connecting Cottbus representatives Marjorie Benedek and Katarina Stumm decided to give the award to the film Memory (Ukraine), directed and written by Anastasia Tykha and produced by Daria Basil.
The project will be given the opportunity to screen at Connecting Cottbus, the East-West co-production market, during the Cottbus Film Festival.
statement: “A mother and daughter separated in their grief, an empty apartment that holds a presence and denies its loss, fragmented memories that strike like lightning – we were so fascinated by this quiet and personal exploration of the consequences of war.”
Rotterdam Laboratory Prize
Rotterdam Laboratory actress Alicia Akon chose Monica Matuszka, the film’s producer to be sure (Poland) Winner. The winner will participate in the Rotterdam Lab Producer Apprenticeship Programme, which takes place during the Rotterdam International Film Festival.
statement: “The Rotterdam lab will advance this producer’s career, helping her determine her next steps in the complex production landscape. She already has in-depth, realistic and empathetic knowledge of the field, and the program will connect her with colleagues who will mentor, inspire and support her.”
Marché du Film Producers Network Award
Representatives of the Cannes Film Producers Network, Iago Matteo and Alexandra Zakharchenko, selected Tomáš Hruby as the film’s producer. Cowgirl (Czech Republic) and Eva Vačová is a producer A few branches outside (Czech Republic), both from KVIFF Central Stage, are the winners.
The winners will participate in the Marché du Film and Producers network during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.
