29th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival 2025 + 30th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival 2026

ongoing

Ji.hlava IDFF is a key European documentary film festival and the largest event of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2025, its 29th edition will take place and its 30th edition will be held in 2026. It is the co-founder and member of the Doc Alliance platform that brings together 7 key European documentary film festivals. Since 2021, we are developing a hybrid format, which takes place both on-site, extended from 2024 from 6 to 10 days, and online in the next 14 days. The festival’s programming strategy places great emphasis on the cinematographic value and social significance of the presented works by established film masters as well as by debutant filmmakers. It screens and promotes around 300 films yearly, introduces a quality premiere programme (129 World premieres, more than 30 International and European premieres in 2024), systematically focuses on documentary filmmaking in European countries with a special emphasis on East European production and highlighting the 1st and 2nd feature documentaries. Apart from an extensive industry programme attended by around 1400 film professionals, it is also accompanied by a rich programme dedicated to kids, teenagers, but also people with disadvantages and seniors: Ji.hlava for Kids, Ji.hlava Vibes, Ji.hlava Accessible. It is known for its unique strong spectator atmosphere, which traditionally attracts around 6000 accredited visitors, while its total number of film views in the last years exceeds 110000 spectators. Ji.hlava's year-round activities include international Echoes and screenings and educational programmes organised by Center of Documentary Film (launched by Ji.hlava festival in 2014, includes a library, video library, research center, and lectures aimed at increasing media literacy). The festival publishes a magazine on documentary cinema Dok.revue (online platform dokrevue.com) and develops Inspiration Forum connecting cinema with current topics, which includes IF Podcast Series Screenshot or IF Lab.