From July 3 to July 11, 2026, Karlovy Vary will once again become a capital of film. This year’s edition is special not only because it is the 60th festival, but also because it marks 80 years since the festival began. For Czech film fans, however, another question matters just as much - which domestic films will be part of the programme this year.
A strong Czech presence can be found in this year’s Special Screenings section. The line-up includes Bára - Diary of a Rockstar by Helena Třeštíková,
Město otců by Zdeněk Tyc, Mistryně by Bohdan Karásek, the documentary Kdyby se holubi proměnili ve zlato by Pepa Lubojacký, Dvě deci tuše by Ester Geislerová 
, Zpráva pro Minervu 2 by Miroslav Krobot and Lubomír Smékal, and Robert Richardson: The White Devil by Jana Hojdová. The section also includes the co-production title Vyvolený.
That is good news for anyone following new Czech cinema. This year, Karlovy Vary clearly will not be only about international guests and big names, but also about domestic premieres, documentaries, and films that may become some of the most talked-about Czech titles of the festival. The festival has already announced that this year’s Special Screenings will include thirteen new films, most of them from domestic production.
Alongside new films, this year’s programme will also highlight Czech film heritage. It includes a gala screening of the digitally restored Věra Chytilová film Kopytem sem, kopytem tam, which fits naturally into the anniversary spirit of the festival. In that way, Karlovy Vary once again connects contemporary cinema with important titles from the Czech film past. 
So if you are especially interested in Czech films this year, the 60th Karlovy Vary IFF looks very promising. Alongside the festival atmosphere and international guests, it will also offer a strong selection of domestic titles worth following. And that has long been one of Karlovy Vary’s strengths - alongside world cinema, it also gives space to what is being created at home.
