The first winners of the 2026 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) have been unveiled. They are the honorees of the works-in-progress market and industry section KVIFF Promises.
The fest’s 60th edition runs July 3-11.
“This region of Central Europe has the potential to be a true powerhouse of the audiovisual industry,” said Hugo Rosák, the head of the KVIFF Film Industry Office. “With the festival’s industry activities, … we hope to make the industry professionals more aware of the films being produced here, the talent behind them and the wide array of possible collaborations that can be started here.”
A total of 38 film and series projects or IPs were showcased this year. Check out the winners below.
Eurimages Co-production Development Award
The jury has decided to award the 20,000 EUR ($22,830) cash prize for further development, sponsored by the Eurimages fund, to Selamlik (Sweden, Denmark), directed by Jerry Carlsson, written by Khaled Alesmael and produced by Frida Mårtensson.
Jury statement: “The jury decided to grant the Eurimages Co-production Development Award to a project about a love story that the war made impossible — set between past and present, between countries lost and found. It’s a story that resonates strongly in today’s geopolitical context, with, unfortunately, too many displaced individuals. We hope this award will contribute to placing Selamlik at the heart of the European co-production scene, where we trust its team will find dedicated collaborators to bring this powerful story to life.”
Eurimages Special Co-production Development Award
An additional prize was donated by Eurimages to support a particularly promising Ukrainian project. The jury has decided to award a special 20,000 EUR ($22,830) cash prize for further development to Reminiscence (Ukraine), directed and written by Anastasia Tykha and produced by Darya Bassel.
Jury statement: “This award goes to a project led by a female creative team — an emerging director and an established producer — telling a story that explores the universal themes of loss, grief and survival, with the desire to find a way to keep living in today’s Ukraine. We are confident that this award, given at such an important stage of development, can help encourage other European partners to come on board with Reminiscence.”
Works in Development – Feature Launch & Focus Queer
MIDPOINT & KVIFF Development Award
The jury has decided to award the 10,000 EUR ($11,415) cash prize for further development, jointly sponsored by MIDPOINT, Barrandov Studio and KVIFF, to They Bloom at Dawn (North Macedonia), directed and written by Angela Dimeska and produced by Ognen Antov.
Jury statement: “The jury unanimously decided in favour of a project about human and family relationships in the context of an environmental crisis. It brings a community together and reminds us that personal courage and collective responsibility are closely linked.”
Connecting Cottbus Award
Connecting Cottbus representatives Marjorie Bendeck and Katharina Stumm have decided to give the award to the film Reminiscence (Ukraine), directed and written by Anastasia Tykha and produced by Darya Bassel.
The project will be granted the opportunity to pitch at Connecting Cottbus, the East-West co-production market, during the Film Festival Cottbus.
Statement: “A mother and daughter disconnected in their grief, an empty apartment that holds a presence and denies its loss, fragmented memories that hit like lightning — we were very taken with this quiet and personal exploration of the consequences of war.”
Rotterdam Lab Award
Rotterdam Lab representative Alessia Acone has chosen Monika Matuszewska, producer of the film Confirmation (Poland) as the winner. The winner will participate in the Rotterdam Lab professional training programme for producers, which takes place during the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Statement: “Rotterdam Lab will boost this producer’s career, helping her identify her next steps in the complex producing landscape. She already has in-depth, realistic and empathetic knowledge of the field, and the programme will connect her with fellows who’ll guide, inspire and support her.”
Marché du Film Producers Network Award
Cannes Marché du Film Producers Network representatives Yago Mateo and Alexandra Zakharchenko have chosen Tomáš Hrubý, producer of Cowgirl (Czech Republic), and Eva Váchová, producer of A Few Branches Off (Czech Republic), both from the KVIFF Central Stage showcase, as the winners.
The winners will participate in the Marché du Film and Producers Network during the next Cannes Film Festival.
