37th Ljubljana International Film Festival - LIFFe

2026 marks the 37th edition of Liffe – the Ljubljana International Film Festival. For a number of years, the festival has featured the finest specimens of world cinema and winners of the most prominent festivals (Cannes, Rotterdam, Berlin, Venice, etc.) while bringing into spotlight the greatest achievements of national cinema. 

The festival’s aim is to encourage and promote young and emerging artists, predominantly European filmmakers, and bring them into dialogue with Slovenian audiences. Several awards are presented every year (Kingfisher Award for best young filmmaker; Best Short Film; Audience Award; FIPRESCI Prize, etc.). In recent years, introducing digital innovation and educational programmes for young audiences have been important components of the festival whose mission includes educating different age groups.

Liffe takes place at six venues in Ljubljana (Cankarjev dom’s Linhart and Kosovel Halls, Kinodvor Cinema, the Slovenian Cinematheque, Kino Bežigrad, Kino Šiška and AGRFT Hall). With venues across Slovenia (Maribox Maribor, Anton Podbevšek Teater Novo mesto and Kino Union Celje), the festival addresses and remains accessible to audiences outside the Slovenian capital. 

In 1992, the International Association of Film Producers – FIAPF granted a licence to Film Art Fest, which was renamed the International Film Festival in 1996, and in 1998 acquired its current name, Liffe (Ljubljana International Film Festival). This license confirms that the festival has fulfilled all the conditions for its inclusion on the official list of global film festivals. 

Since its beginning, the festival’s producer has been Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre Ljubljana, whose programme is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia. 
 

Festival sections
Perspectives, the official competitive section of young filmmakers competing for the Kingfisher Award sponsored by Telekom Slovenije, d.d. 
Avant-premieres, a selection of the world’s finest films purchased for Slovenian distribution
Kings and Queens, films by notable and award-winning contemporary cinema virtuosos 
World Cinema Panorama, five-continent festival favourites 
Extravaganza, so-called late-night cinema of daring artists addressing idiosyncratic or sensual topics 
Kinobalon, a selection of films for audiences aged between 5 and 14; in cooperation with the Kinodvor Cinema 
Tribute; in cooperation with the Slovenian Cinematheque 
Retrospective; in cooperation with the Slovenian Cinematheque
The Network of Festivals in the Adriatic Region, a joint project of eight regional festivals
Europe in Short, competitive programme of short films 

Accompanying programme
Talks with festival guests and filmmakers 
Round tables and workshops 

Awards
Kingfisher, international jury award presented by the general sponsor, Telekom Slovenije, d.d., to the best film of the Competition section – Perspectives.
FIPRESCI Prize, presented by the jury of the International Federation of Film Critics.
Best Short Film Award 
Kinotrip Young Jury Award, five nominated films from different program sections.
Slovenian Art Cinema Association Award, Slovenian association of cinemas and exhibitors of quality and art film.  
Dragon Audience Award to best-rated film that has not yet been purchased for Slovenian distribution. 

Festival venues
Cankarjev dom (Linhart and Kosovel Halls), Kinodvor, Kino Bežigrad, Slovenian Cinematheque, AGRFT Hall, Kino Šiška, Maribox Maribor, Kino Union Celje and Anton Podbevšek Teater Novo mesto 
Main festival venue: Cankarjev dom’s Foyer II 

Sponsors
Main sponsor: Telekom Slovenije, d.d. 
Festival partner: RTV SLO  
With the financial support of the European Union
Founder and main funder of CD’s Arts and Culture Programme: Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia

Festival partners
Kinodvor Cinema
Slovenska kinoteka – Slovenian Cinematheque
Kino Bežigrad – Bežigrad Cinema
Univerza v Ljubljani Akademija za gledališče, radio, film in televizijo – AGRFT – Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film And TV – AGRFT, University of Ljubljana
Kino Šiška – Šiška Cinema
Anton Podbevšek Teater – Anton Podbevšek Theatre 
Maribox Maribor
Kino Union Celje – Union Cinema Celje