Ladek Mountain Festival (Polish name: Festiwal Górski im. Andrzeja Zawady w Lądku-Zdroju) is the largest and the oldest event of its kind in Poland and one the most important in the world.

Among our speakers we had the biggest names of the climbing and mountaineering community. We also hosted the Piolets d'Or Award Ceremonies for 3 years, 2018-2020.
Each year a couple thousand enthusiasts of the mountain sports and outdoor adventures come in September to a little town of Ladek in the southwest of Poland (very close to Czech Republic and Germany) to enjoy the mountain sports and mountain culture together.

The Film Competition is one of the main axes of the festival, along with the Book Contest, speakers' presentations, outdoor workshops and concerts. As always, the 2026 edition will be full of films from around the world, meetings with filmmakers, networking opportunities, inspiration and good vibes.

We warmly invite you to share your mountain film with the Polish audience. Also, come and join us in person!

One of our goals is to support the filmmakers and to create space for connection and networking. Therefore, last year we ran our first FILMMAKERS DAY and it was a blast. You can check its program at https://www.festiwalgorski.pl/en/filmmakers-day/. It will absolutely be continued, and you’re very welcome to attend.

The dates of the 31st Ladek Mountain Festival are September 3 to 6, 2026.

Awards & Prizes

In 2026, the films will be awarded with the following* categories:

Grand Prize – 3000 EUR at least
Best Film About Climbing – 800 EUR at least
Best Film About Mountaineering – 800 EUR at least
Best Film About People and Mountains – 800 EUR at least
Best Film About Biking – 800 EUR at least (NEW!)
Best Film About Mountain Sports – 800 EUR at least
Best Film About Adventure and Exploration – 800 EUR at least
Best Polish Film – 3000 PLN at least
Best Short Film – 600 EUR at least
Honorable Mentions
Ladek Audience Award – 1000 EUR at least
Cinema Audience Award – 1000 EUR at least

* Before the Jurors start the judging process, the Director of the Film Program can decide to change the names of the categories so they correspond better to the submitted films.
(On May 14, Snow Sports category was changed to Mountaineering)

Line-ups and winners in 2025 and 2024:

2025 WINNING FILMS
Grand Prize – 3000 EUR – Champions of the Golden Valley
Best Film About Climbing – 800 EUR – The Walk of Life
Best Film About People & Mountains – 800 EUR – Snow Leopard Sisters
Best Film About Mountain Sports – 800 EUR – Reel Rock 19: Riders on the Storm
Best Film About Snow Sports – 800 EUR – Run Again
Best Film About Adventure & Exploration – 800 EUR – Big Water Theory
Best Polish Film – 3000 PLN – Unpaved (Bezdroża)
Best Short Film – 600 EUR – The Smoke that Thunders
Honorable Mentions:
Lamo Auru. Old Forest, New Lines
Creators (Twórcy)

Audience Award – 3000 PLN – Reel Rock 19: Riders on the Storm
2nd Audience Award – Snow Leopard Sisters
3rd Audience Award – Champions of the Golden Valley

2025 WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT
https://www.festiwalgorski.pl/festiwal-filmow-gorskich/film-competition-2025/

2025 FILM LINE-UP
https://www.festiwalgorski.pl/filmy-konkursowe-2025/

2024 WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT
https://www.festiwalgorski.pl/results-of-the-2024-ladek-mountain-festival-film-competition/

2024 FILM LINE-UP
https://www.festiwalgorski.pl/filmy-konkursowe-2024/

Rules & Terms

Complete rules are published on our website:
In English at https://www.festiwalgorski.pl/rules-and-regulations-of-the-film-competition-2026/
In Polish at https://www.festiwalgorski.pl/festiwal-filmow-gorskich/regulamin-konkursu-filmowego-2026/

We accept only non-fiction films (documentaries) and animated films, from professionals and amateurs, from Poland and abroad.

We accept only films released in 2024 or later.

We accept only films about mountain sports (climbing, mountaineering, trail running, biking, wild water, skiing and snowboarding, caving, etc.), mountain culture and films that have mountains as a theme or location.

In the selection process, priority will be given to the premieres (world, European and Polish) and to the films that weren’t and won’t be available online for free before September 6, 2026.

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES
January 10, 2026 – opening of the submissions
May 10, 2026 – closing of the submissions
June 10, 2026 – notifications about the films being selected/not being selected sent to the submitters
June 30, 2026 – the film representatives declare whether they will come to the festival
August 31 to September 2 – festival screenings in the selected cinemas in Poland
September 3 to 6, 2026 – screenings at the Ladek Mountain Festival in Lądek-Zdrój and the announcement of the Film Competition winners at the Awards Ceremony
September 10, 2026 – announcement of the Film Competition winners on the festival’s website and FB page
September 3 to 30, 2026 – online festival screenings

COMING TO THE FESTIVAL
A representative of each film in the Official Selection will be invited to attend the festival. It is usually one person per film, who can be the film director, the film producer, the cameraperson or the protagonist. They will have the opportunity to introduce their film on stage.
We do not cover the flight/travel expenses. Still, we'll be happy to provide the film representative with the accommodation and All-Access Pass that allows entry to all the festival events.

FILMMAKERS DAY
The enthusiastic feedback we received after the first edition, which we organized in 2025, encouraged us to continue with this event. We will announce the program later on, for now you can check last year's line-up at https://www.festiwalgorski.pl/en/filmmakers-day/. The access is free for the creators of all the films in the Official Selection.

SCREENING FEES
As the Official Selection films compete for the awards and the financial prizes, we do not pay screening fees either for the festival in-person screenings in Lądek-Zdrój, festival in-person screenings in the cinema theatres, or for the Online Festival screenings.

LADEK FILM DISTRIBUTION
Since 2018, we've run post-festival screenings in Poland, showcasing the best new films to the mountain community around the country, with huge success.
We can offer to the Participant the post-festival distribution of the submitted film. The agreements concerning the Ladek Film Distribution will be discussed separately, and the agreed license fees will be paid to the Participant.
6 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Katie Stjernholm

    We screened at over 70 film festivals with our film Champions of the Golden Valley, and Ladek was truly one of the best! The organizers are so incredibly kind, thoughtful, and run a really dialed and impactful festival. They are cultivating a really lovely vibe for audiences, and treat their filmmakers really well -- including a new filmmaker's day with panels that were really compelling and interesting. Set in a stunning village, and with lots of entertainment and music to fill in the programming around the films, Ladek is well worth traveling across the world for! We had a fantastic time -- huge thanks to the whole team there!

    February 2026
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  • Sacha Aranicki

    Great Festival, great people, great fun.
    Definitely a place to enjoy the 2025 version !

    September 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Sacha and François for sharing your film with the community of the Ladek Mountain Festival!

  • Matt Raimondo

    I wish I could have attended but was thrilled to be selected, the festival looked epic from afar and communication was great.

    September 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Matt! It was a big pleasure to show your film to the Ladek Mountain Festival's audience.

  • Marcin Jamkowski

    If you are into mountain film the Ladek Film Festival is a must! Crowds of people loving mountain culture, great hosts, perfectly streamlined organization and best parties on the planet :-) Proud to get in Ladek our 2. Audience Award for the film "Stronger than Ever". Will definitely come again to Ladek with the next film or without one.

    September 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    It was a huge honor to host the Polish premiere of your film, Marcin and we're glad to hear you enjoyed the festival time with us. See you at the next one!

  • Georgy Kerezov

    One of the most amazing adventure festivals I have ever visited! Overwhelming program with tons of activities, amazing atmosphere, world class guests and presentations, outstanding hospitality and perfect communication with the whole festival team!

    September 2023
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