The Marienbad Film Festival is an international film festival focusing on works of an experimental nature, marginal forms of cinema, contemporary moving image, and artistic & challenging films. It creates an opportunity for independent and experimental filmmakers and artists using the moving image to meet, but also aims to make more challenging films accessible to a wider audience.
It brings in guests and films of international significance and introduces audiences to important works from the present and history of world cinema that experiment within
form and narrative. It is an integral part of the cultural programme of Mariánské Lázně,
has long supported the local cultural background and links the activities of cultural associations and local cultural organisers.

Awards & Prizes

The festival realises that it is controversial to compete in experimental works; therefore the judges do not award one main prize, but three equally valuable Marienbad Film Festival Awards in Forum Marienbad: Main Competition and one Marienbad Film Festival Award for best Audiovisual Essay. The awards include a cash prize of 420 € for the filmmaker of each of the prize-winning films.

3x Marienbad Film Festival Awards (Forum Marienbad: Main Competition)
1x Marienbad Film Festival Awards (Forum Marienbad: Audiovisual Essays)

The winners of both sections will be announced during the 9th edition of the festival, which will take place on 13th-16th of June 2024. The award includes a financial prize of CZK 420 €.

Rules & Terms

Terms and Conditions (Forum Marienbad: Main Competition)

1. The call is open to all films and audiovisual performances from the Czech Republic and abroad that show signs of film experimentation.
2. The submitted work must be able to be screened in a cinema, or work with a cinematographic situation.
3. The competition is only open to projects produced from 1st of January 2023 and onwards(the date of the premiere, if it has already taken place, or the date of the essay's online publication is relevant).
4. The competition does not impose any restrictions on the length and medium format of the film.
5. Each filmmaker or creative collective may submit a maximum of two projects. The entry fee of 10 € is payable only once (for one or two projects). In case of non-payment of the administrative fee, the application will not be accepted.
6. All submitted projects are obliged to secure all copyrights for the entire work and for the included components (design, video materials, music, text, etc.), and by submitting a project they guarantee that the organisers of the Marienbad Film Festival are not liable for any third party claims.
7. By submitting your application, you grant the organisers the authorisation to record, reproduce, edit, and display your submitted materials and the work presented at the Marienbad Film Festival 2024 at no cost, for promotion & archive purposes, and for an indefinite period of time. All other rights reserved.
8. By submitting your application, you consent to the processing of your personal data and to the taking and use of photographs of your project presentation. The processing of the data provided is carried out in accordance with the GDPR rules listed on the festival website.
9. Submitting a project does not guarantee that the project will be included in the programme of the Marienbad Film Festival 2024.
10. Therefore, the international jury of three members does not award one main prize, but symbolically three prizes.
11. Each applicant is entitled to an accreditation for the entire programme of the 9th Marienbad Film Festival.
12. Acceptance of these terms and conditions is mandatory to participate in the festival.


Terms and Conditions (Forum Marienbad: Audiovisual Essays)

1. The call is open to all audiovisual essays from the Czech Republic and abroad that meet the definition of an audiovisual essay, video-essay, or videographic essay; which are considered to be an audiovisual work that develops a form of academic research or film criticism through film itself.
2. The submitted work must be able to be screened in a cinema.
3. The competition is only open to projects produced from 1st of January 2022 and onwards(the date of the premiere, if it has already taken place, or the date of the essay's online publication is relevant).
4. The competition does not impose any restrictions on the length and medium format of the film.
5. Each filmmaker or creative collective may submit a maximum of two projects. The entry fee of 10 € is payable only once (for both projects, if the applicant decides to submit two). In case of non-payment of the administrative fee, the application will not be accepted.
6. All submitted projects are obliged to secure all copyrights for the entire work and for the included components (design, video materials, music, text, etc.), and by submitting a project they guarantee that the organisers of the Marienbad Film Festival are not liable for any third party claims.
7. By submitting your application, you grant the organisers the authorisation to record, reproduce, edit, and display your submitted materials and the work presented at the Marienbad Film Festival 2024 at no cost, for promotion and archive purposes, for an indefinite period of time. All other rights reserved.
8. By submitting your application, you consent to the processing of your personal data and to the taking and use of photographs of your project presentation. The processing of the data provided is carried out in accordance with the GDPR rules listed on the festival website.
9. Submitting a project does not guarantee that the project will be included in the programme of the Marienbad Film Festival 2024.
10. The winner of the competition will be selected by an international jury, which will award one Marienbad Film Festival Prize for the best audiovisual essay. The award includes a financial prize of 420 €, which will be awarded to the author of the winning audiovisual essay.
11. Each applicant is entitled to an accreditation for the entire programme of the 9th Marienbad Film Festival.
12. Acceptance of these terms and conditions is mandatory to participate in the festival.