The Neisse Film Festival, which takes place each May, is organized by the Kunstbauerkino e.V., an active cinema association. The festival stretches across the border region joining the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland, and shows current feature films, documentaries and short films from these three neighboring countries as well as from across eastern Europe.

In the southeastern tip of Germany, at the point where three countries meet, the Neisse Film Festival came into existence as a cooperative effort of film clubs in German Grosshennersdorf, Saxony; the Czech city of Liberec; and Polish Jelenia Góra. Their goal was to give audiences in each country a glimpse into the film world of the neighbors.
What is special and unique about this festival? Of course its location in three countries at once, which gives it a special character and atmosphere. Also the fact that films and other related events take place in twenty locations across the border region. The rural area offers special opportunities for organizers, visitors and film-makers to meet and interact. The festival comes with an extensive thematic side program of art exhibitions, readings, concerts and parties organized in cooperation with partners in all three countries. One significant aspect of the NFF is the linking and networking between art-house cinemas in the region, in order to strengthen them and to give local audiences attractive cultural offerings.

The Neisse River, which springs from mountains in the Czech Republic and flows on to serve as the German-Polish border, inspired the name of the festival - it unites the three countries. The "Neisse Fish" (the prize sculptures for the Neisse Film Festival) symbolize the fish of the river, which swim across and between national borders, exemplifying the goal of the festival.

The film competitions are particularly attractive for those in the film industry and for the audiences. In addition to the best films in each category and the audience favorites, awards will be given for the best acting, the best screenplay, and the best picture. A special prize will also be given to a film - chosen among all the films shown at the festival - which is devoted especially to the understanding and relationship between the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland.

Beginning with the 11th Neisse Film Festival in 2014, an Honorary Prize is awarded annually for an extraordinary person in the film world from the Czech Republic, Germany or Poland.

Further topical film selections each year take a look at how the peoples of eastern Europe relate to and are related with each other, as well as at various approaches to the past and the present in and with motion pictures.

Awards & Prizes

FEATURE FILM COMPETITION:

Neisse Fish: Best Feature Fiction Film – chosen among nine competition feature films (three each from the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland)
Neisse Fish: Best acting performance of the films in the Feature Film Competition
Neisse Fish: Best screenplay of the films in the Feature Film Competition
Neisse Fish: Best production design of the films in the Feature Film Competition

DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION:

Neisse Fish: Best Documentary Film chosen among nine competition documentary films (three each from the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland)

SHORT FILM COMPETITION:

Neisse Fish: Best Short Film chosen from among the short film programs and the supporting films shown during the festival

SPECIAL AWARD

For a film, chosen among all films shown at the festival this year, which is dedicated in a special way to understanding cultural and ethnic differences between countries, or the similarities. The prize will be awarded to a film which paves the way to dialogue by approaching another culture with respect and tolerance, and/or uses film to cast a glance across the border to a neighbouring country.

YOUTH JURY AWARD

For a film, chosen among all films shown at the festival this year, which speaks particularly to young people.

AUDIENCE FAVORITE AWARDS:

Neisse Fish: Audience Award Feature Fiction Film from the entire festival program 
Neisse Fish: Audience Award Documentary Film from the entire festival program 
Neisse Fish: Audience Award Short Film from the entire festival program 

Rules & Terms

PRELIMINARY INFORMATION

The Neisse Film Festival takes place each May in Zittau, Görlitz and Grosshennersdorf as well as in other locations in eastern Saxony and across the borders in Poand and the Czech Republic. Festival organizer is the Kunstbauerkino e.V. in Großhennersdorf (Germany).

Film registration is possible from September 1 until December 31 as submission on our homepage or via filmfreeway.com. Presence of the film director or a person involved in the production of the film being entered is desired, in particular for the Neisse Film Festival awards ceremony.

Submission of film entry to the Festival indicates acceptance of the Festival Regulations. Court of jurisdiction is Dresden, Germany.

REGULATIONS FOR THE FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

1. The Neisse Film Festival issues a call for entries for a feature fiction film competition.

1.1 Eligible for entry into the competition are: full-length feature films from Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic or co-productions between these countries. German, Czech or Polish films are defined as productions which were financed by German, Czech or Polish film sponsorship sources, whose production company or univiersity is located in Germany, Poland or the Czech Republic.

1.2 Entries must have been published in the current festival year or the year before. In exceptional cases determined by the Neisse Film Festival, the decision may be made to waive these restrictions on feature films eligible for acceptance into the competition.

1.3 Previous participation of the competition film at other festivals whether in Germany or elsewhere does not preclude its eligibilty for competition in the Neisse Film Festival.

1.4 A film which has or has had its release in German theatres at the time of the Neisse Film Festival is not eligible for entry in the competition.

1.5 All films submitted for selection must be provided with the viewing link, including a password valid until 31 May 2026 and in the original language version with English subtitles in the film.

1.6 Films may be entered only once. If they are rejected, they may not be entered for the next festival year.

2. All films selected for the competition must then be made available as unlocked DCP, regardless of what technology was used in creating the film.

3. The festival team shall appoint a trinational jury of experts.

4. The jury decisions are decided upon by a simple majority.

5. The "Neisse Fish: Best Feature Fiction Film" comes with €10,000 and is awarded to the director of the awardwinning film as talent promotion.

6. The jury also awards the following:

Neisse Fish: Best Acting Performance with €1,000
Neisse Fish: Best Production Design with €3,000
Neisse Fish: Best Screenplay with €1,000"

7. The Festival organizers reserve the right to show the films in the context of the competition, in other film series as well as at other events within the context of the Neisse Film Festival.

REGULATIONS FOR THE DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION

1. The Neisse Film Festival issues a call for entries for a documentary film competition.

1.1 Eligible for entry into the competition are: full-length documentary films from Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic or co-productions between these countries. German, Czech or Polish films are defined as productions which were financed by German, Czech or Polish film sponsorship sources, whose production company or univiersity is located in Germany, Poland or the Czech Republic.

1.2 Entries must have been published in the current festival year or the year before. In exceptional cases determined by the Neisse Film Festival, the decision may be made to waive these restrictions on documentaries eligible for acceptance into the competition.

1.3 Previous participation of the competition film at other festivals whether in Germany or elsewhere does not preclude its eligibilty for competition in the Neisse Film Festival.

1.4 A film which has or has had its release in German theatres at the time of the Neisse Film Festival is not eligible for entry in the competition.

1.5 All films submitted for selection must be provided with the viewing link, including a password valid until 31 May 2026 and in the original language version with English subtitles in the film.

1.6 Films may be entered only once. If they are rejected, they may not be entered for the next festival year.

2. All films selected for the competition must then be made available as unlocked DCP, regardless of what technology was used in creating the film.

3. The festival team shall appoint a trinational jury of experts.

4. The jury decisions are decided upon by a simple majority.

5. The "Neisse Fish: Best Documentary Film" comes with €5,000 and is awarded to the director as talent promotion.

6. The Festival organizers reserve the right to show the films in the context of the competition, in other film series as well as at other events within the context of the Neisse Film Festival.

REGULATIONS FOR THE SHORT FILM COMPETITION

1. The Neisse Film Festival issues a call for entries for a short film competition.

1.1 Eligible for entry into the competition are: short films from Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic or co-productions between these countries. German, Czech or Polish films are defined as productions which were financed by German, Czech or Polish film sponsorship sources, whose production company or univiersity is located in Germany, Poland or the Czech Republic.

1.2 Entries must have been published in the current festival year or the year before. In exceptional cases determined by the Neisse Film Festival, the decision may be made to waive these restrictions on short films eligible for acceptance into the competition.

1.3 Previous participation of the competition film at other festivals whether in Germany or elsewhere does not preclude its eligibilty for competition in the Neisse Film Festival.

1.4 The allowed length of film is 20:00 minutes including credits. Due to limited programme capacities, films that are 20:01 minutes or longer must unfortunately be disqualified.

1.5 This competition is for fiction, experimental, documentary and animated short films. Music videos, TV-format, tutorials, series et al are not allowed. The use of artificial intelligence in creation is allowed, as long as this is stated in the entry process.

1.6 All films submitted for selection must be provided with the viewing link, including a password valid until 31 May 2026 and in the original language version with English subtitles in the film.

1.7 Films may be entered only once. If they are rejected, they may not be entered for the next festival year.

1.8 A maximum of two films by the same director may be entered in any given year.

2. All films selected for the competition must then be made available as unlocked DCP, regardless of what technology was used in creating the film.

3. Every film will be showed at least once in the festival programme. The festival pays a flat rate screening fee and will refund a travel allowance for those present for a film discussion.

4. The festival team shall appoint a trinational jury of experts.

5. The jury decisions are decided upon by a simple majority.

6. The "Neisse Fish: Best Short Film" award comes with €1,500 and is awarded to the film director as promotion of his/her talent.

7. The Festival organizers reserve the right to show the films in the context of the competition, in other film series as well as at other events within the context of the Neisse Film Festival.

REGULATIONS FOR THE SPECIAL AWARD

1. The Neisse Film Festival grants a Special Award in the amount of €1,000.

2. The prize goes to a feature film, documentary or short film selected out of the entire festival program which is dedicated in a special way to understanding cultural and ethnic differences between countries, or the similarities. The prize will be awarded to a film which paves the way to dialogue by approaching another culture with respect and tolerance, and/or uses film to cast a glance across the border to a neighbouring country.

3. The films nominated for this competition can only be productions from one of the participating countries.

4. The organizer nominates films from the festival program, as outlined in these regulations.

5. The festival team shall appoint a trinational jury of experts.

6. The jury decisions are decided upon by a simple majority.

REGULATIONS FOR THE YOUTH JURY AWARD

1. The Neisse Film Festival grants a Youth Jury Award in the amount of €1,000.

2. The prize goes to a feature film, documentary or short film selected out of the entire festival program which speaks particularly to young people.

3. The films nominated for this competition can only be productions from one of the participating countries.

4. The organizer nominates films from the festival program, as outlined in these regulations.

5. The festival team shall appoint a trinational jury of experts consisting of German, Polish and Czech yount people.

6. The jury decisions are decided upon by a simple majority.

REGULATIONS FOR AUDIENCE FAVORITE AWARDS

1. One Audience Favorite award will be granted to a feature film, a documentary and a short film, respectively.

2. The three Audience Favorite awards are selected via direct vote by the festival attendees throughout the entire festival program. Not included are the film series "Focus," "Panorama Weekend," and "Retrospective."

3. The Audience Favorite awards each come with €1,000, which goes as promotion of talent to the respective film director.

The regulations were written in German and have been translated into Polish, Czech and English. In case of any discrepancies, the German version has precedence.

German: https://www.neissefilmfestival.net/de/reglements
Czech: https://www.neissefilmfestival.net/cs/reglements
Polish: https://www.neissefilmfestival.net/pl/reglements