– The Czech documentary festival has launched applications for its Ji.hlava/JB Films co-production scheme, offering up to €40,000 per project
The 30th edition of the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival, set to take place from 23 October-1 November 2026, has opened two key opportunities for documentary professionals: applications for the Ji.hlava/JB Films co-production support scheme and early-bird sales for industry accreditations.
The Ji.hlava/JB Films initiative, now entering its third year, will distribute a total of €110,000 to documentary and hybrid film projects from Central and Eastern Europe. The scheme is aimed at projects in production or post-production, with three to four of them expected to receive support of up to €40,000 each in the form of co-production contributions. The call is open until 31 August.
The initiative, developed in partnership with Czech entrepreneur Jan Barta, operates according to a revolving model: a share of future profits generated by supported films will be reinvested into subsequent editions of the fund, creating a sustainable financing mechanism for regional documentary filmmaking. Previous recipients include Alisia Kovalenko‘s My Dear Théo and Peter Kerekes‘ Wishing on a Star.
At the same time, Ji.hlava has also opened early-bird industry accreditation sales for its anniversary edition, inviting producers, distributors, festival programmers, sales agents and other film professionals to secure reduced-rate access to one of Central Europe’s leading documentary industry events. The festival’s industry programme traditionally combines project development initiatives, networking opportunities and the Inspiration Forum, which this year will focus on the themes of maps, humour, corruption and how to change broken systems.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Ji.hlava will accompany its regular programme with a retrospective titled Films That Changed the World, showcasing documentaries whose impact extended beyond cinema by influencing legislation, public policy and social change.
