Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival (), also known as MFDF Ji.hlava or Ji.hlava IDFF, is a documentary film festival that takes place annually in the Czech city of Jihlava, typically in late October. The festival was established in 1997 by a group of high school students, led by Marek Hovorka, who has directed the festival since its inception. Since 2001, it has been organized by the Jihlava Association of Amateur Filmmakers, which rebranded as DOC.DREAM—the Association for the Support of Documentary Cinema—in 2015. Ji.hlava IDFF is a founding member of Doc Alliance, a coalition of seven European documentary film festivals.
During the 2022 event, over 86,000 visitors viewed films, with more than 36,000 attending screenings in cinemas and nearly 50,000 viewing films online. The festival featured 376 films in 2022, and over 1,000 film professionals participated in the Ji.hlava Industry Programme, which includes initiatives such as Emerging Producers.
The most recent edition of the event took place from 24 October to 2 November 2025.
Program
Competition sections The festival features six competition sections: Opus Bonum – Best World Documentary Film In addition to the main award, jurors of Opus Bonum also recognize achievements in best cinematography, editing, sound design, and outstanding formats, including categories for best film essay, best debut, and best film from Central and Eastern Europe (Between the Seas Award). Czech Joy – Best Czech Documentary Film Fascinations – Best World Experimental Documentary Film Fascinations: Exprmntl.cz – Best Czech Experimental Documentary Film Short Joy – Best Short Documentary Film Testimonies – This section focuses on documentaries addressing politics, nature, and knowledge, and includes films with historical and political themes or ecological and environmental topics.
The festival annually nominates one film for pre-selection to the European Film Academy award for Best Documentary Film of the Year. Winners of the Short Joy award may also be eligible for pre-selection to the Documentary Short Subject category at the Academy Awards.
+Opus Bonum Award for Best World Documentary FilmYearFilm titleDirectorCountry of origin2007731: Two Versions of HellJames T. HongChina, United States, Taiwan2008Iraqi Short FilmsMauro AndrizziArgentina2009BassidjiTamadon MehranIran, Switzerland, France201048Susana de Sousa DiasPortugal2011Lost LandPierre-Yves VanderweerdBelgium2012KuichisanMaiko EndoJapan, United States2013The UprisingPeter SnowdonBelgium, United Kingdom2014I Am the PeopleAnna RoussillonFrance2015Dead Slow AheadMauro HerceSpain, France2016Spectres Are Haunting EuropeMaria Kourkouta, Niki GiannariFrance, Greece2017The WallDmitry BogolubovRussia2018VacancyAlexandra Kandy LonguetBelgium2019FonjaLina Zacher and collectiveMadagascar, Germany2020White on WhiteViera ČákanyováSlovakia, Czech Republic2021LinesBarbora SliepkováSlovakia202207:15 – BlackbirdJudith AuffrayFrance2023ShipElvis LenićCroatia2024Ms.PresidentMarek ŠulíkSlovakia, Czech Republic
+Between the Seas Award for Best Central and Eastern European Documentary FilmYearFilm titleDirectorCountry of origin200366 SeasonsPeter KerekesSlovakia2003SentimentTomáš HejtmánekCzech Republic2004The RingAngus ReidSlovenia2005Snail FortressDeszo ZsigmondHungary2006All Day TogetherMarcin KoszałkaPoland2007ArtelSimon Semtov, Sergei LoznitsaRussia2008The Flower BridgeThomas CiuleiRomania, Germany2009BorderJaroslav VojtekSlovakia2010Autobiography of Nicolae CeausescuAndrei UjicăRomania2011BakhmaroSalomé JashiGeorgia, Germany2012MirageSrđan KečaUnited Kingdom, Serbia2013Winter / MiracleGustavo Beck, Zeljka SukovaCroatia, Denmark, Brazil2014We Come as FriendsHubert SauperFrance, Austria2015Under the SunVitaly ManskyCzech Republic, Russia, Germany, North Korea2016The Dazzling Light of SunsetSalomé JashiGeorgia, Germany2017Opera About PolandPiotr StasikPoland2018TimeboxNora AgapiRomania2019TEKSTYMichał MarczakPoland2020The Last of the RighteousKhaled JarrarPalestine2021Sons of the ForestAgustina San MartínArgentina, Chile, United States2022StepneJulius TaminiauThe Netherlands
+Short Joy competition for Best Short Film AwardsYearFilm titleDirectorCountry of origin2024Only if the Baby Cries... Shadab FarooqIndia
Special sections The festival also includes special sections dedicated to thematic selections and various styles of documentary filmmaking, such as: Spotlight – Features notable filmmakers or documentary movements. Retrospective – Showcases significant films from previous years or influential directors. Masterclasses – Educational sessions led by industry professionals. Theatrical Showings – Public screenings of selected films outside of the competition. New Visions Forum – A financing, co-production, and networking event with a focus on exploring critical societal, environmental, and historical issues.
See also
List of film festivals in the Czech Republic
References
External links
Ji.hlava IDFF on Doc Alliance