CINE PRAGUE | – Press Release

📅 August 11, 2026 📍 PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Award-winning filmmakers will select from acclaimed international authors in Prague. On December 1st, the inaugural edition of the CINE PRAGUE Film Festival will bring a curated selection of the finest works emerging at the intersection of filmmaking craft and artificial intelligence to several Prague cinemas. The maiden edition of the festival is dedicated to artificial intelligence in cinema.

PRAGUE – August 11, 2026 – This December, Prague will become the stage for a unique showcase highlighting the future of world cinema. The first edition of CINE PRAGUE will present a selection of short films by international filmmakers who boast major festival accolades. This is not beginner experimentation, but a competition among accomplished authors for whom AI serves not as a random image generator, but as a powerful tool in the hands of seasoned filmmakers.

An Idea Born on Set with Hollywood During the Historic Strike

The concept of founding the festival emerged right in the epicenter of the film industry – during the filming of the international hit series Interview with the Vampire.

"The news of the historic 2023 Hollywood actors and writers strike hit the set like a bolt out of the blue. I was right there on set. At first, no one from production could believe the order was real: STOP, do not come tomorrow. Then more news kept pouring in – those not in the guild could continue, but soon a stop order came for them too. Nobody knew what tomorrow, next year, or two years down the line would bring. The strike ultimately lasted 118 days. I wouldn't wish those nerves on anyone,"

"Only a few years after the initial AI boom did I realize that we must shift our perspective on AI and solidify a clear stance: artificial intelligence is neither a threat nor a shortcut to quick filmmaking meant to replace filmmakers. It is a new, advanced tool for classic cinema craft. AI cannot make a film on its own – true craftsmanship and a human story must be told by a human being,"

Winners to Be Chosen by Internationally Acclaimed Filmmakers

Decades of submissions from around the world have already poured into the inaugural edition, and the selection filter is unforgiving. The winners will be decided by filmmakers who have navigated the international stage themselves and understand the true value of authentic storytelling.

Acclaimed Italian director Andrea Lodovichetti, award recipient at the Cannes Film Festival and Italian Globo d'Oro winner—who also served as assistant director to Oscar-winning director Paolo Sorrentino on The Family Friend (L'amico di famiglia) and Il Divo—has assumed the role of Festival President.

The jury comprises fellow international professionals with extensive experience at prestigious festivals, who possess a deep understanding of both traditional filmmaking craft and emerging technologies. Serving as President of the Festival Jury is award-winning American-French filmmaker Julien Grincajgier, whose professional background includes work with Warner Bros. and French television productions. He has earned multiple awards for his short film Remembering the Fallen.

A Festival Made with Heart, Not Corporate Budgets

Following the announcement of CINE PRAGUE's first edition, other festival projects focusing on AI in film immediately surfaced in Prague. However, these are predominantly commercial initiatives, and CINE PRAGUE organizers do not view them as competition.

"Everyone has the right to create their own project, and commercial tech-focused festivals certainly have their place. But we come from an entirely different background. We are not a tech company that started organizing a film festival. We are filmmakers who started working with new technology. And that is a fundamental difference,"

"We do not have massive corporate budgets or major commercial partners behind us. We are building this festival on our own, fueled by passion for cinema and, above all, with heart. We aren't competing for who has the bigger budget. We want to show filmmakers that they don't need to fear AI, but can utilize it as a new creative partner. And above all, we want to offer our audience a high-quality cinematic experience,"

Key Information for Public and Press

Event Date: The main festival evening will take place on December 1, 2026, starting at 17:00 at Edison Filmhub.
Tickets: Tickets for the festival evening will be available starting October 2026 on the official festival website.
Program: The official screening program will be published following the close of submissions and final jury selection.
Press Accreditation: Journalist accreditations will remain open until November 20, 2026.