The Ji.hlava Documentary Film Festival has revealed the 2026 lineup for its New Visions Forum, bringing together 29 documentary projects from 15 countries as filmmakers look for international partners to help take their work forward.
The industry event will run from Oct. 28 to Oct. 30 during the festival’s 30th edition in the Czech Republic. The selected teams will have opportunities to meet potential co-production, financing, sales and distribution partners, making the Forum an important meeting point for projects still in development.
Fast Facts
- 29 projects have been selected for the 2026 New Visions Forum.
- The projects come from 15 countries across Europe, the U.S., East Asia and Southeast Asia.
- Eight projects are directed by first-time filmmakers.
- Six projects from Montenegro are included as part of Ji.hlava’s Country in Focus program.
- The Forum runs Oct. 28–30, 2026.
- The festival attracts around 1,200 industry professionals.
A New Generation of Documentary Filmmakers
One of the most notable features of this year’s selection is the number of filmmakers making their first feature-length or major documentary projects.
Eight projects come from first-time directors, while the lineup also includes filmmakers who have already established themselves through previous work.
Among them is Lindsey Sitz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning filmmaker presenting Searching for SmarterChild.
The selection also includes Simantini Chakraborty, known for her collaboration with filmmaker Godfrey Reggio. She brings Impossible to Ignore to the Forum.
Iranian filmmaker Ali Razi, whose previous work includes At Night, the Red Sky, is presenting Archiveless Memories, for an Imaginary Museum.
Polish director Agnieszka Zwiefka, whose credits include Silent Trees and Vika!, will present Words We Never Say.
The lineup also draws on Ji.hlava’s own development network, with two projects coming from alumni of its Emerging Producers program: Charlotte Heilstone from the U.K. and Matej Sotník from Slovakia.
What the 29 Projects Have in Common
Rather than being built around one dominant subject, the selection reflects several ideas that run through contemporary documentary filmmaking.
Memory, archives and suppressed histories appear repeatedly across the projects. Other films examine people confronting institutions and systems of power, while several connect intimate personal experiences with much larger historical events.
That combination gives the Forum a broad geographical and thematic range while keeping the focus on documentaries that can move beyond their immediate subjects.
Projects from Europe, the United States, East Asia and Southeast Asia are represented in the selection.
Montenegro Takes the Spotlight
This year’s international program also puts a particular focus on Montenegro.
Six upcoming projects from the country will be presented as part of Ji.hlava’s Country in Focus program, giving Montenegrin filmmakers an additional platform in front of international documentary professionals.
The initiative is designed to put emerging projects and filmmaking communities in direct contact with producers, financiers, sales companies and other potential partners.
For projects that are still searching for financing or international co-production arrangements, that access can be as important as a festival premiere.
New Visions Is Built Around Industry Connections
The New Visions Forum is not simply a lineup announcement or showcase of finished films.
The projects arrive at a stage where their teams can use the event to look for the resources needed to complete and distribute them. That includes potential co-producers, financiers, sales agents and distributors.
Ji.hlava is also pairing the Forum with an extensive Matchmaking Accelerator, which connects selected projects with international decision-makers and industry professionals.
The format gives filmmakers a chance to discuss their projects directly with people who may become involved in their financing, production or international circulation.
A 30th Edition With a Large Industry Presence
The New Visions announcement comes as Ji.hlava prepares for its 30th edition.
The documentary festival attracts approximately 1,200 industry professionals, giving the Forum access to a sizeable international audience from the documentary and film business.
For filmmakers working outside the biggest production markets, that international network can be particularly significant. A project that begins as a locally developed documentary can potentially gain producers, funding and distribution contacts from several territories through the Forum.
The 2026 selection reflects that international ambition, with projects spanning multiple regions rather than concentrating on a single national cinema.
Why the Forum Matters for These Projects
For many of the filmmakers involved, the New Visions Forum represents a stage between developing an idea and turning it into a completed film.
The presence of established directors alongside first-time filmmakers also shows the range of projects Ji.hlava is willing to bring into its industry program. New voices are being presented alongside creators who already have international experience.
The recurring focus on archives, memory, power and personal history further suggests a selection interested in documentaries that connect individual stories with wider social and historical questions.
The Forum’s value ultimately lies in what happens after the lineup is announced: whether meetings lead to financing, partnerships, sales or distribution deals that allow the projects to reach audiences.
What Happens Next
The New Visions Forum takes place Oct. 28–30, 2026, with the selected filmmakers and project teams expected to meet potential industry partners during the event.
Ji.hlava has also published the full list of selected projects, allowing industry professionals and audiences to explore the individual films beyond the headline lineup.
As the festival moves toward its 30th edition, the New Visions Forum gives emerging and established documentary filmmakers another route into the international production market — with 29 projects arriving from 15 countries and six additional projects representing this year’s Montenegro focus.
FAQs
How many projects are in the Ji.hlava New Visions Forum 2026?
The 2026 New Visions Forum features 29 documentary projects from 15 countries.
When is the Ji.hlava New Visions Forum?
The Forum will take place from Oct. 28 to Oct. 30, 2026.
How many first-time filmmakers are selected?
Eight of the selected projects are directed by first-time filmmakers.
Why is Montenegro featured at Ji.hlava in 2026?
Montenegro is this year’s Country in Focus for Ji.hlava’s industry program, with six upcoming projects included in the Forum selection.
What is the purpose of the New Visions Forum?
It connects documentary project teams with potential co-production, financing, sales and distribution partners.
