About the festival

The BOO International Film Festival was created through the transformation of the ELBE DOCK International Film Festival and the International Film Festival for Children and Youth, Young Film Fest.

The BOO International Film Festival focuses on short-form cinema, audience development, and audiovisual education. It will take place for the first time from 3 to 9 November 2025 in Prague. The festival highlights European short films, as well as innovative projects in Czech-German collaboration and cooperation with V4 countries.

The main venue:
Kino Kavalírka (Plzeňská 210, Prague)
a multifunctional hall with a maximum capacity of 70 theatre-style seats

More venues will be added.
All screenings will take place in front of a live audience.

Filmmakers of the films selected for the competition sections are invited to the festival. Q&A sessions with the audience follow the screenings.

Program sections

The main competition sections:

AWARD FOR THE BEST CZECH OR GERMAN SHORT FILM
Award for a Czech or German short film (live-action, documentary, experimental, animation). A Czech or German film is defined as a film by a Czech or German director or a film primarily produced by at least one of these countries. A short film is defined as a film with a runtime of 30 minutes or less.

AWARD FOR THE BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM
Award for a European short film (live-action, documentary, experimental, animation). A European film is defined as a film by a European director or a film primarily produced by at least one of the European countries. A short film is defined as a film with a runtime of 30 minutes or less.

The parallel competition sections:

AWARD FOR THE BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM FOR SENIORS
Award for a European short film (live-action, documentary, experimental, animation). A European film is defined as a film by a European director or a film primarily produced by at least one of the European countries. A short film is defined as a film with a runtime of 30 minutes or less.

AWARD FOR THE BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM FOR YOUTH (15-19 YEARS OLD)
Award for a European short film (live-action, documentary, experimental, animation). A European film is defined as a film by a European director or a film primarily produced by at least one of the European countries. A short film is defined as a film with a runtime of 30 minutes or less.

AWARD FOR THE BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM FOR YOUTH (12-14 YEARS OLD)
Award for a European short film (live-action, documentary, experimental, animation). A European film is defined as a film by a European director or a film primarily produced by at least one of the European countries. A short film is defined as a film with a runtime of 30 minutes or less.

AWARD FOR THE BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM FOR CHILDREN
Award for a European short film (live-action, documentary, experimental, animation). A European film is defined as a film by a European director or a film primarily produced by at least one of the European countries. A short film is defined as a film with a runtime of 30 minutes or less.

In addition to the competition sections, the festival programme will offer films out of competition, an accompanying cultural programme (live music and others) and an industry programme for film professionals.

Awards

The AWARD FOR THE BEST CZECH OR GERMAN SHORT FILM is awarded to the director of the film and is accompanied by a financial reward of EUR 1,000. The winning film in this section will also receive a prize in the form of distribution in the Czech Republic for a total of EUR 2,000. This is a non-financial award; this amount will be reinvested in the distributor's costs associated with the film's release. The amount includes the preparation of the screening copies, technical production, programming of the film for cinemas, PR and marketing activities in the Czech Republic. The terms and conditions of distribution will be defined in a separate contract to be signed after the prize has been awarded. The rights holder has the right to refuse the prize without compensation.

The AWARD FOR THE BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM is awarded to the director of the film and is accompanied by a financial reward of EUR 1,000. The winning film in this section will also receive a prize in the form of distribution in the Czech Republic for a total of EUR 2,000. This is a non-financial award; this amount will be reinvested in the distributor's costs associated with the film's release. The amount includes the preparation of the screening copies, technical production, programming of the film for cinemas, PR and marketing activities in the Czech Republic. The terms and conditions of distribution will be defined in a separate contract to be signed after the prize has been awarded. The rights holder has the right to refuse the prize without compensation.

The AWARD FOR THE BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM FOR SENIORS is awarded to the director of the film. The winning film in this section will receive a prize in the form of distribution in the Czech Republic for a total of EUR 2,000. This is a non-financial award.

The AWARD FOR THE BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM FOR YOUTH (15-19 YEARS OLD) is awarded to the director of the film. The winning film in this section will receive a prize in the form of distribution in the Czech Republic for a total of EUR 2,000. This is a non-financial award.

The AWARD FOR THE BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM FOR YOUTH (12-14 YEARS OLD) is awarded to the director of the film. The winning film in this section will receive a prize in the form of distribution in the Czech Republic for a total of EUR 2,000. This is a non-financial award.

The AWARD FOR THE BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM FOR CHILDREN is awarded to the director of the film. The winning film in this section will receive a prize in the form of distribution in the Czech Republic for a total of EUR 2,000. This is a non-financial award.

The jury can grant a special award/recognition which is not financial. The award can go to either film, or a film professional.

Further details can be found in the Festival Statute.