Lights, camera, November: Prague sees film festivals every weekend this month

As the lights dim and the chill of November sets in, Prague’s cinemas are lighting up with the glow of stories from around the world. From queer cinema and children’s screenings to Polish, Japanese, and cross-genre programs, the city’s film calendar has become a celebration of art, courage, and imagination.

Back for its 26th edition from Nov. 6–13, the Mezipatra Queer Film Festival fills Prague with rainbow energy. Screenings across Lucerna, Světozor, and Edison Filmhub will showcase queer stories from around the world, with Q&As and parties running late into the night. 

Highlights include The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo, and No Dogs Allowed, joined by directors like Marcin Kluczykowski and Patricio Plaza for post-screening talks.

Just a few days later, the Ukrainian Film Week (Nov. 11–17) takes over Kino Atlas with gripping stories of resilience and humanity. The festival opens with 2000 Meters to Andriyivka, Mstislav Chernov’s raw frontline documentary, followed by dramas such as Gray Bees and Stepne, exploring life, memory, and courage amid war.

The 12th Polish Film Festival Prague (Nov. 10–16), formerly known as 3Kino, bridges cinema, art, and live music in a week of cultural encounters. Opening with a documentary about painter Tamara de Lempicka (and the unveiling of one of her lost works), the festival spotlights acclaimed Polish directors like Agnieszka Holland and Paweł Pawlikowski. 

Right in the middle of the action, Tanuki Nights (Nov. 14–16) transforms Edison Filmhub into a corner of cinematic Japan.

Co-hosted by Czechoneko, this playful mini-festival invites audiences to “come alive as an air doll” or “fly as a raccoon,” offering a colorful lineup of Japanese drama, anime, and horror—from Air Doll and Pom Poko to the haunting Exit 8 with a live Q&A. Expect matcha, sweets, and themed merch to complete the experience.

The 12th Aussie & Kiwi Film Festival brings a bold cinematic cocktail to Lucerna, Edison, and Ponrepo (Nov 14–21). Experience the full spectrum of contemporary Australian and New Zealand cinema, from the dark survival horror Dangerous Animals and the highest-grossing drama Tinā, to the queer adult animated feature Lesbian Space Princess and a unique series of Czechoslovak archival documentaries, Koala is a Sparta Fan: To Australia in Search of Sport.

The creative brainchild of Portuguese students in Prague, this year’s Kino Brasil Film Festival will be held on Nov. 20-30, along with an accompanying program of Brazilian music and dance lessons, lectures, debates, parties or food tasting.

Organized by the French Institute in Prague, the French Film Festival is back for its 28th edition from Nov. 20-26. In addition to presenting more than a dozen movies that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, special tribute will be paid this year to late movie icon Alain Delon and to Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne – who passed away last March – with screenings of four of their most breakthrough films planned throughout the week.

Meanwhile, children can enjoy the 12th Malé oči festival (Nov. 8–9), held at Kino Aero and Bio Oko under the theme Family is a Story. The program brings age-tailored screenings and creative workshops for kids aged 3–10, turning cinema into a family adventure.