About the festival

Noir Film Festival is an annual showcase of film noir, a unique cinematic phenomenon, variously described as a separate genre, historical movement, or visual style. Our program celebrates both so-called classic film noir from Hollywood’s studio era of the 1940s and 1950s, as well as its later interpretations across global cinema. Through its narrow focus and systematic exploration of the noir corpus, the festival has established itself as a unique event, not just within the Czech Republic but across Europe.

From the beginning, festival director Vítek Grigartzik and his team envisioned screening these distinctive films in equally special locations, choosing medieval castles as their venues. The first edition of the Noir Film Festival (then known as Noir Film Kokořín) took place in 2013 in the courtyard and surroundings of Kokořín Castle. From 2014 to 2020, the festival found its home at Křivoklát Castle, where it gradually expanded to include multiple screening venues throughout the castle’s historic interiors. In 2021, with its 9th edition, the festival relocated to Český Šternberk Castle. Starting with the 13th edition, the festival will alternate between two castles: in odd-numbered years, it will take place at Křivoklát Castle, while in even-numbered years, it will return to Český Šternberk Castle, which hosted the previous four editions (9th through 12th).

The Noir Film Festival offers a diverse program that emphasizes uniqueness, striving to make lesser-known films accessible to a wider audience while highlighting the broader contexts of their creation. It is aimed at audiences keen on explore uncharted areas of film history, engage actively, and expand their knowledge. This mission is supported by pre-screening introductions and the festival catalogue, featuring insightful texts by festival dramaturgs Jana Bébarová and Milan Hain, which situate the films within a broader cultural framework.

Each year, the Noir Film Festival attracts a wide and varied audience — from professionals to the general public, spanning all generations. It is attended by university students, parents with teenagers, as well as elderly people, all brought together by a shared passion for a captivating cinematic phenomenon that delivers an intense aesthetic experience.