Between Longing and Letting Go:
The K3 Film Festival 2025 in Villach

This year the festival revolves around the fleeting — that yearning to hold on and the liberating act of letting go. From December 3 to 7, Villach once again becomes a vibrant hub for cross-border filmmaking from Carinthia, Slovenia, and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

“K3 is a festival that transcends borders and connects cultures,” emphasizes Festival Director Fritz Hock. “The Alpine-Adriatic region isn’t a theoretical construct — it’s a living space where three cultures, three languages, and three cinematic voices meet directly. You can feel that energy in the films, in the discussions, and among the more than 100 filmmakers in attendance.”

Six films in the feature competition

This year’s competition presents six outstanding productions that have already gained attention at major festivals such as the Berlinale, Locarno, Rotterdam, and Venice. The films explore themes of family, youth, crisis, and transformation — the transient and the longing to hold on.

Fresh, bold, fantastic: Short film programs and FRESH UP!

“The short film program once again impresses with its remarkable quality and narrative diversity. “Rarely has the urge to tell stories been as strong as in this edition,” says Co-Director Piera Nodari. A total of 16 short films will be shown across three competition programs and one special screening. Particularly striking is the strength of emerging filmmakers: “Our short film program FRESH UP! shows that cinematic creativity is not a matter of budget, but of courage.”

K3 Film Festival – Focus and Name

With the focus on the regions of Carinthia (Southern Austria), Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Northern Italy), and Slovenia, it offers a unique insight into the film-making of these regions, strengthens the filmic exchange and encapsulates intensive cooperation. The key objectives of the festival are building bridges, crossing borders and finding, channelling and supporting new film talents.

The annual theme of each edition varies according to the focus developed by the filmmakers of the three regions, a single frame that unites the different cinematographic choices.

What does K3 mean?

Over the last few years K3 has developed its identity over the 3 neighbouring regions, thus K3 stands for the three (K)ultural regions of Carinthia, Slovenia and Friuli- Venezia Giulia

“K” stands also for Kino (at least in German and Slovenian), in Italian K is not officially used as a letter so we fill the gap of cinematic exchange also through letters.

“3” stands also for the multiples of the cinematic experience and diversity of films from the three regions.

Therefore, K3 is a unique place to find undiscovered, diverse and innovative cinematic productions coming out Carinthia, Slovenia and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

What can you expect from K3 Festival?

• A fresh and challenging film programming selection.
• The festival is a “come-together” celebration after a hard year of work!
• A vis-à-vis festival experience, teaming up individuals from all levels.
• An intercultural meeting point, an exchange of customs and point of views;
• a true Babylon of languages resolved by the lowest common denominator, English, which everyone and no one really speaks well. But everyone understands!
• Relaxed but professional; spontaneous and surprising; linking and connecting; criticised and acclaimed.

All of this is K3.