The 20th K3 Film Festival: Five Days of Cinema from the Alps-Adriatic Region

From 2 to 6 December 2026, the K3 Film Festival celebrates its 20th edition in Villach. Over five days, it brings together films from Carinthia, Slovenia and Friuli Venezia Giulia: from the eagerly awaited Carinthian premiere of MILA/MARIJA to world and Austrian premieres, the short film competition, expanded cinema, the anniversary gala and awards ceremony.

At its heart are the diversity of filmmaking in the Alps-Adriatic region and encounters between audiences and filmmakers – across linguistic and geographical borders.

Foreword to the 20th Edition

Dear festival guests, film lovers and curious minds,

What is a film festival? Before K3 came along, that was not such an easy question to answer around here. Something with a red carpet, perhaps? Flashbulbs, evening gowns – and a hint of a world far away?

This year, K3 Film Festival celebrates its 20th edition and can be proud of the important role it has played in building film culture in Carinthia. In its early years, K3 was a short film festival. But short films made a big impact: they quickly attracted attention and support, and drew a growing audience. In 2011, the festival crossed the border for the first time and went to Udine. Soon afterwards, it also went to Ljubljana.

In 2018, K3 found the form it still has today: a festival based in Villach and dedicated to the Three Cultures region that gives K3 its name. Here, southern joie de vivre, northern precision and eastern calm come together. And on one thing, all three regions agree: they all see themselves as southern – even us here in the South of the North.

Which brings us back to the question: What is a film festival?

A celebration of cinema. A showcase of its diversity. A place where audiences and filmmakers meet, ideas are exchanged, debates take shape and new collaborations begin. A festival is where an idea is born—and where people carry it forward together.

Or, to put it simply: damn good cinema, with guests!

For the K3 Film Festival

Fritz Hock – Festival Director