2026 Prague Independent Film Festival Winners – Jonas Lawes’ The Watchmaker Takes Best Feature Film

Prague Independent Film Festival has announced the winners of its 2026 edition, with Jonas Lawes’ The Watchmaker winning the Best Feature Film prize.

The character-driven drama set in 1968 Sweden follows a watchmaker whose quiet life is disrupted when two young thieves bring a stolen watch to his door, forcing him into an unexpected confrontation with his past and the consequences of their actions.

Meanwhile, a psychological drama exploring creativity, memory and identity through the story of an elderly novelist called “The Ghost Writer” by Todd I. Gordon received an award for Best Short Film. 

One of the highlights of the night was recognition for the short film “The Confession” that marked Ed Stoppard’s debut as a writer and director after 25 years as an actor. He is known for his different works across theater, television, and film, and most notably for his roles in “The Pianist”, “Upstairs Downstairs”, and “Knightfall” (a drama series). “The Confession” also earned recognition for the leading performance, with Mark Bonnar receiving the award for Best Actor for his portrayal as the interrogator.

“The Confession” follows a man who finds himself across the table from a KGB interrogator, fighting to preserve his freedom as he attempts to navigate a dangerous psychological battle of power, truth and survival. The film draws inspiration from Soviet writer Mikhail Bulgakov, particularly his satirical novel Black Snow.

The festival also made it a point to recognize the achievements made outside of traditional narrative filmmaking. Ven Jemersic’s Siddharta – In the Sky won Best Music Video, combining music and cinematic infrared imagery into a visually ambitious work.

In documentary filmmaking, Silje Reistad’s Hans & Kjell received the award for Best Documentary, while in the animation category, Thiefish, created by Evelyn Dale and Madhava Kinnicutt, won. Hans & Kjell follows two men who have dedicated their lives to rescuing homeless cats, exploring the reasons so many animals are left in need of help.

Comedy and experimental cinema were also among this year’s winners. Derek Frey’s The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry received Best Comedy Film, while Zhao He’s Symbol of the Solar Soul won Best Experimental Film. Zhao He’s experimental work combines real-life recordings and 3D environments to explore the connection between dreams, consciousness, and the relationship between humans and technology.

Prague Independent Film Festival 2026 Winners:

Best Feature Film
The Watchmaker — Jonas Lawes

Best Short Film
The Ghost Writer — Todd I. Gordon

Best Director
Ed Stoppard — The Confession

Best Actor
Mark Bonnar — The Confession

Best Original Screenplay
Alice_FSB — Adam Marchand

Best Editing
At What Cost?

Best Cinematography
Katerina Borovic

Best Art Direction
Monile — Marcello Bedoni

Best Music Video
Siddharta – In the Sky — Ven Jemersic

Best Documentary
Hans & Kjell — Silje Reistad

Best Animated Film
Thiefish — Evelyn Dale, Madhava Kinnicutt

Best Comedy Film
The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry — Derek Frey

Best Experimental Film
Symbol of the Solar Soul — Zhao He

Best Unproduced Script
The Last Street — Kevin Ryan