Luxembourg City Film Festival
The first edition of the Luxembourg City Film Festival, known back then as the Discovery Zone Filmfestival, was held in 2011. Fifteen years on, the event has become a firm fixture in the national cultural landscape and a recognised festival on the European circuit. In the frame work of the 2026 edition, which runs from 5th to 15th March, Artistic Director Alexis Juncosa tells us how the festival has developed and speaks about the ambitions and opportunities that are shaping its future.
Quickfire questions
To begin our discussion, we asked Alexis Juncosa to answer six quickfire questions.
A backstage anecdote that has stayed with you
When Jafar Panâhi came to Luxembourg. After many years supporting his work while he was in prison or under house arrest, it was hugely meaningful for us to be able to finally welcome him for a film co-produced here in Luxembourg.
The star you would love to meet
Meryl Streep. Without question.
A life without film would be...
A life that needs reinventing!
Who inspired you to get into the profession?
My grandfather, a Catalan republican who was deeply affected by exile. Seeing him come to life as he watched post-war films showed me the power of cinema. Ever since then I have been trying to recreate that same emotional impact.
If LuxFilmFest were a film character, it would be...
A dynamic, slightly dishevelled hero who always ends up winning – somewhere between Slumdog Millionaire and an inveterate optimist.
Your favourite festival
It's impossible to pick just one. But I would love to go to the Midnight Sun Film Festival in Finland, where the films never stop... because it never gets dark.
How has the festival developed over the past 15 years, and how is that reflected in your editorial policy?
The festival has experienced constant growth, with spectator numbers increasing from around 4,600 to ten times that (excluding the COVID period). Its four pillars – an international selection, documentaries, young adults and support for national production – have remained constant.
At the same time, we have professionalised the selection process – we now have a dedicated committee watching around a thousand films every year. Our editorial policy prioritises exclusive screenings, emerging cinema, innovative storytelling and lesser-known countries, especially those hit by crisis. Social issues and equality are central to our approach.
The festival's development has also had a real impact – it has become a key location for professionals, a place where projects are spawned. Some young filmmakers say they discovered their vocation at LuxFilmFest.
LuxFilmFest is now recognised as a credible player on the international stage, attracting interest from Cannes and described as the "hidden gem of European cinema" by The Hollywood Reporter.
How do you promote under-represented film cultures while maintaining a balance between auteur and mainstream cinema?
We place great emphasis on under-represented film types, whether genre films or films made by social, ethnic or other minorities – like recently with the first film starring Rohingya actors. This strategy is also in line with the EU's priorities on visibility and solidarity and is reflected in our 2030 Award.
At the same time, we want the festival to be open, with something for everyone – comedies, dramas, action and more demanding films. Our goal is to put together a programme that is accessible to everyone, from die-hard film fans to families, while always giving people the opportunity to discover new voices.
How does the festival contribute to Luxembourg's international standing?
The visibility of LuxFilmFest has really grown in recent years. As well as being ranked among the 25 "coolest" festivals in the world by MovieMaker, it has been approached by Cannes and by diplomatic missions and institutions for its expertise. This recognition was confirmed when The Hollywood Reporter described it as the "hidden gem of European cinema".
The festival draws on strong partnerships, especially with other European festivals, as well as a professional team and around a hundred multilingual volunteers, who always go above and beyond and leave a positive impression on participants. As President of Europa Film Festivals, I am also involved in structuring the sector at European level and strengthening Luxembourg's role on the international stage.
LuxFilmFest at a glance
With nearly 40,000 participants since 2018, the Luxembourg City Film Festival has become the country's top film event. Every year it offers an outstanding selection combining exclusive screenings, feature films, documentaries and special showings, serving as a springboard for the film industry in Luxembourg and around the world.
Since 2012, it has awarded prizes for the best feature film, documentary and young adult film, and in 2022 it launched the 2030 Award for films depicting or related to international development issues.
In 2023, FIPRESCI – the International Federation of Film Critics – joined the event for the first time.
As well as screening films, LuxFilmFest also includes an exciting programme of cultural events, with theme nights, exhibitions, concerts, masterclasses, professional gatherings, creative workshops and much more, turning Luxembourg City into a vibrant hub for contemporary cinema.
What role does the festival play in promoting the use of film as an educational tool, and how are attitudes towards international cinema changing in Luxembourg?
Education through film is an approach that is not yet well developed in Luxembourg, and the festival is helping to bridge that gap. Every year, nearly 6,000 students attend our film screenings, guided by teaching resources and external initiatives such as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Public attitudes are also noticeably changing: with the LuxFilmFest and LuxFilmLab brands becoming increasingly well known, people are coming along much more out of curiosity, even for demanding films or documentaries. They appreciate the contextualisation, the discussions after the screenings and the collective experience. That explains why our screenings are attracting greater numbers every year, despite the growth in streaming platforms.
Has the festival helped develop new local talent?
Yes, and that is something we are noticing more and more. Young creators are coming with their first projects and explaining how their passion for film began at LuxFilmFest. Our Campus programme, which provides opportunities for contacts and networking among students from Luxembourg and the Greater Region, is building real bridges.
The festival also provides fertile ground for the animation sector, always on the lookout for international talent. LuxFilmFest has become a place for encounters and opportunities, attracting talent and benefiting the country as a whole.
Pushing the boundaries of narration
In 2026, the Immersive Pavilion will once again attract fans and professionals of extended reality (XR) from all over the world with a series of creative and innovative projects featuring virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) at iconic locations in Luxembourg City: neimënster, Mudam and Villa Louvigny.
Film Fund Luxembourg is looking forward to seeing you from 5th to 22nd March 2026!
How are immersive formats and AI (artificial intelligence) changing the creative arts and the role of festivals?
The Immersive Pavilion has become a popular part of the festival because of the quality of the works it showcases, including several Luxembourg productions that have won awards in Venice. Formats are changing quickly, with VR now being replaced by more varied experiences, often without a headset, and augmented reality becoming a part of our daily lives. Festivals need to keep up with these trends to stay relevant.
AI is already having a major impact on the industry in terms of subtitling, dubbing, translation and animation. Some professions are being turned upside down, and we are seeing entirely AI-generated films. These developments are coming thick and fast and can be worrying, but every technological revolution has also given rise to new professions.
In the current context, it is more important than ever that we support human creation. Cultural events have a key role to play, offering an irreplaceable collective experience, as opposed to the isolating impact of technology. Festivals are a place to meet people and exchange ideas, a place of cultural resistance.
In fifteen years, LuxFilmFest has become a space where vocations begin, where young people realise that they want to make films. That's where we are having a real impact.
How do you want to develop the festival over the next few years, and what are your priorities in that respect?
Over the long term, we want to give the festival a proper home, a central venue where we can organise events, workshops, meetings and educational activities. Having our own space would strengthen our European presence and transform the experience for the public: studies suggest that it could increase attendance by 30%.
Luxembourg currently has a booming film industry, with creators making a name for themselves at international level. The festival is both a reflection and a catalyst of this growth. If we want to maintain and encourage this trend, we will need greater support – public, private and sponsorship – so that we can keep attracting talent, appealing to varied audiences and seeing the cultural and economic benefits. Our ambition is to consolidate our role while offering an increasingly dynamic and structured framework for the film industry in Luxembourg.
As well as the plan for a dedicated venue, a major challenge is to encourage and facilitate the presence of international representatives. A few weeks ago, I was invited to a festival in Spain where the government had clearly made this a priority and a strategic driver. The more people you invite, the more opportunities you generate.
At a time when we are witnessing the rise of populism and nationalism, festivals are becoming bubbles where people from different countries can mix and mingle, thanks to their policy of welcoming people from all over the world. They also serve as an extraordinary breeding ground for creativity.
If I had to make a wish, it would be for LuxFilmFest to align itself more closely with international standards by setting aside realistic budgets to invite film crews – film makers, producers, actors and copyright holders. The main beneficiary would be Luxembourg. As well as the economic and tourist impact, a festival can be a wonderful tool for creating a brand image and developing a country's attractiveness. Tourism and culture need to go hand in hand.
Many thanks to thank Alexis Juncosa for this interview. We would like to let our readers know that for formatting reasons, some passages of the interview have been summarised.
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