Slovene film industry support organisations
Based on data from the Slovene Film Archives and the Slovenian Film Database, over 12,000 audiovisual titles have been produced in Slovenia, spanning from the early 20th century to the present.
Film funding and production
The Slovenian Film Centre (SFC), and its predecessor the Slovenian Film Fund which was founded in 1994, has been responsible for allocating subsidies. Half of the fund's financial resources are guaranteed by the state and the other half is obtained from film distribution. The SFC places emphasis on products intended for presentation in cinemas and supports the production, distribution and promotion of short and full-length films, documentaries, animated films and video productions. Since 2003 the producers and distributors succeeded in getting also EU co-funding.
Slovenian cinematography has experienced a surge in production, with roughly 15 to 20 long feature films or documentaries produced annually. The output of feature films has been increased due to higher funding and international coproductions, with 13 feature films and 12 long documentaries completed or released in 2024. Also 4 live-action series started production in 2025, mostly in coproduction with Radio-Television Slovenia (RTV Slovenia). The Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television (AGRFT) is also na important co-producer of short films.
During the 1980s and 1990s several production houses were established by the film makers themselves, including Bindweed Soundvision by Franci Slak, Casablanca Productions by Boris Jurjaševic, A. A. C. Productions by Igor Šterk, Novi val - New Wave Košak by Andrej Košak, Bela Film Ltd by Maja Weiss, Staragara by Janez Burger and Filmogradnja Production by actor Ludvik Bagari. In two decades after 1995 the significant Slovene film producers included E-motion Film and Vertigo, Studio Maj, Arsmedia, A-Atalanta, Gustav Film, Perfo Production or Forum Ljubljana, playing an important role in international coproductions, especially with other ex-Yugoslavian and EU countries.
![Class Enemy [Razredni sovražnik], a film directed by Rok Biček produced by Triglav Film, 2013](/en/File:Triglav_Film_2013_Class_Enemy.jpg)
The younger generation of film makers or producers established production houses that have produced a line of awarded films, cf Cvinger Film, Monoo, Nosorogi, Petra Pan Film Production, Nukleus Film Slovenia, Sever & Sever Production, in the field of animation there are also some production studios, e.g. Finta and ZVVIKS, Institute for Film and Audiovisual Production.
Cf. International film awards.
Film festivals
The first yearly showcase meant for the domestic film production was the Week of Slovene Film in Celje. Today the Slovenian Film Centre organises the annual Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož and bestows national awards for the best creations. The Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe) and the Ljubljana Documentary Film Festival are organised by the Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre each Autumn and Spring respectively. The Ljubljana LGBT Film Festival has run since 1984 and is the oldest LGBT film festival in Europe. Next to the already renowned Kino Otok - Isola Cinema Festival in Izola/Isola, which focus on the cinemas of Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, there is a high-profile Animateka International Animated Film Festival or specialised festivals like Migrant Film Festival, Mountain Film Festival, KAMERAT Labour Film Festival, and Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival. See the list Film festivals and consult the infographic for the dates Film Festivals in Slovenia (2026)
Film archives, research and training
The Slovene Film Archives is the main institution for the storage and protection of the Slovene film heritage. It has collected and then technically and professionally processed more than 90 per cent of Slovene films. Users are obliged to pay subsequent rights. SFA joined the Association Cinematique European (ACE) in 1996 and became a full member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) in 1999.
The Slovenian Cinematheque was founded in 1996 as an autonomous cultural institution and is funded by the national budget. It aims to collect, preserve, systemise, catalogue and present museum materials relating to the history of film and cinematography and to establish and maintain contacts with international organisations and associations. One of the most important tasks of the Slovenian Cinematheque is to enrich its modest film collection of classic and contemporary world film masterpieces and to provide Slovene subtitles. The most precious prints in Slovene collections are undoubtedly those which belong to the three great discoveries of the Slovenian Cinematheque. The first is the only original print of Ernst Lubitsch's first preserved feature Als ich tot war ('When I Was Dead', 1916), followed by Franz Hofer's first preserved film Des Alters erste Spuren ('The First Signs of Getting Old'). In addition to these two prints the Cinematheque also discovered the short film Le Jongleur ('The Jongleur', Pathé, 1913), which is the only original coloured print of this film in the world. The Cinematheque also includes a Museum Department and runs its own publishing programme.
Most Slovene film makers are trained at the Department of Film and Television, Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television (AGRFT) at the University of Ljubljana, although a number of Slovene film directors have been trained also at the FAMU Academy in Prague (the most noticable name of film director being Olmo Omerzu. The Research and Publishing Department, Slovenian Cinematheque prepares new film translations and original works every year. The monthly EKRAN, Magazine for Film and Television organises the Autumn Film School, International Colloquium of Film Theory, an international film theory and criticism seminar in Ljubljana, and publishes the lectures. Film courses for the youth are organised round Slovenia, for instance by Kinodvor Cinema in Ljubljana, Enimation, International Children and Youth Film Festival in Maribor, Kino Otok - Isola Cinema Festival in Izola, Luksuz Production in Krško or Kinoatelje Institute in Nova Gorica.
Cinema network
With the opening of a renovated hall at the Kinodvor Cinema in Ljubljana acquired a new art cinema venue. First under the jurisdiction of the Slovenian Cinematheque, since summer 2008 the Kinodvor is run by Ljubljana Urban Municipality. Kinodvor Cinema distributes its programme to a network of public cinemas in Slovene towns. Slovenian Art Cinema Association was established in 2009. It unites around 30 cinemas and other screening halls that promote high-quality and art film round Slovenia.
Professional associations
The Slovenian Federation of Filmmakers' Guilds is one of the oldest film organisations in Slovenia, established in 1950 as the Association of Slovenian Filmmakers. It has had an important role in the development of Slovene cinema as it helped to found many important institutions like the Viba Film Studio, the Slovene Film Museum (today part of the Slovenian Cinematheque) or the festival of Slovenian film.
There are several associations in the field of film: the Directors Guild of Slovenia, the Association of Slovene Film Producers, the Slovene Association of Cinematographers and the youngest but vibrant Slovene Animated Film Association.
Film studio
The public institution Viba Film Studio opened in 1994, with its roots tracing back to the original Viba film production company established in 1956, ensures better conditions for the work of respected Slovene artists and creators, being also an important Slovene contribution to European film production and co-production.
Viba Film Studios cover an area of 10,000 square metres and provide everything a filmmaker needs, including the infrastructure required for production and post-production. The centre has two film studios of 720 and 460 square metres respectively, which allow two different projects to be shot simultaneously. Alongside the film studios, the film centre has space for the construction of movie sets, dressing rooms, make-up rooms and other infrastructure needed for production.
