From 26 to 28 October 2026, Split will once again become a meeting place for archaeology and cinema. The ninth edition of the International Archaeological Film Festival Split will take place this year at Kinoteka Zlatna vrata offering audiences three days of documentary films that reveal fascinating stories of the past, cultural heritage and archaeological research from around the world. From humanity’s earliest artistic expressions and lost ancient temples to mysterious burials and climate records preserved in ice, this year’s programme demonstrates just how much the past still has to tell us.
A Festival Bringing Archaeology and Film Together
The festival will officially open on Monday, 26 October, at 5:00 PM at Kinoteka Zlatna vrata, followed by the start of the competition programme.
The first day begins with the Croatian film Cranium C by Laura Sinovčić, followed by international productions such as From Cambridge with Love, Early Bronze Age Kura-Araxes Culture and Artemis – The Lost Temple. The latter takes us in search of traces of one of the most famous deities of the ancient world, while the film about the Kura-Araxes culture offers insight into the communities that shaped the history of the wider Caucasus region during the Early Bronze Age.
Audiences will also have the opportunity to discover the treasures of Monreale Cathedral, the renowned cloisters of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the fascinating murals of San Bartolo, which are among the most significant surviving examples of ancient Maya painting. The programme also explores the history of salt production, an activity that has played an important role in everyday life and trade since ancient times.
Cinematic Stories from Around the World
The competition programme continues on Tuesday, 27 October, from 4:00 PM, with films taking viewers from prehistoric painted caves to ancient and medieval archaeological sites.
Among the highlights is Chauvet: Humanity’s First Great Masterpiece, dedicated to one of the world’s most remarkable painted caves, whose animal depictions date back more than 30,000 years. Living Danube Limes follows the frontiers of the Roman Empire, while Langobardi: Grimoald, the First Friulian King explores the political and cultural transformations of the Early Middle Ages. Greenland Response takes audiences to the far north, reminding us that traces of human history can be found even in the most remote corners of the world.
On the final day of the festival, Wednesday, 28 October, audiences can look forward to films including Replica of the Early Christian Basilica Mosaic in Novalja, The Face of Alexander, Voltaire – In Search of the Dispersed Body and Army of Lovers – The Sacred Band of Ancient Greece, alongside a number of other productions.
Accompanying Programme: Archaeology of Ice and the Secrets of Biokovo
In addition to the competition screenings, the festival will feature an accompanying programme on Wednesday, 28 October, beginning at 7:25 PM.
Associate Professor Silvia Bekavac, PhD, from the University of Zadar, will give a lecture entitled Archaeology of Ice, exploring an intriguing question: what can a piece of ice more than a thousand years old reveal?
The lecture will be followed by a screening of Secrets of Biokovo’s Tumuli and Ice Pits by Rade Popadić, offering further insight into the unique relationship between archaeology, nature and human history.
We invite all film enthusiasts and lovers of history, archaeology and cultural heritage to join us from 26 to 28 October at Kinoteka Zlatna vrata and discover, through the big screen, stories of civilisations, people and discoveries that continue to shape our understanding of the past.
Admission to all festival events is free.
Download the Festival programme catalogue here and click to see the Festival teaser here!
