The 9th International Archaeology Film Festival Split (MFAF), held from 26 to 28 October 2026 at Kinoteka Zlatna vrata, concluded with the announcement of its award-winning films. Over three festival days, audiences had the opportunity to explore the richness of the world’s archaeological and cultural heritage through documentary films by Croatian and international filmmakers.
This year’s First Prize was awarded to Greenland Response, directed by Alice Watterson, while Second Prize went to Army of Lovers – The Sacred Band of Ancient Greece, directed by Lefteris Charitos. Third Prize was awarded to The Face of Alexander, directed by Vanni Gandolfo. Special Mentions were presented to Cranium C – A Legacy of Global Paleoanthropological Heritage, by Laura Sinovčić and Anita Juka, and Nechir, directed by Keyvan Shamshirbeigi. Artemis – The Lost Temple, directed by Sébastien Reichenbach, achieved a double success, winning both the Audience Award and the Student Jury Award.
First Prize Awarded to Greenland Response
The first-prize-winning film Greenland Response explores the impact of climate change on Greenland’s archaeological heritage. The documentary follows archaeologists working to document and preserve archaeological sites threatened by rising global temperatures, focusing particularly on the remains of Norse (Viking) settlements dating from the 10th to the 14th centuries in the Kujataa region, where the history of Viking communities intersects with the lives of present-day Inuit farmers.
Second and Third Prizes: Stories of Ancient Warriors and Alexander The Great
The second-prize-winning film Army of Lovers – The Sacred Band of Ancient Greece tells the fascinating story of an elite Theban military unit composed of 150 pairs of male lovers. Through new archaeological discoveries and historical research, the documentary challenges our understanding of heroism, love and social relationships in ancient Greece.
The third-prize-winning film The Face of Alexander follows the restoration of the famous Alexander Mosaic, discovered in Pompeii, combining modern conservation techniques and artificial intelligence in an attempt to reconstruct the true appearance of Alexander the Great.
Special Mentions for Exploring Neanderthal Heritage and the Art of Ancient Iran
The film Cranium C – A Legacy of Global Paleoanthropological Heritage explores the Neanderthal heritage of Krapina, focusing on Cranium C and its unusual cut marks, which raise intriguing questions about violence, rituals and symbolism.
The second Special Mention was awarded to Nechir, an experimental poetic documentary that explores the relationship between art, the past and cultural memory through ancient Sasanian rock reliefs at the archaeological site of Taq-e Bostan in Iran.
Artemis – The Lost Temple Wins Two Awards
Artemis – The Lost Temple achieved particular success, receiving both the Audience Award and the Student Jury Award. The film follows a search spanning more than half a century for the Sanctuary of Artemis at Amarynthos, Greece, which culminated in a groundbreaking discovery in 2017, considered one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in Greece in recent decades.
Another Successful Edition of MFAF
This year’s festival once again demonstrated the important role film can play in exploring, understanding and promoting archaeological heritage, bringing stories of the past closer to a wider audience and offering new perspectives on the history that continues to shape our understanding of the world.
Congratulations to all the award-winning filmmakers, and a special thank you to our audience, participants and partners for being part of the 9th MFAF!
