[1] It is one of the only five FIAPF accredited documentary and short film festivals in the world.

It was in Kraków that Polish filmmakers such as Krzysztof Kieślowski, Wojciech Wiszniewski, Bogdan Dziworski [pl], and Marcel Łoziński began their career.

Yet, such renowned documentary and animated filmmakers were not the only ones to participate and win prizes in Kraków, for the international festival laureates included also numerous artists who made their names as feature film directors: Pier Paolo Pasolini, Werner Herzog, Zoltán Huszárik, Jaromil Jireš, Claude Lelouch, Patrice Leconte, Mike Leigh, and the recent Oscar laureate, Jan Svěrák.

Its first laureate was Polish documentary maker Bohdan Kosiński [pl].

The unique character of the Krakow Film Festival derives not only from the programme of the competition screenings, the Dragon and Hobby Horse prizes awarded by an international and Polish jury, the Prix UIP Kracow, the FIPRESCI, and the FICC awards or numerous other prizes granted outside festival regulations, but also from the programme of accompanying events.