The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) is gearing up for its 60th edition, set to take place in the Czech spa town from July 3-11. This year, the festival is doubling down on its commitment to Central-European co-production with the introduction of the KVIFF Central Stage and the inaugural Book-to-Screen program.
KVIFF Central Stage: Showcasing Established Filmmakers
The KVIFF Central Stage is designed to showcase upcoming feature films by established filmmakers in late-stage development, production, or post-production. This initiative addresses a notable gap in the Central European film landscape, where mid-career filmmakers typically have fewer opportunities for visibility and financing than emerging ones. The 11 projects selected for this program are:
- The Flying Mountain (Switzerland, Ireland, Austria) - Directed by Nicolas Steiner, whose previous films have screened at Berlin, Rotterdam, and KVIFF.
- Screaming Girl (Ukraine, Ireland) - Directed by AntonioLukich, whose Luxembourg premiere at Venice and KVIFF screening of My Thoughts Are Silent showcase his talent.
- Noah (Ukraine, Croatia, Belgium) - Directed and written by MarysiaNikitiuk, whose documentary Traces won the Audience Award at Berlinale.
- Lesdenzero (Czech Republic, Switzerland, Hungary, Romania) - Directed by CristinaGroșan, known for her work in Ordinary Failures, which premiered and was awarded at Venice.
- The Stones Are Rolling to Prague (Czech Republic, Slovakia) - Directed and written by TomášHodan, recalling the iconic moment of the Czech 1990s.
- A Few Branches Off (Czech Republic) - Directed and written by TomášPavlíček, a comedy exploring Czech cottage culture.
- Tribe (Poland, Albania) - Directed and written by OlgaChajdas, a female road movie known to Karlovy Vary audiences.
- Trainrider (Germany) - Directed by Sebastian Fritzsch, whose debut Endzeit premiered at Berlin.
- Yugoslavia, My Fatherland (Slovenia, North Macedonia, Serbia) - Directed by GoranVojnović, an adaptation of his own book.
- Cowgirl (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary) - Directed by MichalBlaško, a coming-of-age drama.
- Hansi (Austria) - Directed by SebastianBrauneis, a boxing biography capturing 1960s Vienna.
Book-to-Screen Program: Adapting Central and Eastern European Literature
The Book-to-Screen program aims to create a market for film adaptation rights to original IP from Central and Eastern Europe, fostering cooperation between the film and publishing industries. The eight literary works selected for this program are:
- The True Way Out (Czech Republic) - A coming-of-age autobiography by PatrikBanga, winner of the MagnesiaLitera award for best debut in 2023.
- Playing Wolf (Czech Republic) - A folk horror thriller by ZuzanaŘíhová, published in France and the USA.
- The Zone (Slovakia) - A graphic novel by DanielMajling, known for its absurd characters, dark humor, and striking visuals.
- Queen of Hearts (Moldova) - A dystopian satire by Iulian Ciocan, exploring an ever-expanding crater in Chișinău, Moldova.
- Aspic Bistro (Lithuania) - A magic-realism satire by IevaDumbrytė, set in a surreal kitchen environment.
- Cupid at the Kremlin Wall (Georgia) - A historical drama and detective novel by AkaMorchiladze, set during the Stalinist terror in the 1930s.
- The River Odyssey of Kora from Willow Meadow (Poland) - A children's literature story by AdamRobiński with ecological relevance.
- Amadoka (Ukraine) - A historical/war novel by SophiaAndrukhovych, combining an intimate human story with the vast historical trauma of Eastern Europe.
KVIFF's initiatives aim to strengthen the film industry in Central and Eastern Europe, providing a platform for emerging talent and fostering collaboration between filmmakers and authors. The festival's commitment to co-production and adaptation rights development is a significant step forward for the region's cinematic landscape.
