The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is set to enhance its Business Days program from July 6 to 9, extending its duration compared to previous years. This exciting transformation aims to provide a more in-depth exploration of the film industry and its various facets, ensuring a comprehensive experience for all attendees.
The revamped program will now place a stronger emphasis on Central European co-productions, while the Eastern Promises platform has also seen significant updates. The festival is broadening its horizon by introducing new showcases and events that cater specifically to television series development. One of the highlights is the launch of a Pop-Up Series Incubator, featuring five unique European series aimed at fostering creativity and collaboration among emerging talents.
Kryštof Mucha, the Managing Director of Karlovy Vary, expressed enthusiasm about the festival’s potential: “We believe we have a unique opportunity to strengthen our position as the leading industry event devoted to Central Europe, a region that includes creative powerhouses such as Poland, Germany, and Austria, all of which deserve focused international attention.”
“Our mission is to serve as a central hub for producers, filmmakers, broadcasters, and platforms from Central Europe, along with global industry professionals eager to engage closely with this vibrant area.”
“Recognizing the increasing crossover of storytelling across various mediums, our expanded Business Days are now equipped with the vision and capability to fully embrace this evolution.”
Showcasing Central European Film Projects with Central Stage Initiative
One of the most significant innovations this year is the introduction of a new format dedicated to highlighting film projects currently in development. The previous Works in Progress pitches will be replaced by a more dynamic and focused Central Stage showcase, a collaborative initiative between the festival’s film industry office and the national film institutes of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.
The showcase will feature 13 fiction films from established filmmakers in these countries that are in the late stages of development, production, or post-production. Rather than traditional pitches, these projects will be presented through interactive discussions that will focus on the filmmakers and the co-production landscape in each participating nation.
Hugo Rosák, the head of the Karlovy Vary industry office, stated: “We adopted this new format because it addresses a real gap in the Central European film landscape. There is substantial support for emerging filmmakers across Eastern Europe, but mid-career directors often struggle to gain the necessary visibility and resources to secure financing, although their projects are equally compelling.”
The Central Stage showcase is scheduled for July 8.
Expanding Horizons with Small-Screen Content Initiatives
Another pivotal development in this year’s industry program is the inclusion of small-screen content, made possible through a new partnership with Central European Media Enterprises. A dedicated event program will consist of showcases, panels, workshops, and discussions led by key players and experts in the television space, taking place on July 8 and 9.
Rosák commented: “With the backing of CME, the festival can now realize its full potential as a premier meeting place and showcase platform for small-screen content across Central and Eastern Europe. Instead of competing with existing specialized events, this initiative leverages the unique strengths of Karlovy Vary in fostering international connections and providing an ideal environment for presenting and developing TV and streaming projects alongside traditional cinema.”
Boosting European Productions with the Pop Up Series Incubator
A crucial component of this new focus on small-screen content is the Pop Up Series Incubator showcase on July 8, which is designed to assist European producers and screenwriters by enhancing their projects through hands-on development, professional mentorship, and financial support.
Organized by Tatino Films, this eight-month-long program culminates in Karlovy Vary with a pitching session where creative teams will present their series concepts to industry professionals and decision-makers, followed by curated matchmaking sessions with experts looking to finance or produce series.
Matthieu Darras, CEO of Tatino Films, explained: “The inception of the Pop Up Series Incubator stems from our observations and analysis of the rapid evolution of the European audiovisual landscape, alongside numerous discussions with alumni of Tatino programs. Intellectual property has become the buzzword in the audiovisual industry. Many upcoming shows from streaming services are adaptations of existing intellectual properties—literary, audiovisual works, and even true stories. The reasoning behind this trend is straightforward: building an audience or generating attention from scratch is viewed as far too risky and improbable given the financial implications of drama series production.”
“This ‘IP Adaptation Game’ is largely reserved for major players, but the Pop Up Series aims to create opportunities for audiovisual talents that may not necessarily be in the orbit of global giants like Banijay, Fremantle, or Mediawan, allowing them to adapt their own intellectual properties into compelling series projects. We believe there is room for more niche and/or innovative series that explore underrepresented intellectual properties, thereby contributing fresh and significant stories to diverse audiences.”
The selected projects to be showcased in Karlovy Vary include:
“Angelmaker” (Romania)
Producer: Anda Ionescu, Tangaj Production
Writer: Cristina Grosan
Based on a true story of the Angel Makers of Nagyrév
Accompanied by screenwriters Leana Jalukse and Loïc Barrère
“Erotic Lives of the Superheroes” (France)
Producer: Eric Dupont, Incognito Films
Based on “La Vita Erotica Dei Superuomini,” an Italian novel by Marco Mancassola
Accompanied by screenwriters Nadya Todorova and Ruddy-Williams Kabuiku
“The Night of the Beguines” (France)
Producer: Candice Zaccagnino, Eliane Antoinette
Writer: David Roux
Based on “La Nuit des Béguines,” a French novel by Aline Kiner
Accompanied by screenwriter Yaelle Kayam
“The Three Burials of Irma” (Greece)
Producer: Fenia Cossovitsa, Blonde S.A.
Writer: Elina Psykou
Based on “Alfatride” (O iatrodikastis), a Greek novel by Vassilis Vassilikos
Accompanied by screenwriter Lemba de Miranda
“Therapies” (Lithuania)
Producer: Dagnė Vildžiūnaitė, Only a Second
Writer: Birutė Kapustinskaitė
Based on a play by Lithuanian author Birutė Kapustinskaitė
Accompanied by screenwriters Fabrizio Muscia and Ruxandra Ghitescu
Highlighting Emerging Talent: Works in Development Competition for Eurimages Co-Production Development Award
As a staple of the KVIFF Eastern Promises, the Midpoint Institute’s Works in Development international script development program will showcase nine feature-length projects currently in development, along with five additional projects developed within the Midpoint – Focus Queer program, which supports filmmakers exploring queer narratives, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion in contemporary storytelling.
These projects, now seeking co-production partners, will compete for the €10,000 Midpoint and KVIFF Development Award, as well as the €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award. Presentations will take place on July 7.
Empowering Filmmakers Through KVIFF Skills Initiative
Now in its third edition, the KVIFF Skills program is a year-long initiative aimed at discovering and supporting talented Czech and Slovak filmmakers across contemporary audiovisual genres. The Creative Pool focuses on identifying innovative ideas for audiovisual works of any genre or format—from short films and series to podcasts or gaming concepts. Conversely, the Feature Pool is dedicated to supporting the development of original auteur-driven feature-length fiction films.
This year, nearly 200 submissions were received. Six projects were selected—three series and three feature films. These projects will receive development funding, mentorship from industry experts, and the opportunity to present their work to potential producers, partners, and investors during the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. The creative teams will pitch their projects to potential production partners at a dedicated KVIFF Skills showcase on July 7.
Additional support includes the possibility of a residency in Karlovy Vary and other customized forms of assistance.
KVIFF Skills – Selected Projects to Watch
Feature Pool:
“Anonymous” (Czech Republic)
Feature debut combining live-action and stop-motion animation
Animator and director: Daria Kashcheeva
Producer: Lukáš Kokeš, Nutprodukce
“Spirit Moose” (Czech Republic, Slovakia)
Feature film – thriller
Director: Tomáš Klein
Screenwriter: Barbora Námerová
Producer: Tomáš Michálek, Master Film
“Burnout” (Czech Republic)
Feature debut based on the novel by Petr Šesták
Writer and director: Greta Stocklassa
Producer: Marek Novák, Xova Films
Creative Pool:
“Mould” (Czech Republic)
Animated series for both children and adults
Animator and director: Phillip Kastner
Producer: Tereza Havlová
“Lost Boys” (Czech Republic)
Anime series
Writer and director: Dužan Duong
Producers: AZN kru and Nutprodukce
“Remake” (Czech Republic)
Live-action musical series
Writer and director: Kateřina Letáková
Producer: Daniel Bleha, Filmkolektiv
Confirmed Industry Events to Anchor Expanded Program with Diverse Offerings
In addition to the new and established showcases, the extended KVIFF Business Days will continue to provide its traditional mix of events, including the Czech Film Industry Forum and the International Industry Insights Forum, a series of rapid sessions offering a comprehensive overview of the current state of affairs both locally and globally.
This program will also include more in-depth workshops, panels, and discussions on the Workshop Stage, as well as networking and meeting opportunities within the industry. The complete schedule for Business Days will be published later in June.
