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 two new initiatives: KVIFF Central Stage and Book-to-Screen. These initiatives aim to provide a platform for emerging filmmakers and literary works, fostering collaboration between the film and publishing industries in Central and Eastern Europe.
KVIFF Central Stage: Showcasing Established Filmmakers
KVIFF Central Stage is designed to showcase upcoming feature films by established filmmakers in late-stage development, production, or post-production. This initiative fills a notable gap in the Central European film landscape, where mid-career filmmakers often have fewer opportunities for visibility and financing compared to emerging talent. The 11 projects selected for this year's KVIFF Central Stage include:
- 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 work has premiered at Venice and KVIFF.
- Noah (Ukraine, Croatia, Belgium) - Directed and written by MarysiaNikitiuk, whose documentary Traces won the Audience Award at the Berlinale.
- Lesdenzero (Czech Republic, Switzerland, Hungary, Romania) - Directed by CristinaGroșan, known for her work in Ordinary Failures, which premiered at Venice.
- The Stones Are Rolling to Prague (Czech Republic, Slovakia) - Directed and written by TomášHodan, exploring the iconic moment of the Czech 1990s.
- A Few Branches Off (Czech Republic) - Directed and written by TomášPavlíček, a comedy about Czech cottage culture.
- Tribe (Poland, Albania) - Directed and written by OlgaChajdas, a female road movie.
- 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 about Hans Orsolics.
Book-to-Screen: Adapting Literary Works
The inaugural Book-to-Screen showcase at KVIFF aims to create a market for film adaptation rights to original IP from Central and Eastern Europe, strengthening cooperation between the film and publishing industries. The eight literary works selected for this initiative include:
- The True Way Out (Czech Republic) - A coming-of-age autobiography by PatrikBanga, winner of the MagnesiaLiteraaward for best debut in 2023.
- Playing Wolf (Czech Republic) - A folk horror thriller by ZuzanaŘíhová, former head of Czech Studies at Oxford.
- The Zone (Slovakia) - A graphic novel by DanielMajling, known for its absurd characters and dark humor.
- 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 book by AdamRobiński, with ecological themes.
- Amadoka (Ukraine) - A historical/war novel by SophiaAndrukhovych, starting with the war in the Donbas and exploring Eastern Europe's trauma.
A Platform for Collaboration and Adaptation
KVIFF's initiatives aim to foster collaboration and adaptation, creating a more transparent environment for adaptation rights in the region. HugoRosák, the head of KVIFF Film Industry Programs, emphasizes the festival's long-term ambition to become a true Central-Eastern European IP market, facilitating dialogue between the film and publishing industries.
As KVIFF prepares for its 60th edition, these initiatives signal a significant step forward in the festival's commitment to supporting Central European cinema and literature, offering a platform for emerging talent and fostering collaboration across the region.
