The Industry Days program at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, scheduled from July 6th to 7th through 9th this year, has experienced some changes and now spans an extra day compared to past events.
As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled about the transformation! This year, the program is zeroing in on Central European co-production, giving a fresh twist to Eastern Promises platform. Moreover, it’s expanded its horizons with innovative presentations and events tailored for small-screen and series development. What excites me most is the introduction of the Pop-Up Series Incubator, showcasing five unique European series!
Christopher Mucha, the head of Karlovy Vary, stated: “We think we have a special chance to bolster our status as the premier industry event for Central Europe, a region that boasts creative heavyweights such as Poland, Germany, and Austria, and warrants focused international interest.
We strive to function as a main connection point for creators, movie makers, television networks, and digital platforms from Central Europe, along with international professionals seeking to build strong relationships within this dynamic region.
Given the increasing blending of storytelling across multiple platforms, our broadened Industry Days are now equipped and forward-thinking enough to completely adapt to this transformation.
As a cinephile eager to delve deeper into the world of Central European cinema, I am thrilled about the upcoming transformation at this esteemed festival. Instead of the traditional Works in Progress pitches, we will now witness a more vibrant and region-specific platform – the Central Stage showcase. This dynamic new format is a collaborative effort between the festival’s film industry office and national film institutes from Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. This exciting change promises to bring the best of Central and Eastern European filmmaking directly to our screens.
We’ll present 13 fiction films from various countries that are either nearing completion, currently being filmed, or already post-produced by well-known filmmakers. Rather than using conventional pitches, we will introduce these projects through engaging discussions, focusing on the filmmakers and international co-production landscapes in each of the involved nations.
Hugo Rosák, who leads the Karlovy Vary industry office, stated: “We opted for this fresh format as it bridges a genuine void within the Central European cinematic scene. While there’s ample backing for fledgling filmmakers in Eastern Europe, mid-career creators often struggle to gain attention and resources for their projects, despite them being equally captivating.
The Central Stage showcase will take place on July 8.
Expanding Horizons: From Big Screens to Small This year’s industry development sees a significant shift, moving beyond just feature films, thanks to a new collaboration with Central European Media Enterprises. On July 8 and 9, we will host a special event program focusing on small-screen content, featuring exhibitions, discussions, workshops, and talks led by prominent figures and specialists in the small-screen sector.
According to Rosák, with the support of CME, the festival has the opportunity to fully actualize its potential as a leading platform for showcasing small-screen content throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Instead of vying against existing specialized events, this endeavor utilizes Karlovy Vary’s distinct capabilities in cultivating international partnerships and offering an ideal setting for exhibiting and refining television and streaming projects alongside conventional cinema.
July 8 Showcase for Pop Up Series Development Program
An integral aspect of our emerging small-screen strategy involves the July 8 event showcasing the Pop Up Series Development Program. This program is a fresh initiative aimed at assisting European production companies and scriptwriters by providing practical development, professional guidance, and financial backing for their projects.
For eight months, Tatino Films has structured a program that culminates in Karlovy Vary. Here, creative teams showcase their television series ideas during a pitching session directed at industry experts and influential figures, followed by tailored networking opportunities with professionals seeking to finance or produce these series.
According to Matthieu Darras, CEO of Tatino Films, the idea for Pop Up Series Incubator was sparked by noticing and studying the fast-paced changes in the European audiovisual sector, as well as conversations with graduates of Tatino programs. The term “intellectual property” has gained significant attention within the audiovisual industry lately. Many upcoming shows on streaming platforms are based on pre-existing intellectual properties – books, films, or real-life stories. This trend is primarily due to the perceived risk and financial implications involved in creating drama series from scratch, which some view as too uncertain for audience building or attracting attention.
The ‘IP Adaptation Game’ is typically dominated by major companies, but Pop Up Series aims to provide a platform for audiovisual creators who aren’t always associated with giants like Banijay, Freemantle, or Mediawan, to adapt their own intellectual properties into engaging series. We think there’s potential for more unique and innovative series that explore lesser-known IPs, thereby providing fresh and impactful stories to a variety of viewers.
The projects to be featured in Karlovy Vary include:
– “Angelmaker” (Romania) – Produced by Anda Ionescu from Tangaj Production, with a script penned by Cristina Grosan. This film is inspired by the true story of the Angel Makers from Nagyrév. Screenwriters Leana Jalukse and Loïc Barrère have also contributed to the screenplay.
Erotic Adventures of the Superheroes” (France)
Production Company: Eric Dupont, Incognito Films
Based on the Italian novel “Sexual Lives of Supermen” by Marco Mancassola
Screenplay collaboration: Nadya Todorova and Ruddy-Williams Kabuiku
The Night of the Beguines” (French Production)
Produced by: Candice Zaccagnino and Eliane Antoinette
Adapted from: “La Nuit des Béguines,” a novel by Aline Kiner (French author)
Screenplay collaboration: David Roux and Yaelle Kayam
Three Burials of Irma” (Greek Production)
Producers: Fenia Cossovitsa, Blonde S.A.
Screenplay: Elina Psykou, with collaboration from Lemba de Miranda
Adapted from the Greek novel “Alfatride” by Vassilis Vassilikos
In simpler terms, this film is titled “Three Burials of Irma,” produced by Fenia Cossovitsa and Blonde S.A., written by Elina Psykou, with some help from Lemba de Miranda. The story is based on the Greek novel “Alfatride” by Vassilis Vassilikos.
Therapies” (Lithuania) – Produced by Dagnė Vildžiūnaitė, Originally written by Birutė Kapustinskaitė under the title “Just a Moment”, Co-written for screen by Fabrizio Muscia and Ruxandra Ghitescu
(This version maintains the original structure but provides a more conversational tone while also including the original writer’s name and crediting the additional screenwriters.)
The Midpoint Institute’s Works in Development international script development program, a regular part of KVIFF Eastern Promises, will feature nine projects that are currently under development, along with five additional projects developed through Midpoint – Focus Queer, a program dedicated to supporting filmmakers who focus on queer narratives. This highlights the significance of diversity and inclusion in modern storytelling as these projects compete for the Eurimages Co-production Development Award.
These projects are currently seeking collaboration partners. They will contend for three different awards: the Midpoint and KVIFF Development Award worth 10,000 Euros each, and the Eurimages Co-production Development Award, which is 20,000 Euros. The presentations will happen on July 7.
KVIFF Talents is now in its third year, offering a full-year program designed to discover and nurture promising Czech and Slovak filmmakers, as well as innovative audiovisual genres. The Creative Pool concentrates on unearthing groundbreaking ideas for visual media projects of any kind – be it short films, series, podcasts, or game concepts. On the other hand, the Feature Pool is specifically tailored to aid in the creation of unique, auteur-driven feature-length fiction films.
In 2021, approximately 200 projects were submitted. Six of these submissions – three series and three full-length films – have been chosen. These selected projects will be awarded development funding, mentorship from industry professionals, and a chance to exhibit their work to potential producers, collaborators, and financiers at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. The creative groups behind these projects will present their ideas to possible production allies during a special KVIFF Talents event on July 7.
As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that this movie offers more than just on-screen magic. It boasts additional benefits such as the potential for a residency in the enchanting town of Karlovy Vary, along with customized aid to help bring your vision to life.
Spotlight on Talents at KVIFF – Selected Works
Feature Category: “Nameless” (Czech Republic)
A fresh filmmaker’s debut that blends live action and stop-motion animation
Animator and director: Daria Kashcheeva
Producer: Lukáš Kokeš, Nutprodukce
The Ghostly Moose” (Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Genre: Thriller
Director: Tomáš Klein
Screenwriter: Barbora Námerová
Producer: Tomáš Michálek, Master Film
Debut Film from the Czech Republic Titled ‘Burnout’, Adapted from Petr Šesták’s Novel
Directed and Written by Greta Stocklassa
Produced by Marek Novák of Xova Films
In the Creative Realm, we find an Animated Series hailing from the Czech Republic titled “Mould”. This captivating production is designed for both young and old minds to enjoy. The skillful animator and director behind this project is Philip Kastner, while Tereza Havlová serves as the dedicated producer.
The ‘Lost Boys’ Anime Series, hailing from the Czech Republic, is penned by Dužan Duong and skillfully directed. The production companies behind this captivating series are AZN kru and Nutprodukce.”
Or,
“The anime series titled ‘Lost Boys’, originates in the Czech Republic, with Dužan Duong as both writer and director. The dynamic duo of AZN kru and Nutprodukce is responsible for its production.
Reimagine” (Czech Republic) – A live-action musical television show written and directed by Kateřina Letáková.
Produced by Daniel Bleha and Filmkolektiv.
KVIFF’s Industry Days Expand Featured Showcases with Traditional Program
The Industry Days at KVIFF will not only include fresh and long-standing exhibitions, but also extend their traditional offerings. This includes the Czech Film Industry Forum and International Industry Insights Forum, which consist of rapid-fire sessions aimed at providing a thorough understanding of current local and global trends.
Additionally, the program offers specialized workshops, discussions, and presentations on the Workshop Stage, along with chances for professional networking and meetings. The full Industry Days schedule will become available in June.
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2025-06-10 15:18