"We believe that we have a unique opportunity to strengthen our position as the leading industry event dedicated to Central Europe, a region that also includes creative powerhouses like Poland, Germany or Austria, and deserves focused international attention. Our aim is to serve as a central hub for producers, filmmakers, broadcasters, and platforms from Central Europe, alongside global industry professionals who wish to engage closely with this vibrant region. Recognizing the growing crossover of storytelling across various mediums, our expanded Industry Days now have the capacity and vision to fully embrace this evolution," says Kryštof Mucha, the Executive Director of Karlovy Vary IFF.
Central Europe to take Central Stage
The most significant innovation is a new format dedicated to showcasing film projects in the making – the previous Works in Progress pitches will be replaced by a more dynamic and CEE-focused KVIFF Central Stage showcase, a new initiative created by the KVIFF Film Industry Office in cooperation with selected national film institutes of eight Central European countries (Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine). Thirteen fiction films by established filmmakers from these countries that are in late stages of development, in production or post-production. Instead of traditional pitches, the projects will be introduced through interactive talks, focusing on the filmmakers and co-production landscape in each of the participating countries.
“We chose this new format because it addresses a real gap in the Central European film landscape. There is significant support for emerging filmmakers across Eastern Europe, but mid-career filmmakers often lack the necessary spotlight and resources to secure financing, even though their projects are equally compelling,” says Hugo Rosák, the Head of KVIFF Industry Office.
The Central Stage showcase will take place on Tuesday, July 8, on the Industry Main Stage in the KVIFF Industry Hub in Kaiserbad. The 13 selected projects will be revealed by the KVIFF Industry Office later in June.
The projects participating in KVIFF Central Stage will be eligible for exclusive post-production benefits, thanks to a generous partnership with leading studios UPP and Soundsquare. Projects qualifying for the Czech Audiovisual Fund’s 35% incentive for digital production will receive an additional 15% direct discount from UPP and Soundsquare for comprehensive audio-visual post-production services. This unique offer, including administrative support, reflects the positive developments in the regional audiovisual sector, making top-tier post-production more accessible and attractive to filmmakers from the region.
The most promising films in development, selected by an international jury, will also be eligible for the 20,000 EUR Eurimages Co-Production Development Award.
Small Screen, Big Ambitions
Another pivotal development in this year's industry program is the strategic expansion beyond feature films to embrace small-screen content, made possible through a groundbreaking new partnership with Central European Media Enterprises Ltd (CME), a leading content creator and broadcaster in Central and Eastern Europe operating in six geographical segments: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania and Moldova, Slovakia, and Slovenia. It also operates Oneplay (formerly Voyo), its original subscription video on demand platform. This collaboration aims at transforming Karlovy Vary into a comprehensive hub for television and streaming series development, thanks to a dedicated event program consisting of showcases, panels workshops and talks by major small-screen players and experts that will take place on Tuesday, July 8 and Wednesday, July 9.
More information can be found in the press release.
Pop Up Series Incubator
A vital part of this new small-screen focus is the Pop Up Series Incubator showcase (Tuesday, July 8), a brand new series development program designed to support European producers and scriptwriters by boosting their projects through hands-on development, expert mentorship and financial support. Presented and organised by Tatino Films, co-financed by the European Union and supported and hosted by La Région Grand Est, the city of Reims, and KVIFF, the 8-month-long program comes together in Karlovy Vary with a pitching session where the creative teams will present their series concepts to industry professionals and decision makers, followed by curated match-making sessions with professionals that look to finance or produce series.
More information can be found in the press release. The list of projects to be presented at KVIFF can be viewed here.
Works in Development – Feature Launch & Focus Queer to Compete for Eurimages Co-production Development Award
One of the KVIFF Eastern Promises staples, the MIDPOINT Institute’s Works in Development international script development program will showcase nine feature-length projects that are currently in development, and five additional projects developed within MIDPOINT – Focus Queer, a program supporting filmmakers exploring queer narratives, highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion in contemporary storytelling.
The projects, now looking for co-production partners, will compete for the traditional 10,000 EUR Midpoint & KVIFF Development Award as well as the aforementioned Eurimages Co-production Development Award of 20,000 EUR.
Fresh Flight of KVIFF Talents
Now in its third edition, KVIFF Talents is a year-long program with the purpose of seeking out and supporting talented Czech and Slovak filmmakers and innovative 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 game concepts. The Feature Pool, on the other hand, is dedicated to supporting the development of original auteur-driven feature-length fiction films.
This year, nearly 200 submissions were received, making the selection process highly competitive. Six outstanding projects have been selected — three series and three feature films. They will receive development funding, mentorship from industry experts, and the opportunity to present their projects to potential producers, partners, and investors during the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The creative teams will pitch their projects to potential production partners during a dedicated KVIFF Talents showcase on Monday, July 7.
KVIFF Talents 2025 – Selected projects
FEATURE POOL:
Nameless (Czech Republic)
Feature debut combining live action and stop-motion animation
Animator & 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 & Director: Greta Stocklassa
Producer: Marek Novák, Xova Films
CREATIVE POOL:
Mould (Czech Republic)
Animated series for both children and adults
Animator & Director: Phillip Kastner
Producer: Tereza Havlová
Lost Boys (Czech Republic)
Anime Series
Writer & Director: Dužan Duong
Producers: AZN kru and Nutprodukce
Remake (Czech Republic)
Live-action musical series
Writer & Director: Kateřina Letáková
Producer: Daniel Bleha, Filmkolektiv
More information can be found in the press release.
In total, the KVIFF Eastern Promises platform will showcase no less than 38 projects that, thanks to support from the festival and Industry partners (Barrandov Studio, Connecting Cottbus, ČEZ Foundation, Eurimages, IFF Rotterdam, Marché du Film, Midpoint Institute, Oneplay, Soundsquare, Tatino Films, UPP), can take home awards that can significantly help them advance their projects, including the Eurimages Co-production Development Award for projects in the development phase.
Proven Industry Events Anchor Expanded Program
In addition to these brand-new and established showcases, the extended KVIFF Industry Days (Sunday, July 6 to Wednesday, July 9) will offer its traditional mix of events, such as the inspirational Czech Film Industry Forum and International Industry Insights Forum, a series of swift sessions providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of things both locally and globally. The program also includes more in-depth workshops, panels and talks on the Workshop Stage, as well as the industry networking and meeting opportunities, all within the generous premises of Kaiserbad, the majestic building next to Grandhotel Pupp. The complete Industry Days schedule will be published later in June.
KVIFF Industry Days are supported by the PPF Foundation and powered by CME. The media partner is Deadline.
More about the KVIFF Industry Days mission, its Eastern Promises platform and other activities can be found here.
