Karlovy Vary Film Festival Set To Revamp Industry Days Section With Bigger Focus On Series & Central European Co-Pros

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The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has given its Industry Days program a revamp, adding an extra day to the section while also extending its remit to the small screen and series development.
The extended program, which takes place across four days (July 6-9) and is supported by a new partnership with entertainment outfit and broadcaster Central European Media Enterprises, will introduce a Pop-Up Series Incubator featuring five original European series. The aim is to establish Karlovy Vary as a hub for co-productions and creative collaborations across diverse narrative forms.
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'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,' said KVIFF Executive Director Kryštof Mucha in a statement. '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 revolution.'
Central Europe Takes Central Stage
This year, there will be a new format dedicated to showcasing film projects in the making – the previous Works in Progress pitches will be replaced by a Central Eastern Europe-focused KVIFF Central Stage showcase, a new initiative created by the KVIFF Film Industry Office in cooperation with selected national film institutes of eight CEE nations (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, will feature in this initiative, which takes place on July 8 on the Industry Main Stage in the KVIFF Industry Hug in Kaiserbad. Instead of traditional pitches, projects will be introduced through interactive talks, with a focus on filmmakers and the co-production landscape in each of the participating countries.
The projects, which will be announced later this month, will be eligible for exclusive post-production benefits thanks to a 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.
The most promising films in development, which will be selected by an international jury, will also be eligible for the €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award.
'We chose this new format because it addresses a real gap in the Central European film landscape,' said Hugo Rosák, Head of the KVIFF Industry Office. '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.'
Small Screen, Big Ambitions
This year, the industry program will also look to embrace small-screen content through a new partnership with Central European Media Enterprises, a content creator and broadcaster that works in Central and Easter Europe in territories such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia and Slovenia. It also operates VoD platform Oneplay (formerly Voyo). The aim is to transform KVIFF into a comprehensive hub for television and streaming series development with a program consisting of showcases, panels, workshops and talks by major small-screen players and experts. That event will take place on July 8 and 9.
Pop Up Series Incubator
A vital part of the new small-screen focus is the Pop Up Series Incubator showcase, which takes place on July 8. It's a 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 organized 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 eight-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.
The 5 selected projects that will be showcased in Karlovy Vary are:
(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
(France)
Producer: Eric Dupont, Incognito Films
Based on La Vita Erotica Dei Superuomini, acclaimed Italian novel by Marco Mancassola
Accompanied by screenwriters Nadya Todorova, and Ruddy-Williams Kabuiku
(France)
Producer: Candice Zaccagnino, Eliane Antoinette
Writer: David Roux
http://www.kviff.comBased on La Nuit des Béguines, acclaimed French novel by Aline Kiner
Accompanied by screenwriter Yaelle Kayam
(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
(Lithuania)
Producer: Dagnė Vildžiūnaitė, Just a moment
Writer: Birutė Kapustinskaitė
Based on a play by Lithuanian writer Birutė Kapustinskaitė
Accompanied by screenwriters Fabrizio Muscia and Ruxandra Ghitescu
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 Midpoint and KVIFF Development Award, as well as the €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award. Presentations take place on July 7.
KVIFF Talents
Now in its third edition, KVIFF Talents is a year-long program which supports Czech and Slovak filmmakers and innovative audiovisual genres. The Creative Pool focuses on identifying innovative audiovisual works of any genre or format – from short films to series to podcasts or game concepts. Feature Pool is dedicated to development of original auteur-driven feature-length fiction films.
Six projects have been selected – three series and three features – which will receive development funding, mentorship from industry experts and the opportunity to present projects to potential producers, partners and investors on July 7. The projects are:
(Czech Republic)
Feature debut combining live action and stop-motion animation
Animator & Director: Daria Kashcheeva
Producer: Lukáš Kokeš, Nutprodukce
(Czech Republic, Slovakia)
Feature film – thriller
Director: Tomáš Klein
Screenwriter: Barbora Námerová
Producer: Tomáš Michálek, Master Film
(Czech Republic)
Feature debut based on the novel by Petr Šesták
Writer & Director: Greta Stocklassa
Producer: Marek Novák, Xova Films
(Czech Republic)
Animated series for both children and adults
Animator & Director: Phillip Kastner
Producer: Tereza Havlová
(Czech Republic)
Anime series
Writer & Director: Dužan Duong
Producers: AZN kru and Nutprodukce
(Czech Republic)
Live-action musical series
Writer & Director: Kateřina Letáková
Producer: Daniel Bleha, Filmkolektiv
Proven Industry Events Anchor Expanded Program
In addition to these new showcases, KVIFF Industry Days will continue to offer its traditional mix of events, such as the Czech Film Industry Forum and International Industry Insights Forum, a series of swift sessions that provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the global and local markets.
The program includes more in-depth workshops, panels and talks on the Workshop Stage, as well as industry networking and meeting opportunities. The schedule will be published later this month.
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