The Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival has unveiled the projects selected for its new KVIFF Central Stage showcase. Fourteen projects from eight countries in Central Europe are seeking co-production partners, financing, sales, distribution or festival premieres. The projects come from established filmmakers with extensive festival pedigrees, including Andreas Horvath, Nader Saeivar and László Csuja.
The projects, which are in various stages of development, production or postproduction, will be showcased through conversations about the filmmakers’ career paths and co-production possibilities across the participating countries.
The projects will also have access to post-production opportunities through a partnership with studios UPP and Soundsquare, while also being eligible for the €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award.
Films that meet the criteria for the Czech Audiovisual Fund’s 35% digital production incentive will secure an additional 15% direct reduction on comprehensive audio-visual post-production services from both studios.
Hugo Rosák, the head of KVIFF Industry Office, said: “We introduced this new format to address a notable gap in the Central European film landscape. While emerging filmmakers often receive substantial support, mid-career filmmakers typically have fewer opportunities for visibility and financing, despite their equally compelling projects. We were fortunate to collaborate closely with Central European film institutes, who helped us identify filmmakers currently working on highly anticipated projects that genuinely reflect the established voices already resonating with audiences.”
The Czech and Slovak projects include “Masaryk: The Coup,” a sequel to “A Prominent Patient” by Julius Ševčík, which premiered at Berlinale and won 12 Czech Lion Awards; Michal Hogenauer and Šimon Holý, both familiar to KV audiences from the East Meets West and Proxima competitions, will present their new projects “Around the Fire” and “First Dates,” respectively, both in development; Slovak director Marko Škop, whose previous films have been awarded at KV and Toronto, will present Láska, his new feature, currently in post-production.
From Austria, KV will showcase a new project in development by Andreas Horvath, the seasoned filmmaker and photographer with strong festival pedigree, also familiar to KV audiences, who will present “The Lime Works,” an adaptation of the eponymous novel by controversial Austrian Thomas Bernhard, “Nestbeschmutzer.”
The German-funded (with a Turkish co-producer) “Hijamat” is a new film by Iranian director Nader Saeivar, who won the Audience Award at Venice for “The Witness” (2024) and best screenplay at Cannes for “3 Faces,” written with his long-term collaborator Jafar Panahi, winner of this year’s Palme d’Or at Cannes, who is also editing this project. The film is now in production and seeking production and distribution partners.
Hungary is represented by two projects from established directors: László Csuja, whose feature debut “Blossom Valley” won the Jury Prize at KV and whose sophomore feature “Gentle” premiered in Sundance’s World Cinema Competition, will present “Some Good News,” his new project in development. Mihály Schwechtje continues his legacy of exploring societal issues through personal dramas with his new project “Democracy Work in Progress.”
Polish director Jagoda Szelc, whose first two films premiered at Berlinale and Rotterdam respectively, will showcase her new drama “Lakome,” based on the eponymous novel by Polish writer Malgorzata Lebda. Visual artist and filmmaker Piotr Adamski will present his new project “Starska,” inspired by his late mother and the highs and lows of her bipolar disorder.
Slovenia brings two established filmmakers familiar to both KV and Tribeca audiences: Žiga Virc (“Houston! We Have a Problem!”) with his latest project “Purgatory,” and Sonja Prosenc (“Family Therapy”) with “The Happiest Day,” now in pre-production.
Ukraine will be represented by “Vacuum” by Berlinale alumna Yelizaveta Smith, whose “Militantropos” (co-directed with Alina Gorlova and Simon Mozgovyi) just premiered in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, and Ivan Tymchenko with his new project “Making-of.”
