The 29th edition of the Made in Prague Festival will bring Czech film, theatre, music, and visual arts to some of London’s most prestigious venues from Oct. 31 to Nov. 30, 2025. Organized by the Czech Centre London, the annual event has become one of the most prominent showcases of Czech culture abroad, linking artists and audiences through a month-long series of screenings, performances, and exhibitions.
Over nearly three decades, the festival has evolved into a comprehensive cultural bridge between Czechia and the United Kingdom, presenting Czech creativity in a range of artistic forms. This year’s edition continues that tradition with a dynamic mix of film premieres, opera performances, and interdisciplinary events reflecting both the contemporary Czech scene and its historical depth.
Opening with a dual exhibition by Czech–British visual artists at Bouda and Vitrínka galleries and a pop-up concert by singer Aiko, the festival will unfold across major cultural venues including BFI IMAX, The Coronet Theatre, the Royal Opera House, and the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Czech cinema in the spotlight
Film remains a core pillar of the Made in Prague Festival, with UK premieres of several internationally acclaimed titles. Among the highlights are Waves and Caravan, both screening at the Regent Street Cinema, The Garden Cinema, and BFI IMAX. The lineup also features Girl America and Actress, two recent Czech films that have drawn critical attention at European festivals for their storytelling and performances.
A special presentation at the Institute of Contemporary Arts will explore the life and work of renowned Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková, whose candid images from late-20th-century Prague continue to inspire filmmakers and artists alike. I’m Not Everything I Want to Be, a documentary about Jarcovjáková that is this year’s Czech submission to the 2026 Academy Awards, will close the festival and include a Q&A with Jarcovjáková.
Family audiences can look forward to Living Large, which will include a screening of the animated movie and a workshop designed for children. Three newly-restored Czech classics will also screen during the festival: Ecce Homo Homolka, The White Disease, and Riders of the Sky.
For many in the London film community, the festival offers a rare opportunity to see contemporary Czech cinema on the big screen, often with accompanying discussions or Q&A sessions that bring filmmakers into direct conversation with British audiences. The Czech Centre London, which has curated the event since its inception, has emphasized the growing interest in Central European cinema among UK viewers, particularly within the independent and art-house circuits.
Music, theatre, and cross-cultural dialogue
Beyond cinema, the Made in Prague Festival continues to expand its multidisciplinary scope. A key highlight this year is the Royal Opera House premiere of Leoš Janáček’s The Makropulos Case, conducted by newly appointed Artistic Director Jakub Hrůša. The opera is complemented by an exhibition exploring Janáček’s legacy and his influence on modern Czech music.
Musical offerings extend further with the Future Tones concert at the Royal Academy of Music, spotlighting emerging Czech pianists, and a closing gala at the Holy Sepulchre church featuring the English Chamber Orchestra with Czech violinist Pavel Šporcl. Meanwhile, theatre and performance art take center stage with Radim Vizváry’s solo physical theatre piece at The Coronet Theatre, and a tribute evening celebrating Prague’s iconic Semafor Theatre.
The festival’s program includes The Price of War, a conference hosted by the CERGE-EI Foundation, addressing global affairs through the lens of cultural diplomacy. Other events, such as the symposium on photography and visual practices at the V&A, underscore the festival’s commitment to dialogue between disciplines and nations.
For Czech Centre London Director Přemysl Pela, the Made in Prague Festival serves not just as a cultural showcase but as an act of international engagement. Quoting Václav Havel’s belief that “culture is not an accessory but the foundation of a free society,” Pela describes the festival as a space where art fosters empathy and understanding between nations.
A full program of events at this year’s Made in Prague Festival can be found at the website of Czech Centre London.
Lead photo: Stanislav Majer in Waves (2024)
