Summer cinema season is back in Prague! Summer Cinema U Keplera (Letní kino u Keplera) returns to Prague’s Max van der Stoel Park this June for its third year under the curation of distributor Artcam Films. Known for showcasing critically acclaimed international and independent Czech films, the cinema offers a distinctive cultural experience just steps from Prague Castle.
The 2025 season kicks off on Friday, June 13, with the Czech premiere of DJ Ahmet, a coming-of-age drama set in North Macedonia that received multiple awards at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The film will screen with both English and Czech subtitles. Weekly Friday screenings follow throughout June, with the program expanding later in the summer.
The cinema, a project of Prague 6, was launched in 2017 through a public vote and has since become a fixture of the local arts calendar. Screenings begin at 9:30 p.m. during June and are held in the southern section of the park, near Gymnázium Jana Keplera.
For non-Czech speakers, note that films are typically screened in their original language with Czech subtitles; this means that the June lineup is not entirely English-friendly, though both DJ Ahmet and Crossing will be screened with English subtitles in addition to Czech ones. Check the cinema program before heading out.
Artcam Films, known for bringing works by auteurs like Jim Jarmusch and Lars von Trier to Czech audiences, continues its focus on artistically ambitious and culturally relevant cinema. This season, U Keplera features films that explore themes ranging from adolescence and family responsibility to identity, freedom, and social pressure—all through a variety of international perspectives.
Coming-of-age, comedy, and drama
The season opens June 13 with DJ Ahmet, the directorial debut of FAMU graduate Georgi M. Unkovski. Co-produced by North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and Croatia, the film follows 15-year-old Ahmet as he struggles with traditional expectations in his conservative village. Caught between familial pressure and first love, Ahmet turns to music as an escape. The film won both the World Cinema – Dramatic and Special Jury Prize – Creative Vision at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
On June 20, Holy Cow! offers a slice of life from rural France. Directed by Louise Courvoisier, the story centers on Totone, a rebellious teen who inherits responsibility for his family’s dairy farm after his father’s death. Determined to find his own path, Totone sets out to make the best Comté cheese in the region.
June 27 brings Crossing, the latest film from Levan Akin (And Then We Danced). The story follows Lia, a retired Georgian teacher who travels to Istanbul in search of her missing niece, joined by a teenage neighbor. The journey becomes an exploration of loss, forgiveness, and cross-cultural connection, with the Turkish city’s atmosphere playing a central role.
The June program concludes with Hypnosis on June 30, directed by Ernst De Geer. This Nordic-French co-production revolves around a startup couple, André and Vera, preparing for a high-stakes pitch competition. Vera’s spontaneous visit to a hypnotherapist sets off a cascade of unexpected consequences, threatening both their business and personal relationship.
Summer Cinema U Keplera: practical info
The cinema is located in the southern section of Max van der Stoel Park in Prague’s Hradčany district. Closest tram stops include Hládkov, Park Maxe Van Der Stoela, and Pohořelec. Screenings in June take place every Friday at 9:30 p.m., with additional nights added in July. From September, screenings will return to Friday nights with adjusted start times based on sunset.
Refreshments are available on site through a partnership with Pivovar Kladno Kročehlavy, offering beer, wine, soft drinks, and light snacks. Seating includes chairs, deck chairs, and blankets, with two portable toilets available, including one that is wheelchair accessible.
Tickets cost CZK 100 and can be purchased online via GoOut or at the venue. Both cash and card payments are accepted. Updates and program changes due to weather are shared on the cinema’s social media channels and website.
