The 2025 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will significantly expand its Industry Days program at this year’s festival, extending activities by one full day and introducing major initiatives focused on television and streaming content alongside enhanced Central European co-production opportunities.
Running from July 6-9, the expanded program represents the festival’s strategic pivot toward establishing itself as a comprehensive hub for both traditional cinema and small-screen content across Central and Eastern Europe. The changes include a partnership with Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. and the introduction of a Pop-Up Series Incubator featuring five original European series projects.
“We believe that we have a unique opportunity to strengthen our position as the leading industry event dedicated to Central Europe,” said Kryštof Mucha, executive director of Karlovy Vary IFF. The festival aims to serve as a central meeting point for producers, filmmakers, broadcasters and platforms from the region while attracting global industry professionals seeking engagement with Central European content.
Central European films take the spotlight
The festival has replaced its traditional Works in Progress pitches with KVIFF Central Stage, a more dynamic showcase created in cooperation with national film institutes from eight Central European countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.
Thirteen fiction films by established filmmakers from these countries will be featured through interactive talks rather than conventional pitches. The projects, currently in late development, production or post-production phases, will highlight both individual filmmakers and the co-production landscape in each participating country.
“We chose this new format because it addresses a real gap in the Central European film landscape,” explained Hugo Rosák, head of 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.”
The Central Stage showcase, scheduled for July 8, will offer substantial benefits to participating projects. Through partnerships with studios UPP and Soundsquare, qualifying projects eligible for the Czech Audiovisual Fund’s 35% digital production incentive will receive an additional 15% direct discount for comprehensive post-production services.
Selected projects will also compete for the EUR 20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award, determined by an international jury focusing on the most promising films in development.
Television and streaming content gains dedicated program
The festival’s expansion into small-screen content represents a significant strategic shift, enabled through the partnership with Central European Media Enterprises Ltd., which operates across Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia and Slovenia.
This collaboration introduces dedicated programming for television and streaming series development, including showcases, panels, workshops and talks by industry experts scheduled for July 8-9. The initiative leverages KVIFF’s established international connections while providing a platform for presenting television and streaming projects alongside traditional cinema.
“Television and streaming production in our region is undergoing a massive transformation – not only in content quality but also in creative ambitions,” said Daniel Grunt, CEO of Nova Group. “It is precisely in places like Karlovy Vary where experiences can be exchanged between the worlds of so-called big screen and small screen.”
The Pop-Up Series Incubator, presented by Tatino Films and supported by the European Union, showcases five selected projects that completed an eight-month development program. The initiative addresses what organizers describe as the industry’s increasing focus on intellectual property adaptation, creating opportunities for talent outside major international production companies.
“Most of the upcoming shows of streamers are adaptations of existing IPs,” explained Matthieu Darras, CEO of Tatino Films. “This ‘IP Adaptation Game’ is mostly reserved to big players, but Pop Up Series wants to create opportunities for audiovisual talents” to adapt their own intellectual properties into series projects.
The five featured projects include Angelmaker from Romania, based on the true story of the Angel Makers of Nagyrév; Erotic Lives Of The Superheroes from France, adapted from Marco Mancassola’s Italian novel; The Night Of The Beguines from France, based on Aline Kiner’s novel; The Three Burials Of Irma from Greece, adapted from Vassilis Vassilikos’ work; and Therapies from Lithuania, based on a play by Birutė Kapustinskaitė.
The expanded Industry Days will also feature established programs including the MIDPOINT Institute’s Works in Development, showcasing nine feature-length projects and five Focus Queer projects supporting filmmakers exploring queer narratives. Additionally, KVIFF Talents will present six selected projects – three series and three feature films – chosen from nearly 200 submissions to the program supporting Czech and Slovak filmmakers.
The complete program will present 38 projects across all platforms, supported by industry partners including Barrandov Studio, Eurimages, and others, with awards totaling significant financial support for project development and production advancement.
Lead photo: 2024 KVIFF by Jason Pirodsky
