One of the Czech Republic’s most prominent gatherings of cinephiles, Summer Film School in Uherské Hradiště, returns for its 51st edition from July 25 to 31 with an eclectic program of classic and contemporary films. Celebrating half a century of film heritage and education since its first edition in 1975, the 2025 edition looks outward, offering retrospectives on global auteurs and movements—ranging from Tim Burton to Dogma 95—while also spotlighting contemporary African cinema and major archival initiatives.
This year’s festival honors its past while reaffirming its relevance with a distinctly international lineup, making it an attractive stop for film professionals and enthusiasts beyond Czech borders. It will close with the world premiere of Pod parou, a Czech-Slovak gender-reversed remake of Thomas Vinterberg’s Oscar-winning Another Round.
Spotlight on international icons and anniversaries
Among the sections in year’s program is an eight-film tribute to director Tim Burton, curated and introduced by British film critic and author Ian Nathan. Known for his gothic aesthetics and offbeat storytelling, Burton’s work will be explored through a diverse range of films including Edward Scissorhands, Frankenweenie, Sweeney Todd, Batman Returns, and Big Eyes. The retrospective aims to present the many tonal variations in Burton’s oeuvre—from horror and fantasy to satire and blockbuster spectacle.
Another major highlight is Apocalypse Now: Redux, part of a section titled The Story of a Film, which presents not only Francis Ford Coppola’s seminal war epic but also Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, a documentary chronicling the film’s tumultuous production. This deep dive offers festivalgoers an opportunity to reconsider one of cinema’s most mythologized projects through restored footage and new contextual materials.
The festival will also commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Dogma 95 movement, revisiting its most influential films including The Celebration, The Idiots, and Italian for Beginners. These titles, once known for their provocative rejection of cinematic artifice, are now historical artifacts, reflecting a radical moment in late 20th-century European filmmaking.
Additionally, the AFFN (Archive Film Festival Network) program will mark the year 1975, offering a panoramic view of global cinema that year, from the birth of the blockbuster to the feminist and genre movements reshaping screens in France, Australia, and beyond.
African cinema, silent spies, and remakes with a twist
Extending its global reach, the Summer Film School will welcome Chadian filmmaker Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, a key figure in African cinema. His films, many of which have premiered in Cannes and Venice, explore themes of displacement, conflict, and gender in post-colonial contexts.
His presence aligns with the festival’s Continens Festivalis: Africa section, which features contemporary African festival films from countries like Lesotho, Somalia, and Sudan, including Berlinale Golden Bear winner Dahomey by Mati Diop.
Another unconventional section explores silent-era spy films accompanied by live music, underscoring the historical depth of espionage storytelling in cinema. Meanwhile, a VR section titled Myths and Legends delves into how ancient narratives are reimagined through immersive media, bringing digital innovation into conversation with folklore.
The festival will conclude with the world premiere of Pod parou, a Czech-Slovak reinterpretation of Another Round, directed by Rudolf Biermann. Unlike the original, in which a group of male teachers experiment with moderate alcohol consumption, Biermann’s remake casts women in the lead roles. The film has already drawn interest from original director Vinterberg and will be the first international remake to reach the screen before Leonardo DiCaprio’s long-rumored U.S. version.
The lineup also includes tributes to actors Zuzana Kronerová and Oldřich Kaiser, recipients of the annual AČFK Awards for lifetime achievement. Both are acclaimed performers in Czech and Slovak cinema, with multiple national film awards to their names.
Additional sections include retrospectives on overlooked European directors like Lina Wertmüller and Otto Heller to new works from Eastern Europe and student-curated sections like FRSH: Body, This year’s Summer Film School mixes scholarly depth with cinematic pleasure, offering a compelling invitation to look beyond borders—both artistic and geographic.
