A new Czech-European co-production will have its world debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this September as Franz, a biographical drama inspired by the life and imagination of Franz Kafka, has been selected for TIFF’s Special Presentations – Luminaries section, a showcase for acclaimed auteurs and anticipated global premieres.
Directed, co-written, and co-produced by Agnieszka Holland, the film explores the inner world of the literary icon through a hybrid of fact, memory, and fantasy. TIFF, now in its 50th edition, is one of the world’s most influential film festivals, often seen as a launchpad for international distribution and awards season momentum. Franz will enter Czech cinemas shortly after, with a domestic release set for Sept. 25.
Holland returns to Toronto with Kafka portrait
Agnieszka Holland, the acclaimed Polish director with deep ties to Czech cinema, returns to TIFF after previous successes such as Burning Bush and Spoor. Her new film Franz is an ambitious portrait of Kafka that weaves together biographical moments, letters, and imagined scenes to construct a sensory and introspective character study.
“I’m proud and happy to be selected again for the Toronto Film Festival,” Holland said in a press statement. “Several of my films began their journeys there, and the festival has always brought us good fortune. We are thrilled to premiere Franz before such a thoughtful audience.”
The film stars German actor Idan Weiss as Kafka, alongside Jenovéfa Boková as Milena Jesenská, Peter Kurth as Hermann Kafka, Sandra Korzeniak as Kafka’s mother, and Ivan Trojan and Josef Trojan as Franz’s uncle and alter ego, respectively. The screenplay was written by Marek Epstein in collaboration with Holland. Cinematography is by Tomasz Naumiuk, who worked with Holland on Mr. Jones and Green Border.
Set at the crossroads of Kafka’s real life and his existential literary world, Franz presents its subject as a visionary outsider navigating the tensions between duty, desire, and the surreal. Through a kaleidoscopic structure of dreams, fragments, and documents, the film explores Kafka’s emotional solitude and creative turmoil.
International backing positions Franz for global reach
Produced by Marlene Film Production’s Šárka Cimbalová, Franz is a major co-production between Czechia, Germany, and Poland, with a long list of European partners and funders. Among them are Barrandov Studio, Czech Television, Polish Film Institute, ZDF/ARTE, Eurimages, and regional film funds. The film’s international sales are handled by Berlin-based Films Boutique.
TIFF’s Special Presentations lineup has previously hosted notable Czech entries, including the Oscar-winning Kolya by Jan Svěrák and The Painted Bird by Václav Marhoul. For Holland, who has been nominated for an Academy Award three times, Franz continues her longstanding engagement with Central European history, identity, and psychological depth.
“This is an enormous honor,” said producer Šárka Cimbalová. “Being selected for Toronto, the most significant festival in North America, is a vital step for the film.”
Executive producer Mike Downey, also chair of the European Film Academy, added that TIFF’s platform plays a crucial role in bringing European cinema to North American audiences. “Our last film Green Border found worldwide recognition thanks to Toronto. We believe Franz will follow a similar path,” he said.
The film arrives after a year marking the centenary of Kafka’s death, which drew renewed international interest in his life and work. As Holland’s latest feature prepares for its Toronto premiere, expectations are high that Franz will resonate with global audiences and critics alike—especially in light of its timely themes of alienation, identity, and the search for meaning in a fractured world.
Lead photo: Idan Weiss in Franz courtesy Marlene Film Production
