The Venice International Film Festival will host the world premiere of Father (Otec), a new feature by Slovak director Tereza Nvotová (Nightsiren), in its prestigious Orizzonti competition. The 82nd edition of the festival, which runs from August 27 to September 6, will mark a major international launch for the Czech-Slovak-Polish co-production, which hits Czech cinemas on September 18 through CinemArt.
Father stars Milan Ondrík as a man whose life unravels after a tragic mistake, threatening his marriage and freedom. The emotional drama is the latest film from Nvotová, whose previous work has garnered acclaim at festivals in Locarno and Rotterdam.
A bold cinematic experiment
Father centers on a devoted father who, after a single devastating error that results in the death of his child, is left isolated and guilt-ridden. As he struggles to regain the trust of his wife and salvage a love still quietly connecting them, he uncovers deeper psychological truths that challenge the foundations of responsibility, forgiveness, and free will.
According to Nvotová, the story was inspired by real events and aims to confront audiences with questions about the human capacity for empathy and personal redemption. The film employs a distinctive narrative and visual approach. Shot in a series of long, uninterrupted takes, Father forgoes traditional editing to immerse viewers directly in the protagonist’s perspective.
“For me, the language of film is just as essential as the story itself,” says Nvotová. “I couldn’t imagine this film told in a conventional, episodic way—it would be like flipping through a photo album of a funeral. I wanted to create an experience that draws the viewer completely into the main character’s world, to live through his life without pause or distance.”
Nvotová compares her use of long takes to the immersive mechanics of video games, though her aim is more introspective than interactive.
“I’m drawn to emotionally intense material,” she said. “Moments between big events—when no one’s watching, when we don’t have control—are often the most revealing. That’s where we’re most ourselves.”
A cross-border production with festival momentum
The cast of Father includes Ondrík in the title role, supported by Dominika Morávková, Anna Geislerová, Martina Sľuková, Peter Ondrejička, Ingrid Timková, Peter Bebjak, and Dominika Zajcz. Ondrík described the role as a profound personal and professional challenge.
“It was emotionally demanding to walk in this man’s shoes, to try to understand someone who has lost everything,” the actor says. “I’m proud we brought this story to life, and I hope audiences in Venice will connect with it as deeply as I did.”
Produced by Danae Production (Slovakia), Moloko Film (Czech Republic), and Lava Films (Poland), Otec also features the backing of Czech Television and TV JOJ, with support from the Slovak Audiovisual Fund, the Czech Audiovisual Fund, and the Polish Film Institute. The film’s cinematography is by Adam Suzin, with an original score by Jonatan Pjoni Pastirčák (Broken Voices).
The selection of Father for the Orizzonti section marks a significant recognition of its artistic merit. The Orizzonti sidebar, which runs parallel to the main competition in Venice, spotlights innovative works from emerging directors and fresh perspectives on global cinema. For producers Karel Chvojka and Miloš Lochman of moloko film, the selection is both a validation of the film’s vision and an opportunity to spotlight its themes.
“We’re thrilled to see Otec included in Orizzonti,” said Chvojka. “It confirms the film’s artistic strength and allows us to bring attention to a story we believe deserves an international platform.”
Nvotová is no stranger to festival acclaim. Her 2022 feature Nightsiren (Světlonoc) won the Golden Leopard at Locarno, and her 2017 debut Filthy (Špína) premiered in Rotterdam and won the Czech Film Critics’ Award for Best Film. Father will premiere at the Venice film festival in late August before its theatrical release in the Czech Republic on Sept. 18
