Acclaimed filmmaker Agnieszka Holland’s latest feature Franz has been selected for the Official Competition at the 73rd San Sebastián International Film Festival, where it will make its European premiere. The Czech-German-Polish co-production will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before competing for San Sebastián’s top prize, the Golden Shell.
Filmed largely in Prague last year, Franz is a fictionalized portrait of Franz Kafka, one of the Czech capital’s most iconic literary figures. It marks another major international platform for Holland, who returns to San Sebastián nearly two decades after her previous competition entries at the Spanish festival.
A Prague-shot portrait of Kafka’s inner world
Franz, written by Marek Epstein in collaboration with Holland, blends fact and fiction to create a vivid interpretation of Kafka’s life, mind, and legacy. Rather than a traditional biopic, the film constructs a fragmented, sensory-driven exploration of the famed author’s inner world through dreams, letters, and imagined encounters.
The film stars newcomer Idan Weiss as Kafka, alongside Czech actress Jenovéfa Boková as Milena Jesenská. German actor Peter Kurth portrays Kafka’s father, and Sandra Korzeniak his mother. The cast also includes Ivan Trojan, Josef Trojan, Jan Budař, Karel Dobrý, and Vladimír Javorský, among others. Czech talent features prominently in the production, reflecting its local roots despite the film’s international scope.
Cinematographer Tomasz Naumiuk, known for his work on Holland’s earlier films Mr. Jones and Green Border, handled the film’s visuals. The project was produced by Šárka Cimbalová of Marlene Film Production and executive produced by Mike Downey, chairman of the European Film Academy, with a wide range of international co-producers including Barrandov Studio, Czech Television, Czech Anglo Productions, and the Polish Film Institute. Support came from the Czech Audiovisual Fund, Eurimages, the Prague Audiovisual Foundation, and several regional Czech film offices.
According to Cimbalová and Downey, the invitation to San Sebastián “marks a significant achievement” for the film. “Like Cannes, Berlin, or Venice, the San Sebastián International Film Festival is a major ‘A’ category festival and a very significant event in the world of cinema,” they said in a joint statement.
San Sebastián slot signals strong festival potential
Founded in 1953, the San Sebastián International Film Festival is one of only a handful of A-list festivals recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). It has long served as a platform for major European and international works, with past honorees including Francis Ford Coppola, Pedro Almodóvar, and Agnès Varda. This year’s edition will run from September 19 to 27.
Holland is no stranger to the festival. Her films Total Eclipse (1995) and Copying Beethoven previously screened in San Sebastián. She is best known for her historical dramas such as Europa Europa, Charlatan, Green Border, and Mr. Jones, with multiple awards and nominations across major festivals and academies. With Franz, she returns to one of her thematic cornerstones: the psychological and political landscapes of Central Europe.
The film’s world sales are being handled by Berlin-based Films Boutique, while U.S.-based agency Required Viewing has taken on international publicity and awards representation. The company, led by veteran publicist Steven Raphael, has handled recent festival standouts like Anatomy of a Fall, Poor Things, and Emilia Perez.
Following its debuts at the Toronto and San Sebastián film festivals, Franz will release in Czech cinemas from Sept. 25.
