Director Olmo Omerzu will premiere his new film Ungrateful Beings (Nevděčné bytosti) in the main competition of the San Sebastián International Film Festival this September, festival organizers announced this week. The film joins Agniezska Holland‘s Franz as the second Czech co-production to compete at the 73rd edition of the Spanish festival, one of Europe’s leading showcases for world cinema, which runs Sept. 19–27.
The selections mark a significant moment for Czech filmmaking, as local productions have been relatively absent from the top competition slots at Europe’s A-list festivals in recent years. For Omerzu, the festival also carries personal significance: a decade ago, he introduced his breakthrough feature Family Film in San Sebastián, where it premiered in the New Directors section and went on to travel widely on the international circuit.
“I’m very happy that Ungrateful Beings has been selected for such a prestigious festival, and in the main competition,” Omerzu said in a press release. “For me and for all the creators who worked on this film, it’s a great recognition. Years ago, I premiered Family Film in San Sebastián, which went on to have a very successful international run. That’s why I’m sincerely looking forward to presenting Ungrateful Beings at the festival.”
A family in crisis
Described by the director as an intimate family drama, Ungrateful Beings follows recently divorced father David, who takes his teenage children Klára and Teo on holiday to the Adriatic coast in an effort to reconnect. What begins as a hopeful new chapter reveals deeper fractures, particularly for 17-year-old Klára, who struggles with an eating disorder. Her fragile balance is further disrupted when she becomes involved with Denis, a local young man.
The film introduces newcomers Dexter Franc as Klára and Antonín Chmela as Teo, while Irish actor Barry Ward, known for roles in Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall and the Netflix series The End of the F***ing World, portrays their father. Slovak-born actress Barbora Bobuľová (Coco Chanel) plays David’s ex-wife Laura, and Slovenian actor Timon Šturbej portrays Denis.
Ungrateful Beings marks Omerzu’s fifth feature film and continues his collaboration with longtime producer Jiří Konečný of Endorfilm. The pair have worked together since Omerzu’s debut A Night Too Young (Příliš mladá noc), which premiered in Berlin’s Forum section in 2012. Their partnership has spanned films such as Family Film, the road movie Winter Flies (Všechno bude), which won six Czech Lion awards including Best Film and Best Director, and Bird Atlas (Atlas ptáků), which competed at Karlovy Vary in 2021.
A European co-production
Like Omerzu’s previous projects, Ungrateful Beings is an international co-production, reflecting the cross-border collaborations increasingly prominent in Central European cinema. Endorfilm partnered with Rok Biček’s Cvinger Film in Slovenia, Lava Films in Poland, Punkchart Films in Slovakia, and Kinorama in Croatia. Additional co-producers include Lonely Production, Czech Television, and France’s Melocoton Films, alongside support from RTV Slovenija.
Funding for the project came in part from the Czech Film Fund, which contributed nearly CZK 14 million, as well as regional and national support from film institutions in Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, France, and the Czech regions of South Moravia and Plzeň.
International sales are handled by Cercamon, which is expected to launch the film to buyers during or shortly after its San Sebastián premiere.
Omerzu, who studied directing at Prague’s FAMU, has emerged as one of the most internationally visible Czech-based filmmakers following screenings at festivals such as Berlin, Tokyo, Toronto, and Karlovy Vary. With Ungrateful Beings, the director once again explores themes of generational divides, identity, and the shifting dynamics of modern families.
The San Sebastián International Film Festival, established in 1953, is regarded as Spain’s most prestigious film event and one of Europe’s leading festivals alongside Cannes, Venice, and Berlin. Over its history, it has hosted the premieres of directors including Francis Ford Coppola, Pedro Almodóvar, and Bong Joon-ho.
