Finále Plzeň, the annual showcase of contemporary Czech cinema, will return to the West Bohemian city from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1. The festival, one of the key platforms for Czech filmmakers, offers audiences a concentrated look at the country’s current film and television production.
This year’s edition opens with the biographical drama Franz, directed by Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, which explores the life and work of writer Franz Kafka. The closing night will feature the premiere of Něco za něco (pictured at top), a comedy from director Matěj Pichler adapted from the play Vedlejší účinky.
Beyond its screenings, Finále Plzeň is also known for its competitive program. The festival annually awards the Golden Kingfisher to films across several categories, with an international jury bringing diverse perspectives to the evaluation process.
International jurors and festival highlights
Among the most notable figures joining the 2025 jury is American screenwriter Eric Kaplan, whose credits include the long-running sitcom The Big Bang Theory and the animated series Futurama. His participation reflects the festival’s effort to connect Czech film with global industry voices.
Other jurors include Finnish actress Krista Kosonen, recognized internationally for her role in Blade Runner 2049, and Polish editor Beata Walentowska, who collaborated on the drama United States of Love. Their inclusion underscores Finále Plzeň’s ambition to balance a national focus with international expertise.
The competitive lineup for feature and animated films will see ten entries contend for the festival’s top prize. Titles include Dužan Duong’s Summer School, 2001, Vojtěch Strakatý’s The Other Side of Summer, Katarína Gramatová’s Promise, I’ll Be Fine, and Tereza Nvotová’s Father. Also in competition are Petr Kazda and Tomáš Weinreb’s Nobody Likes Me, Ondřej Provazník’s Broken Voices, and Ján Sebechlebský’s Secret Delivery. International co-productions such as Tales from the Magic Garden, with contributions from Czech, Slovak, and French creators, further expand the lineup.
“Visitors can look forward to a cross-section and a curated selection of all the fantastic, phenomenal, and fascinating projects that have been created in Czech cinema over the past year, including many premieres and sneak previews, hundreds of film guests, and a varied accompanying program,” says festival director Eva Veruňková Košařová.
“In short, Pilsen will once again become the ideal place for a cinema holiday for all film fans, where they can spend time with friends not only in theaters but also over a glass or cup of something good. A distinctive feature of this year’s festival is the strong presence of family films and films for children, often in premieres and advance screenings. Audiences can also look forward to a range of brand-new film and television titles.”
Expanding categories and Czech industry focus
The festival’s scope extends beyond feature films. Documentary entries will compete with works such as Tomáš Hlaváček’s Impossibility, Marek Šulík’s Ms. President, and Benjamin Tuček and David Čálek’s War Correspondent. Director Miro Remo will be represented twice, with the documentary Better Go Mad in the Wild and the series Lebo Medvěd.
Television and streaming projects have become increasingly prominent within the festival’s program. This year, audiences can see pilot episodes and selected installments from new series, including Petr Zelenka’s Limity, Matěj Chlupáček’s Daughter of the Nation, and Damián Vondrášek’s The King of Šumava. These additions highlight the blurring lines between cinematic and serialized storytelling in the Czech audiovisual sector.
A strong student section continues to emphasize the next generation of Czech filmmakers. Films from FAMU, UMPRUM, and other schools will compete for recognition that often serves as a stepping stone to wider distribution or festival exposure.
Organizers will release the complete daily schedule in early September. Advance ticket sales open Sept. 4, available exclusively online. For Czech filmmakers, distributors, and audiences, Finále Plzeň remains a crucial venue to gauge the state of national cinema—while international jurors and guests bring outside perspectives to the country’s evolving film landscape.
Lead photo: Martin Pechlát in Něco za něco (2025)
