The Noir Film Festival, one of the Czech Republic’s most distinctive cinematic events, is set to return to Křivoklát Castle for its 13th edition from Aug. 27–30, 2025. The festival, dedicated to classic and contemporary explorations of the noir genre, will feature more than 50 screenings across eight program sections alongside concerts, discussions, and tributes.
This year’s edition marks the festival’s return to Křivoklát after a five-year absence, establishing a new alternating schedule between two historic castles. The event will now be staged at Křivoklát in odd years and Český Šternberk in even years, highlighting the festival’s ongoing effort to pair its genre focus with unique cultural settings.
Organizers are emphasizing both tradition and innovation. In addition to screenings, the festival program will include jazz and swing concerts, a noir-themed quiz, and special discussions. The upper courtyard of the castle will be named in honor of the late Czech actress Hana Maciuchová, a long-time patron of the festival.
Program highlights and special screenings
The 2025 lineup spans eight sections, offering a wide survey of noir cinema. The main program, titled Pozor, spoiler!, will be complemented by retrospectives and thematic selections, including courtroom dramas in Noir in the Courtroom, a focus on director Robert Siodmak, a showcase of Michael Mann’s neo-noirs under the banner Michael Mann – Architect of Crime, and spotlights on Korean noir and Czechoslovak contributions to the genre. Homages will also be dedicated to Jane Russell and Richard Conte, alongside a series of special screenings.
Among the most anticipated events is the screening of The Cheat (1915), a silent-era drama by Cecil B. DeMille, presented with live musical accompaniment by Czech cellist Terezie Kovalová. Music will play a larger role this year, with two evening concerts on the castle’s lower courtyard featuring saxophonist Kamil Janský and the swing group Starej pán. Four additional performances, ranging from singer-songwriters to vocalists, will precede nightly screenings.
The festival will also present the Czech DVD premiere of Snake Poison (Hadí jed, 1981), a little-known Czechoslovak production with noir elements. Actresses Daniela Kolářová and Ilona Svobodová, who star in the film and also serve as patrons of this year’s edition, will participate in the ceremonial release.
Tributes and festival atmosphere
A significant part of the festival will be devoted to honoring personalities associated with noir and the event itself. One tribute is dedicated to French actor Alain Delon, who would have celebrated his 90th birthday in 2025, with a screening of Flic Story (1975). Another is dedicated to Hana Maciuchová, remembered not only for her film and television work but also for her support of the Noir Film Festival. The television film Death in the Girardin Garden (Smrt v zahradě Girardinů, 1996) will be screened in her memory.
Festival director Vítek Grigartzik emphasized the importance of Křivoklát as a venue, noting that 2025 will mark the eighth time the festival has been held there. “It will be a pleasure to celebrate the 13th anniversary of this unique showcase, especially at Křivoklát,” he said. “On Friday, August 29, we will remember Hana Maciuchová, who sadly bid farewell to the festival here in 2019.”
Beyond its screenings, the Noir Film Festival continues to foster an atmosphere of community and exchange. A new festival café, KřivoklART, located in Biograf Sokol beneath the castle, will offer audiences and guests a meeting space throughout the event. Discussions will include a session with Jiří Hacker of Prague’s homicide division, connecting cinematic noir with real-world investigations.
With its combination of historic settings, diverse programming, and tributes to figures central to both Czech and international cinema, the 13th Noir Film Festival underscores the continued vitality of the genre and its resonance with contemporary audiences.
More info about this year’s Noir Film Festival, and a full program of screenings and events, can be found at the fest’s official website.
Lead photo: Křivoklát Castle via DepositPhotos.com
