Film festivals typically celebrate actors and directors, but the second edition of the Middle Art Festival in Šumperk seeks to shift the spotlight. Running Sept. 12–16, the international event focuses on the overlooked crafts and professions that define a film’s visual and emotional impact.
This year’s festival theme highlights costume designers under the motto “More”—more creators, more audiences, more films. Screenings, discussions, and exhibitions will showcase the artistry of the people who shape a movie’s look and feel, often without receiving public recognition.
Festival founder and director Eduard Špička said the goal is to celebrate the individuals who remain out of sight yet play essential roles in filmmaking. “My wish is that you go to a film because you love costumes, set design, or visual effects, and enjoy it in a completely different way than you are used to,” he explained.
Spotlight on costume designers
The 2025 edition places costume design at the forefront of programming. The festival will honor Slovak costume designer Katarína Štrbová Bieliková with its Vision Award, recognizing her contribution to cinema and her role in advancing the craft.
Bieliková is known for her work on Czech and Slovak films such as Želary, Identity Card, Masaryk, Toman, Talks with T. G. Masaryk, The Affair (Skleněný pokoj), The Hungarian Dressmaker, and Waves, as well as the Czech Television series Božena. A member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Czech Film and Television Academy, she will also be the subject of an exhibition at the Šumperk Museum.
The showcase offers audiences a close look at her creative process, from sketches to final costumes, underlining how clothing shapes characters and settings on screen. According to organizers, this recognition aligns with the festival’s mission to present film as a collective art form that extends beyond the director’s vision.
An international program in Šumperk
This year’s Middle Art Festival will present an international selection of films at Šumperk’s recently renovated Kino Oko, which now houses two screening halls. The lineup includes contemporary European and global cinema, with several films making their Czech premieres.
The screenings will be complemented by panel discussions featuring filmmakers, industry experts, and representatives of behind-the-scenes professions. Journalist and presenter Linda Bartošová is set to moderate some of these conversations, which aim to provide audiences with new insights into the technical and artistic processes of filmmaking.
Špička emphasized that unlike most festivals, which compete on premieres and star appearances, Šumperk’s event seeks to distinguish itself by focusing on the invisible professionals who make cinema possible. “There are countless festivals around the world, but none dedicate comprehensive attention to the creative professions behind the camera,” he said.
By putting costume designers, set decorators, cinematographers, and others in the spotlight, Middle Art Festival 2025 underscores the collaborative nature of filmmaking. Organizers hope the event will encourage audiences to appreciate films from a new perspective—one that values the craft and artistry hidden behind every frame.
More details about this year’s Middle Art Festival can be found at the official festival website.
Lead image: Official graphic for the 2025 Middle Art Festival
