Principal photography on the international World War II drama Melodies in the Forest is set to begin this October across Czech Republic and Italy, with production confirming that actor Kevin Spacey will headline the film as an aging world-renowned conductor whose past during the war resurfaces decades later.
The project, which is being introduced to buyers at the Cannes Film Market, is positioned as a multi-territory European co-production. It brings together Ventitre SRL and Pink Flamingo Media Group, with worldwide sales handled by Blue Eyes Film and Distribution. The company is expected to present the package at the upcoming Cannes market alongside other international titles seeking financing and distribution deals.
Directed and written by Roberto Lippolis, the film follows Petr Novotni, an 85-year-old conductor whose life begins to unravel after a kidnapping forces him to confront buried memories from 1942, when he encountered a Jewish composer in the Terezín ghetto. The story interweaves present-day investigation with wartime trauma, as Novotni’s children uncover a hidden memoir that reshapes their understanding of his legacy.
Alongside Spacey, the ensemble cast includes John Savage, Vincent Spano, Antonella Salvucci, Andrea Bruschi, Danny Kamensky, Riccardo Campione, Casper Kellndorfer and Enzo Storico.
While production has not yet confirmed specific Czech filming locations, the inclusion of the country in the shooting schedule continues a steady trend of international productions choosing Czechia for its established infrastructure, studio capacity and historically adaptable architecture.
Czechia and Italy chosen for production backdrop
Filming in Czech Republic and Italy positions Melodies in the Forest within a broader European production landscape that increasingly relies on cross-border financing and location diversity. Czechia in particular has remained a frequent host for period dramas, especially those requiring preserved urban backdrops and access to large studio facilities.
The film’s premise spans both present-day Europe and wartime Central Europe, spanning contemporary settings and historical reconstructions of the early 1940s. The narrative centers on questions of guilt, survival and memory, anchored in the conductor’s alleged wartime experiences in Terezín, a site that has featured in numerous Holocaust-era works.
The screenplay situates the emotional core of the story in the discovery of a hidden memoir, which forces a reassessment of the protagonist’s life and moral choices. As investigators close in on a present-day kidnapping case, the film gradually connects personal history with broader historical accountability.
A biopic on Kurt Gerron, a celebrated Jewish actor and director in pre-Nazi Germany who was forced by the Nazis to make a propaganda film while imprisoned in Terezín, is also slated to film in Czechia later this year. Josh Gad stars in the central role.
Cannes Market launch and industry positioning
The project’s introduction at the Cannes Film Market signals an early-stage push for international distribution. Sales agent Blue Eyes Film and Distribution is expected to present Melodies in the Forest to global buyers alongside its slate of European titles.
According to production materials, the film is being positioned as a prestige historical drama with cross-generational themes. Its structure combines a contemporary thriller framework with extended flashbacks to wartime Europe, a format often used in international co-productions seeking both festival attention and commercial appeal.
The involvement of Spacey marks one of his more prominent screen roles in recent years. Spacey’s career has been significantly affected since 2017 following multiple allegations of misconduct, which he has denied. He was acquitted in a 2023 UK criminal case involving four men and found not liable in a separate US civil trial. In 2026, he continues to face additional civil proceedings in London.
Despite the controversy, the production has moved forward with a multinational cast and crew, reflecting the project’s positioning within the independent European financing ecosystem rather than a single-studio system.
Director Lippolis, previously known for The Cat & the Moon, has described the project as grounded in documented historical events, with a focus on how private memory intersects with public history. Production partners have emphasized the film’s character-driven approach, built around performance and historical reconstruction rather than large-scale wartime action.
With filming set to begin in October, Melodies in the Forest now enters its production phase as one of several European dramas leveraging Czechia’s established role as a key filming hub for international co-productions.
Lead photo: Kevin Spacey at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival courtesy DepositPhotos.com
