The 52nd Summer Film School in Uherské Hradiště will devote one of its major retrospectives to the work of French-Polish filmmaker Roman Polanski, placing the acclaimed but controversial director at the center of this year’s festival program. Organizers announced the selection as part of a lineup that will feature more than 160 films across seven days, alongside Czech and Slovak premieres, international retrospectives, and an expanded cultural program.
Running from July 24-30, the long-running festival has built its reputation on presenting world cinema in historical and contemporary contexts through curated programs, introductions, and discussions. This year’s decision to revisit Polanski’s filmography is expected to be among its most closely watched programming choices, reflecting both the enduring influence of his films and the debate that continues to surround his legacy.
Festival embraces debate with Polanski retrospective
Festival programmers said they were fully aware that dedicating a retrospective to Polanski could prove divisive because of the director’s long history of sexual assault allegations and legal controversies. Rather than avoiding the issue, organizers said they believe audiences should be able to engage critically with the films while recognizing that opinions about the filmmaker remain deeply divided.
“We respect differing opinions,” Summer Film School program director Jan Jílek said during the festival’s program presentation. “We also respect that someone may find it objectionable enough not to attend the festival. But there is also another group of people looking forward to seeing his films on the big screen.”
The retrospective will present eight films spanning several decades of Polanski’s career, highlighting the stylistic and thematic consistency that has made him one of European cinema’s most studied directors. According to the festival, the selection illustrates his ability to combine tragedy with irony, humor with drama, and realism with fantasy while moving across genres.
Among the films scheduled are Knife in the Water, Cul-de-sac, The Fearless Vampire Killers, Chinatown, The Tenant, Tess, The Pianist, and The Ghost Writer. Together they trace a body of work that explores alienation, moral ambiguity, existential anxiety, and recurring motifs such as doubles, enclosed spaces, and unseen threats.
The retrospective has been curated by French writer, filmmaker, and film scholar Yannick Rolandeau, author of a critical study of Polanski’s work. The festival describes the director’s filmography as remarkably cohesive despite its wide range of genres, emphasizing his attention to storytelling, carefully observed detail, and distinctly Central European sensibility.
For international audiences, the retrospective also highlights Polanski’s connections to Central Europe. Born in Paris to Polish parents and raised in Kraków after returning to Poland as a child, Polanski survived the Holocaust before launching a filmmaking career that began with Knife in the Water, his Oscar-nominated Polish debut, and later expanded across Britain, France, and Hollywood.
Broader program highlights Czech cinema and film history
While the Polanski retrospective is likely to attract significant attention, it forms only one part of a broader program divided into five main strands: History, Contemporary Cinema, Czech/Slovak Cinema, Guests, and the Association of Czech Film Clubs Presents.
The festival will once again showcase recent Czech and Slovak productions through filmmaker delegations, allowing audiences to meet directors and creative teams behind new releases. Additional international sections will feature African cinema, contemporary films from Central and Eastern Europe, American independent films from the 1990s, and a retrospective dedicated to French director Bertrand Blier.
Another major historical program will celebrate the work of Ester Krumbachová, whose contributions as a costume designer, screenwriter, and director helped define the Czech New Wave. Jílek described her influence on Czech cinema as too significant to overlook.
Beyond film screenings, the festival will continue its tradition of combining cinema with concerts, theater, exhibitions, discussions, and family programming. This year’s accompanying events include performances by Richard Müller, Kateřina Marie Tichá and Bandjeez, Czech Ensemble Baroque, the folk ensemble Harafica, La Putyka, and the Spejbl and Hurvínek Theatre.
The Association of Czech Film Clubs will also present one of its annual awards to veteran Czech actor Jiří Lábus in recognition of his extensive career. Jílek said the honor follows last year’s award to Oldřich Kaiser and reflects Lábus’ decades-long contribution through both leading and supporting screen roles.
Festival organizers have also introduced measures aimed at improving the audience experience after crowded screenings in 2025. Daily accreditation will again be capped at 2,000 visitors, while the number of multi-screening ticket packages has been significantly reduced to ease pressure on festival venues.
Founded in 1975 and rooted in earlier film club seminars dating back to the 1960s, Summer Film School has become one of the Czech Republic’s leading events devoted to film appreciation and education. Unlike festivals focused primarily on premieres, its programming emphasizes historical context, critical discussion, and dialogue between filmmakers, scholars, and audiences.
