Exciting Guests, Fantastic Entertainment, and a Full Cultural Lineup: The Summer Film School in Uherské Hradiště is Approaching

International guests at the Summer Film School

Besides Michel Ocelot, the festival will also host the talented Franco-Senegalese filmmaker and writer Ramata-Toulaye Sy. After graduating from the renowned La Fémis film school, she gained recognition first as a screenwriter and then through her debut film *Banel and Adama*, a lovely love story set in rural Senegal that was shown at both the Cannes and Toronto film festivals, among others.

This year, a number of international film professionals will also attend. From Italy, film historians Valerio Coladonato and Damiano Garofalo will be presenting works by Michelangelo Antonioni. France will be represented by screenwriter, director, and journalist Yannick Rolandeau, a well-known authority on Roman Polanski’s films.

Eastern Promises

News from the past Socialist Bloc will be a highlight for the ninth time in the Eastern Promises section. This year’s focus is on Balkan cinema, which includes two films from Georgia, one of which was filmed using a mobile phone. Additionally, audiences can expect the award-winning drama Homeland by director Paweł Pawlikowski, which delves into identity, guilt, and intricate family dynamics. The theme of family also recurs in other selected Polish films. Also featured will be Russian-language films that showcase how filmmaking can challenge state propaganda. The festival will present both works from contemporary Russia and films made by exiled filmmakers.

Accompanying programme of the Summer Film School

As part of the additional program, celebrated figures from the Czech-Slovak music scene will grace the stage, including Richard Müller, the lively band Harafica, Bert & Friends, and Kateřina Marie Tichá with her group Bandjeez. Regularly included in the festival is a classical music show; this year, it will celebrate the 350th anniversary of the passing of Adam Václav Michna of Otradovice, featuring performances by the Czech Ensemble Baroque and the Silentium! ensemble. At Rochus Park, expect an exciting musical blend combining folk, classical, and jazz genres performed by the Pacora Trio. Kids will particularly enjoy the performances by the Spejbl and Hurvínek Theatre, and the whole family can look forward to a delightful spectacle by Circus La Putyka called the Splash show.

Additional activities will be available, such as a play tent at Smetanovy sady for children’s entertainment during the day, while the evenings will feature quizzes and board games. The area between the Hvězda and Mír cinemas will host popular cimbalom bands performing in the evenings alongside samples of fine Slovácko wines. Moreover, the festival will host lively parties every night at the Literature/New Reality Tent and after midnight at the Mír club.

A packed literary programme

The literary program at the Summer Film School will, as always, include readings by authors and presentations of new books. Among the featured authors will be the Dilia Litera award winner for Debut of the Year, Marie Škrdlíková, the poet Pavel Petr accompanied by guest John Bok, along with Mojmír Sedláček, Marek Šindelka, Michal Tallo, and the prominent Czech philosopher Ivan Blecha, who will discuss his monograph on Gustav Mahler. Pavel Kosatík will provide insights on President Edvard Beneš. The winners of the 2025 Literary Critics’ Awards are also expected to appear—Petr Borkovec with his prose collection *Some Cécile and Others* and Aleš Kauer with his poetry collection *The Skull Burns with a Neon Dream*.

Exhibitions in Uherské Hradiště

Another established feature of the Summer Film School will be exhibitions. Visitors will have the opportunity to see posters of auteur films from the 1950s and photographs by Libuše Jarcovjáková that celebrate the work of Ester Krumbachová. We will also honor the 80th birthday of photographer Jindřich Štreit through a display including images featuring him, and there will be photos showcasing the Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda at work.

The festival’s main media partner will present a traveling exhibition focusing on Football Moments. ČTK will host discussions, alongside special guests like Miroslav Kadlec, film director Jan Prušinovský, and long-time photojournalist Michal Doležal, which will occur on 28 July, coinciding with the exhibition’s opening.