A new red carpet, a new terrace, a new festival club, and a new hostel. The 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has several new features in store for you.
This year, the entire festival will kick off in a new way—exceptionally in Mariánské Lázně, where the festival began eighty years ago. As early as Wednesday, July 1, there will be a preview screening of Pedro Almodóvar’s new film Bitter Christmas, which will be presented by a KVIFF delegation.
The opening night in Karlovy Vary on Friday, July 3, will also be unique, featuring the Vary Special Show concert—a musical program prepared specifically for the 60th KVIFF by DJ and producer NobodyListen. Following the performance—which begins at 10:45 p.m. in front of the Thermal Hotel and is free of charge—audiences can look forward to the Allwyn drone show, which will replace the fireworks display for the first time.
This year, the red carpet will be laid out over a larger and longer area, giving fans more space and a better view of the movie stars. The carpet will run directly along the Thermal Hotel, and delegations will enter from the left side (as viewed toward the hotel). On the right side, spectators will be able to enter the Grand Hall. This year will also feature two new female hosts and two new male hosts who will provide commentary as the delegations arrive—Saša Michailidis, Zuzana Tvarůžková, Monika Zavřelová, and Petr Koubek.
A new, affordable accommodation at I. P. Pavlova 7 near the Thermal Hotel offers simple and practical facilities with a 24-hour front desk. Capacity is limited to 50 guests per night. More information about amenities and prices can be found here.
There’s also a new festival club, BADEN powered by Visa, at the Zámecké Lázně, which will offer accreditation holders and Festival Pass holders a terrace for socializing, coffee, drinks, and light refreshments during the day; in the evening, it will become part of the festival’s nighttime program with concerts and DJs.
For the first time, the Allwyn Terrace above the main movie theaters at the Thermal Hotel is opening its doors to the public, offering entertainment and relaxation daily starting at 2 p.m. And at the new Zalando Booth, open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., you’ll find stylish clothing and light snacks, or you can even create a unique postcard as a keepsake of the festival.
To mark the festival’s anniversary, a new series of short videos titled KVIFF Since 1946 has been created, chronicling interesting moments from the history of the Karlovy Vary event. You can watch the complete video series now on KVIFF.TV. For another journey through KVIFF’s history, see the new photo exhibition KVIFF 60/80 (1946–2026), displayed on thirty outdoor panels between the Pupp and Thermal hotels. There’s also special content in the Out of the Past archive section, which this year is exceptionally dedicated to films that have been pivotal to the festival’s identity and reputation.
You can also celebrate KVIFF’s anniversary with the new perfume The Cinephile from the Czech brand Alexmonhart, the new alcoholic drink Don Red Carpet, and the non-alcoholic cocktail Mattoni60.
