The film program of this year’s KVIFF is ramping up its local presence, locking in two prominent domestic releases that entice audiences with their sleek genre execution.
THE FIGHTER (BOJOVNÍK) is a feature-length debut from Vojtěch Frič and Tomáš Dianiška, which promises a compelling, high-stakes narrative blending raw emotional depth with unapologetic, hard-hitting action.
On the episodic front, festival goers will get an exclusive first look at FILTER, a buzzy new six-part miniseries from Czech Television. Helmed by the talented David Semler, the series centers on the turbulent, challenging period of transition from childhood into young adulthood.
THE FIGHTER (dir. Vojtěch Frič, Tomáš Dianiška, Czech Republic/Slovakia 2026, 120 min.)
Years after retiring, former European boxing champion and Olympic medalist Pavel “Hoff” Hoffmeister (Milan Ondrík) accepts a lucrative offer to return to a world that used to be his entire life. Instead of a boxing ring, however, he’ll be getting into an MMA cage to fight the feared Hungarian Béla Kardos (Ján Jackuliak). Can a father-son trainer duo (Pavel Rímský and Martin Finger) help the determined Hoff get back in shape and succeed in a world of new rules and also in the minefield of strained family relationships? Applying their knowledge of the genre and its best examples (Rocky, Fists in the Dark, The Wrestler), the creators of this eagerly anticipated film depict the world of dramatic encounters in the octagon with a sense of respect but also with subtly humorous detachment.
FILTER (dir. David Semler, Czech Republic 2026, 151 min.)
Sixteen is a difficult age. Besides having to choose a high school (and pass entrance exams), it’s also a time of finding oneself – emotionally, sexually, and just sort of in general. Matty knows that he wants to study art, that he likes boys, that he doesn’t like his mother’s new partner, and that he can rely on his friends – but he definitely did not expect to fall in love during exams. Radek is great, but their relationship isn’t, and so the difficulties start to mount. An exclusive sneak preview of new Czech Television miniseries.
