The Kaiserbad (Imperial Spa) is a national cultural monument located right in the heart of Karlovy Vary, in the middle of the town’s UNESCO World Heritage spa district.
A discussion accompanying the world premiere of the cinematic cut of the globally successful video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Cinematic Cut from Warhorse Studios will focus primarily on the game Kingdom Come: Deliverance II itself, as well as the broader context of the Czech gaming industry. The conversation will address the background of the game's development and production, the reasons for creating a cinematic cut for the big screen, and also the current state of game design, its state support, and other possibilities for its development in the Czech Republic. The discussion will feature Martin Frývaldský, CEO of Warhorse Studios, Daniel Vávra, a Czech screenwriter, director and video game designer who has been working in the gaming industry for more than two decades and gained fame as the main screenwriter of the legendary Czech game Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven, Petr Pekař, originally an editor and director who has spent the last ten years in the video game industry as a creator of cutscenes and has worked as Cinematic Director at Warhorse Studios since 2018, and Pavel Barák, Chairman of the Czech Game Developers Association. The discussion will be moderated by Saša Michailidis. The debate will be conducted in Czech with English translation.
Named after Swedish doctor Gustav Zander (1835–1920), Zander Hall on the upper floor of the Kaiserbad is richly decorated with wood carvings and impressive murals
The Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and the Czech Audiovisual Fund in cooperation with the Karlovy Vary IFF are presenting the FILMMAKERS LOUNGE – and exclusive venue for the presentation of Czech audiovisual content and the meeting of Czech and international film experts and filmmakers.
Located between the Thermal Hotel and KVIFF.TV Park, the Filmmakers Lounge will be open to all holders of filmmaker, industry, partner, guest and press accreditations from Saturday 5 July to Friday 11 July from 10:00 to 20:00.
Partnered by the Audiovisual Producers´ Association (APA).
Václav Jirásek – Beings & Bombasts
Václav Jirásek (1965), a co-founder of the legendary Bratrstvo (Brotherhood) art group, is an artist whose photographic work is characterized by an interest in masks, the body, mysteries, and decadence, often with an emphasis on visual overload and an admittedly whimsical aesthetic. The exhibition is inspired by the Baroque understanding of the world as a stage on which being seen means to exist – and being overlooked is an act comparable with metaphysical death. Over the course of his long-term friendship with the Karlovy Vary festival dating all the way back to 2006, he has shot portraits of stars and visitors, who have thus entered the stage of the theater of the world. Anyone who has passed by his flash has a chance of seeing themselves at the exhibition. Organized with financial support from the Karlovy Vary Region and the City of Karlovy Vary.
July 5–12 2025, open daily 10 am – 7 pm. Exhibition opening: Saturday, July 5 at 6 pm.
Seven Decades of the Karlovy Vary Art Gallery (1953–2023)
This permanent exhibition put together for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Karlovy Vary Art Gallery presents a rich collection of 20th- and 21st-century Czech art, featuring works by modern Czech art classics as well as contemporary artists such as A. Slavíček, J. Preisler, J. Trampota, J. Zrzavý, J. Čapek, E. Filla, J. Šíma, M. Medek, V. Boštík, K. Nepraš, M. Rittstein, Z. Sýkora, K. Malich, F. Skála, and J. Róna.
July 6–12, 2025, open daily 10 am – 7 pm.
The four-star Hotel Thermal offers dozens of services under one roof. The unique brutalist building houses a wellness centrum, a spa, restaurants, bars, a swimming pool, and conference spaces. The hotel has 273 rooms and suites.
Premiere of new standup special by Arnošt Frauenberg as you’ve never seen him before. One story and lots of topics, accompanied by music and song. This time around, Arny has set himself a challenge: Standup with no vulgarity. But it will still be a blast! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but mostly you’ll be surprised at all the new content. Tickets are on sale at the Main Box Office in Hotel Thermal.
Thirty large-format panels installed outdoors between two iconic festival locations – the Hotel Thermal and the Grandhotel Pupp – present sixty black-and-white photographs by the festival’s photographers capturing the festival’s most important moments along with unique portraits of the extraordinary individual who headed the Karlovy Vary festival for the past three decades.
Thirty large-format panels installed outdoors between two iconic festival locations – the Hotel Thermal and the Grandhotel Pupp – present sixty black-and-white photographs by the festival’s photographers capturing the festival’s most important moments along with unique portraits of the extraordinary individual who headed the Karlovy Vary festival for the past three decades.
The Karlovy Vary Municipal Theatre is a pseudo-Baroque structure built in 1886 according to plans by the Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer.
Karlovy Vary’s Čas Cinema shows the latest films in not just classical 2D but also through increasingly popular 3D screenings. At the cinema’s café, you can enjoy refreshments before and after the movie.
The festival cinema on the first floor of the Hotel Thermal seats 70 people.
The festival cinema at the Hotel Thermal seats 264 people.
This pseudo-Renaissance stone colonnade located on the left bank of the Teplá River in the middle of the town’s spa district, is home to five hot springs.
Oskar Hes with Kateřina Bartuněk Hrstková and dancers with disabilities from the Prague Wheelchair Sports Club. Showcases of classical and modern dances in striking choreographies! Come and help us “Dance Through Barriers” together.
Once upon a time… there was a little theater. Sváťa’s Little Theatre, a group of amateur actors and friends of puppet theater from Litoměřice present The Three Little Pigs.
Concert – SIGNÁL: alternative rock from the Wild West.
Pedestrian bridge
The largest racket sport center in the Karlovy Vary Region has been in operation since 1905. Choose from a wide range of services, including court rental or courses at our tennis academy.
Returning to the festival this year is Michel Franco, one of the most significant voices in contemporary Mexican cinema. The acclaimed director, screenwriter and producer, born in Mexico City, has earned his place at prestigious festivals worldwide through his distinctive filmography. Last year, he presented his film Memory at the festival, which premiered in the main competition at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, where it won the Volpi Cup for Best Male Performance for Peter Sarsgaard. This year, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will present his latest film Dreams, a provocative love story starring Jessica Chastain. Franco is the creator of celebrated films including Sundown (2021), New Order (2020, Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize, Venice), April's Daughter (2017, Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize, Cannes), Chronic (2015, Best Screenplay, Cannes), and After Lucía (2012, Un Certain Regard Award, Cannes). Through his production company Teorema, he has also produced successful films by other filmmakers, including Lorenzo Vigas's Golden Lion-winning From Afar. The conversation with Michel Franco will be moderated by film critic Pavel Sladký.
The multifunctional festival center next to the Hotel Thermal offers a lavish program for all festival visitors from 11 am to 3 am. Throughout the day, festival guests will take the stage for interviews, and visitors can compete in a film quiz, attend stand-up comedy, have fun at the CCM hockey shooting range, or just grab a bite to eat and relax with a coffee or Don Papa Premiere drink. The evening and nighttime are reserved for concerts and the best DJs.
Daily gatherings with delegations from the films in competition. Today’s host: Ian Willoughby.
This year's Special Screenings section will showcase two striking debuts from emerging filmmakers - Dužan Duong's long-awaited first Czech feature Summer School, 2001, a Vietnamese-Czech film, alongside Katarína Gramatová's Promise, I'll Be Fine, which captures the often harsh realities of contemporary Slovakia through powerful performances by non-professional actors. Both Duong and Gramatová will discuss their journey to feature-length filmmaking in conversation with Veronika Bednářová.
Please note that this talk will be held in Czech only, with no translation provided.
Daily gatherings with delegations from the films in competition. Today’s host: Viktor Palák.
Reflex magazine’s festival special presents prominent figures from the world of cinema. Host Pavlína Horáková interviews famous faces and unexpected guests of this year’s Karlovy Vary festival.
A series of interviews during which actors talk about their profession, their personal experiences, and the changing world of film and theater. The informal format provides audiences with personal perspectives, behind-the-scenes stories, and room for Q&A.
How well do you know the films, the stars, the festival, and Karlovy Vary? Test your knowledge with our daily quiz and win valuable prizes. Open to anyone who shows up at KVIFF.TV Park.
Rightfully one of the longest-playing house DJs in the Czech Republic. His beginnings are closely bound to the legendary Radost FX club in Prague.
DJs Malalata: 11 pm – 1 am
The Malalata music project, which has been active on the scene for eight whole years, is a unique fusion of Balkan beats, gypsy music, Mexican cumbia, and Caribbean reggae. The two Slovak DJs combine these rhythms into distinctive sets characterized by an unbound and infectiously energetic performance.
DJ Flux: 1 – 3 am
Flux is the absolute cream of the crop when it comes the Czech scratch DJ scene. A multiple winner of the DMC national championship and a regular presence at international DJ battles, he has a style that is technically precise but also playful and energetic, mixing hip hop, funk, breakbeat, and bass genres. Flux is also a founder of the Buggy Records label and an active promoter who is constantly pushing the boundaries of Czech club DJing.
Share your GIGA experiences with us in Vary. At the Vodafone Zone, you can look forward to yoga in the morning and a silent disco in the evening, a gaming zone, short films at the Vodafone TV cinema, and a series of info sessions organized in cooperation with the Vodafone Foundation. Enjoy great food and drink from food trucks, and your phone can recharge its batteries with us as well. Plus our colleagues at the festival shop will gladly help you choose or otherwise arrange Vodafone services. We look forward to seeing you every festival day from 10 am to midnight. Follow us on social networks @vodafonecz or visit vodafone.cz/vary.
There is only one sport – a public forum with para-athletes.
DJ Oh-D
Experience first-hand how pleasant it can be to wait for public transport in a modern bus shelter. You can try one out behind KVIFF.TV Park near the Hotel Thermal, right at the festival bus stop called “Hotel Thermal.” Here, you can connect to WiFi, charge your phone, or find all kinds of information on an LCD screen. This trendy bus stop is provided by the festival’s main media partner, BigBoard Praha. Innovative, fully functional shelters can be found in various locations in and around Prague, including “Slavia Nádraží Eden,” and the main square in Průhonice.
BMW will be present at KVIFF 59 in front of the Kaiserbad with its new BMW Pop-Up. Festivalgoers can look forward to an exclusive showing of the BMW XM’s Individual version, plus a presentation of M Performance Parts accessories and of the individualization options available as part of the BMW Individual program. One of the main attractions will be a BMW M4 CS performance model. A team of specialists will be on hand to answer any questions you might have about the exhibited vehicles or any other BMW products. Visitors with festival passes can also register for a test drive, meaning they can experience first-hand the joy of driving a BMW. The BMW Pop-Up will be open every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
Check out the world of Bohemian crystal and get a close-up look at the work of the most skilled master glassmakers. At the Moser Boutique right inside the Grandhotel Pupp, a unique bowl from the Magnus collection – an auction item for the Sue Ryder non-profit organization – will be on display throughout the festival. July 4–12, daily 11 am – 7 pm. www.moser.com.
During KVIFF 59, Canadian hockey brand CCM and the Sue Ryder non-profit organization are joining forces at KVIFF.TV Park. Every day from 11 am to 7 pm, you can test your accuracy at the CCM Hockey Goal while helping a good cause. Every time you get a shot to the post, hit the upper corner, or shoot between the goalie’s legs, CCM will donate a financial sum to the Sue Ryder organization, which helps senior citizens live a dignified old age. Come and shoot at the goal and support a good cause!
Radiožurnál and KVIFF invite you to the Filmžurnál program at the R-stream mobile studio at the Park Colonnade (Sadová kolonáda). Radiožurnál will again broadcast live from the film festival in Karlovy Vary. Come to see live broadcasts from Radiožurnál’s mobile studio – the R-stream – right at the Park Colonnade (Sadová kolonáda). Featuring moderators Jan Pokorný and Hanka Shánělová, Radiožurnál film critic Pavel Sladký, and their festival guests. July 4–12, daily 9 am – 5 pm.
Dužan Duong
director Martin Trabalík + protagonists Petr Jochec, Vanessa Jochecová, and Bára Salačová
Come and taste the festival’s official drink at the Don Papa bar at KVIFF.TV Park. The bar will be open throughout the festival, daily from 11 am to 3 am. @donpaparum, pijsrozumem.cz
Meetings, discussions, and workshops with filmmakers, television creators, and actors about new films, documentaries, and series from Czech Television. Evening concerts. For children, dance, art, and sports programs, meet-and-greets and photo ops with fairy-tale characters; visit the ČT :D photo studio and the ČT Edition shop. Café open all day with a special breakfast menu in the morning. From 9 am to 10 pm. Free admission. Full program at www.ceskatelevize.cz/vary.
Dance lessons for kids.
With directors Tomáš Pavlíček and Kateřina Karhánková, actress Jana Plodková, producer Jakub Mahler, Czech Television creative producer Jaroslav Sedláček
With director Evženie Brabcová and actors Klára Issová, Jan František Uher, Josefína Ramešová, and Michaela Černá; producers Jakub Rálek and Peter Badač
Dance lessons for kids.
With director Ondřej Vavrečka, producer Vít Janeček, Czech Television creative producer Věra Krincvajová
With director Zuzana Kirchnerová, actors Aňa Geislerová, David Vodstrčil, Jana Plodková, and Juliana Brutovská-Oĺhová, producer Dagmar Sedláčková, and Czech Television creative producer Jaroslav Sedláček
An hour of shorts for children big and small.
Formed at the start of the millennium, the band has significantly changed its sound since then, having moved from acoustic instruments towards a more solid rock sound with the frequent use of electronica. Last year, they released their tenth album, 41 minut.
Open every day from 10 am to 8 pm. Welcome to the Esprit Club 2025! Appointments for men’s haircuts or styling are accepted at +420 603 109 301. The service is provided free of charge.
Don’t miss a single film. Our rental shops have classic bikes and e-bikes ready for you to quickly and comfortably get around between the tent city and individual screening venues. The rentals are operated by professionals from the Ski & Bike Center Radotín. Rentals are free, so don't hesitate and pick up your Specialized bike at one of these four locations: the tent city, Thermal Hotel, Theater Square (Divadelní náměstí), and in the park by the Grandhotel Pupp. The bikes are available every day from 8 am to 11 pm. Follow us on Instagram @specializedcz.
The bike rental partner is the ČEZ Group.
By renting a bike, you support our official non-profit partner Sue Ryder and the cinema in Horní Slavkov.
Visit the innogy Bistro, open every day of the festival from 9 am to midnight. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. More information at innogy.cz/kviffmoments.
Film and music with innogy. Come experience great #kviffmoments. Film quizzes, dubbing studio, face painting, balloons, talk shows featuring the creators of Princess Goldenhair, Broken Voices, Caravan, and Invincibles.
July 5 and 6: TMEL puppet theater; July 5: fencing with the stunt performers of CSFA; July 5, 8, and 10 starting at 7 pm: performances, respectively by Pavel Čadek, Adam Mišík, and Tereza Mašková. More information at innogy.cz/kviffmoments.
Zuzana Kirchnerová, Dagmar Sedláčková
Discover a world of unforgettable experiences and come visit us. Among other things, you can look forward to a talk show by Libor Bouček with special guests. The IQOS LOUNGE is open every festival day from 11 am to midnight.
Your festival cup of perfection. Come and enjoy our unique atmosphere with a cup of excellent Italian coffee Lavazza: espresso, cappuccino, or any of our other specialties. Our stand offers not only top-notch coffee, but also moments of relaxation, inspiration, and the chance to meet other lovers of coffee and cinema. Daily 8 am – 8 pm.
As in past years, the Karlovy Vary film festival is not just about film – it’s about beauty as well. Please accept our invitation to the L’Oréal Paris Lounge and let yourself be pampered by the products of this leading cosmetic brand. You can look forward to make-up inspired by the stars of the red carpet, hair styling, and skin diagnostics. Daily from 10 am to 8 pm.
Come to life at the festival with Mattoni. At the Mattoni Life Bar, non-alcoholic Mattoni cocktails and good tunes await you every day from 1 pm until 11 pm. Come and check out musicians such as BEN CRISTOVAO, PSH, Marcell, CHINASKI, Sebastian, NobodyListen & guests, Jelen, Calin, Pokáč, Pam Rabbit, Ewa Farna, and many others. Every day starting at 1 pm, our mini-stage is available with instruments for you to jam on. Or relax and watch others perform. During the day, you can see an art exhibition organized in collaboration with light designer Pavla Beranová. More information on Instagram @mattoni_cz.
Refreshments every day of the festival with tasty Mattoni non-alcoholic cocktails at our pop-up bar. This year, try our new non-alcoholic drink: Lavazza coffee with Mattoni mineral water.
Located near the Elisabeth Spa, the info booths of the Karlovy Vary Information Center, the Živý kraj tourist program, and Dobroty Karlovarského kraje (Treats of the Karlovy Vary Region) will be open every day of the festival from 10 am to 8 pm. Come and enjoy regional products and tips for outings. Taste and get to know our region and let yourself be inspired! Discover what makes the Karlovy Vary Region unique, and take home more than cinematic experiences. Stop on by, we are here for you! More at www.zivykraj.cz and www.karlovyvary.cz.
Charge your mobile phone comfortably and safely at one of eight charging stations throughout town. Great discounts and benefits await at each station – simply scan the QR code and join our Refreshing Contest #orlenleto!
You’ll find the ORLEN charging stations at Lázně III, the Karlovy Vary Municipal Theatre, the Hotel Thermal (“Thermal – modrá hala”), the Kaiserbad, and KVIFF.TV Park next to the Hotel Thermal.
Enjoy the taste of real ice cream with crunchy chocolate at the Pegas Premium Ice Cream Bar in KVIFF.TV Park! Premium refreshments in the form of smooth ice cream with delicious crunchy chocolate. Pegas Premium offers sweet joy, right at the heart of the festival. For more information, follow us on Instagram @primazmrzlina.
The best suds in Vary never change. Pilsner Urquell again serves up the best beer on tap, with creamy foam poured by our tap masters. You can also savor excellent food and a great program of events: our unique beer tapping school, pouring contests, live music, and DJs.
Where can you find us?
In the main zone by the Hotel Thermal: 10 am–2 am
the “Autíčko” taproom at the Hotel Thermal: 10 am–4 am
the stand by the stairs next to the Market Colonnade (Tržní kolonáda): 10 am–2 am
The best suds in Vary never change. Pilsner Urquell again serves up the best beer on tap, with creamy foam poured by our tap masters - even at the Market Colonnade. You’ll find our main zone with accompanying program and the beer truck, open until 4 AM, near the Thermal Hotel.
Enjoy an oasis of peace right at the heart of the film festival at the Hotel Thermal! Discover the stylish Bjut pop-up lounge by Dr. Max, where special wellness rituals await. Treat yourself to a Hydra Lift hydrating skin ritual (30 min/free) or a relaxing massage (15 min/free). All services must be ordered in advance via our reservation system at www.bjut.cz. Relax, recharge your energy, and let your beauty shine – every day from 11 am to 7 pm. Follow us on Instagram @bjut_bydrmax. Bjut by Dr. Max – your partner in beauty care.
Profimed delivers its pink container with its pop-up store to the very center of the festival not far from the Grandhotel Pupp, where it will present its hot new items for the summer. From Saturday until Friday, this trendy shop with a carefully selected range of MUST-HAVE festival products will ensure that audiences have the perfect smile and style. Express dental aesthetics with Swissdent and Smilepen or revolutionary technologies from Japan and Korea – this is just part of the care we provide specifically for the festival. Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. For more information, follow us on Instagram @profimed.cz and www.profimed.cz.
Enjoy a day at the festival with a cup of choice coffee or a summer drink at an oasis of peace in the middle of the city. You’ll find the Progresus Café at Dvořákovy Sady (Dvořák Park), where the pleasant atmosphere will let the time flow more slowly. Follow us on Instagram @progresusinvestholding for the latest program and menu.
Come and relax with refreshments at the PUPP-UP Lounge – a stylish zone right by the Grandhotel Pupp, where top-quality mixology is joined by modern street food. Cocktails are provided by bartenders from the legendary Becher’s Bar and the new Splendid Bar speakeasy; gastronomic delights are provided by brothers Giang Ta Binh and Khanh Ta Quoc from Prague’s Gao Den, Taro, Dian, and Pho 100 restaurants.
The lounge is open daily from noon until midnight. Relax while enjoying great drinks and street food. Follow our program on Instagram: @grandhotelpupp.
Reflex returns to KVIFF – and we’re bringing more than ever before. On the first floor of the Hotel Thermal, you’ll find not only Reflex Backstage, but also our popular photo booth, where you can have your picture taken and become a star of Reflex’s cover page. Definitely worth checking out is the exhibition of our in-house photographer Nguyen Phuong Thao, which you’ll find at the Elisabeth Spa. More information about Reflex at Vary can be found at www.reflex.cz or on our social network profiles. We look forward to seeing you!
The fun never ends with Rohlík, on screen or off! Stop by Rohlík Park for a great place to sit and relax, our even better Rohlíček Zone with child-minding services and children’s entertainment, or the special lounge for our Xtra customers. And at the Rohlík Point, you can pick up groceries any time you need. For the latest information, check our social networks under #RohliknaKVIFF. Enjoy the movies and we look forward to your visit!
Once upon a time...
Once upon a time...
Bylinky.cz & Naše maso
Every day from 9 am to 7 pm, Seznam.cz’s festival studio takes a fresh look at your favorite shows and showbusiness personalities. Every day, we go over super news, because everybody has a right to be a star during the festival, even without the red carpet and the glow of the spotlight.
Miloš Pokorný’s Boomer Talk with KVIFF’s executive director Kryštof Mucha and the festival’s artistic director Karel Och.
Discover unique clothing with a story! Meet our patron, actress Antonie Martinec Formanová, plus other inspirational personalities. Spruce up your wardrobe sustainably at our charity pop-up shop while supporting our project for a dignified old age. Every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Stay in the picture on Instagram @sueryderpraha.
Explore the ČEZ Group’s World of Energy and enjoy a unique experience with a charge! Every day from 10 am to 10 pm at the Municipal Savings Bank building, you can visit the largest power plants in the Czech Republic. Just put on our special VR goggles and you’ll be transported to places that ordinary mortals will never see: the nuclear reactor at Temelín, the top of a cooling tower in Dukovany, or the inside of an empty reservoir at Dlouhé stráně! More information at www.svetenergie.cz
Every evening, the heart of Dvořákové sady (Dvořák Park) comes to life with the Digital Tree – an illuminated installation from VISA that transforms a traditional tree into a pulsating neural network of financial transactions. A metaphor for the living organism of the digital age, every impulse of light on the interactive sculpture represents a flow of digital energy, and every branch connects virtual space with the real world.
The Castle Tower will surprise you! Need a break and want to recharge your batteries for more festival adventures? We’re here for you every day from 10 am to 10 pm with coffee from a local roastery, refreshing drinks, original deserts, and a one-of-a-kind view over the pulsating city center. Check out our exclusive exhibition Great Spa Towns of Europe, which celebrates the addition of 11 European spa towns to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Follow our special festival program on Instagram @zamecka_vez.
The flannel tandem of Lukáš and Lukáš, a.k.a. TGB, will convince that all you need for a big show is a few meters of room and three chords. Admission free.
Have your clothes ironed. Every day from 10 am to 7 pm a special ironing corner equipped with a Kärcher steam ironing station will be available to festival visitors, where we'll take care of your wrinkled clothes. For more information, follow our Instagram @karcher_cz.
Two distinctive artists – one historical space. The exhibition Two Worlds, One Spa presents a dialogue between the work of artists Jan Bican and MaD Goca, set inside the iconic Kaiserbad. Both artists respond to the venue’s spirit and architecture in their own particular way – through a visual essay and an experimental site-specific installation. The exhibition opening is at 4 pm on Sunday, July 6.
Experience the sophistication of Czech glass and porcelain, which is inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Traditional Czech crafts will be presented in the form of hands-on workshops where you can try your hand at decorating porcelain, making Christmas decorations, or working glass. July 4–13, daily 10 am – 6 pm. More information at www.thun.cz.
Václav Jirásek – Beings & Bombasts
Václav Jirásek (1965), a co-founder of the legendary Bratrstvo (Brotherhood) art group, is an artist whose photographic work is characterized by an interest in masks, the body, mysteries, and decadence, often with an emphasis on visual overload and an admittedly whimsical aesthetic. The exhibition is inspired by the Baroque understanding of the world as a stage on which being seen means to exist – and being overlooked is an act comparable with metaphysical death. Over the course of his long-term friendship with the Karlovy Vary festival dating all the way back to 2006, he has shot portraits of stars and visitors, who have thus entered the stage of the theater of the world. Anyone who has passed by his flash has a chance of seeing themselves at the exhibition. Organized with financial support from the Karlovy Vary Region and the City of Karlovy Vary.
July 5–12 2025, open daily 10 am – 7 pm. Exhibition opening: Saturday, July 5 at 6 pm.
Seven Decades of the Karlovy Vary Art Gallery (1953–2023)
This permanent exhibition put together for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Karlovy Vary Art Gallery presents a rich collection of 20th- and 21st-century Czech art, featuring works by modern Czech art classics as well as contemporary artists such as A. Slavíček, J. Preisler, J. Trampota, J. Zrzavý, J. Čapek, E. Filla, J. Šíma, M. Medek, V. Boštík, K. Nepraš, M. Rittstein, Z. Sýkora, K. Malich, F. Skála, and J. Róna.
July 6–12, 2025, open daily 10 am – 7 pm.
CABANI / 30x Opening & Closing Ceremonies – Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 1995–2025
The exhibition highlights the Caban brothers’ work for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the form of the festival’s opening and closing ceremonies. Their stylistic inventiveness and programming have awed the sold-out Grand Hall at Karlovy Vary’s Hotel Thermal for nearly thirty years. Each year, they come up with something new, surprising, and original, and yet it always reflects their signature style. The exhibition presents not just the final outcome of their work, but also their design, concepts, and behind-the-scenes preparations.
July 5–12, open daily 10 am – 7 pm (closed July 6). Exhibition opening: Saturday, July 5 at 3 pm.
Karlovy Vary sales exhibitions are a great source of inspiration. Discover the beauty of local design: porcelain, flowers, interior accessories, clothing. The unusual Prostřeno pro Vary (Set the Table for VARY) installation was inspired by the town’s healing waters. July 4–12, daily 11 am – 6 pm, admission free.
Check out the world of Bohemian crystal and get a close-up look at the work of the most skilled master glassmakers. At the Moser Glassworks, you can visit our museum and get a guided tour of our glass production. July 4–12, daily 9 am – 4 pm. Please reserve ahead of time at tel.: +420 353 416 132 or via e-mail: [email protected], www.moser.com.
A creative cultural center. At the Výměník experimental space, you’ll find a café with local coffee, a design shop promoting original regional products, an exhibition, and an accompanying workshop.
A Mountain of Creativity – The exhibition shows the best works from twelve areas of the cultural and creative industry of the Czech border regions and the Saxon side of the Ore Mountains. With fine art, design, artistic craftsmanship, digital media, music, and performative arts, the exhibition is an opportunity for intercultural exchange and cooperation.
July 4–11, 2025, open daily 10 am – 8 pm.
The Czech Architecture Prize is an award presented by the Czech Chamber of Architects. The exhibition shows the works shortlisted by this year’s international jury from more than 200 submissions. The exhibited designs will compete for the main prize this fall. The exhibition can be visited at any time during the festival, located in front of the City of Karlovy Vary’s Architecture Office at Náměstí Dr. M. Horákové 16. July 4–12, admission free.
The exhibition of designs for a landscape architecture competition for this important park in the center of town presents the seven submissions shortlisted by the jury. The competition was sponsored by the City of Karlovy Vary and organized by the city’s architecture office, KAM KV°. The exhibition, located by Sadová kolonáda in Dvořákovy sady, is open throughout the festival, July 4–12, admission free.
Homemade bagels
Craft beer
Coffee roasters
Craft beer
Ice cream
Czech and international
Modern fusion
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
The multifunctional festival center next to the Hotel Thermal offers a lavish program for all festival visitors from 11 am to 3 am. Throughout the day, festival guests will take the stage for interviews, and visitors can compete in a film quiz, attend stand-up comedy, have fun at the CCM hockey shooting range, or just grab a bite to eat and relax with a coffee or Don Papa Premiere drink. The evening and nighttime are reserved for concerts and the best DJs.
Daily gatherings with delegations from the films in competition. Today’s host: Ian Willoughby.
This year's Special Screenings section will showcase two striking debuts from emerging filmmakers - Dužan Duong's long-awaited first Czech feature Summer School, 2001, a Vietnamese-Czech film, alongside Katarína Gramatová's Promise, I'll Be Fine, which captures the often harsh realities of contemporary Slovakia through powerful performances by non-professional actors. Both Duong and Gramatová will discuss their journey to feature-length filmmaking in conversation with Veronika Bednářová.
Please note that this talk will be held in Czech only, with no translation provided.
Daily gatherings with delegations from the films in competition. Today’s host: Viktor Palák.
Reflex magazine’s festival special presents prominent figures from the world of cinema. Host Pavlína Horáková interviews famous faces and unexpected guests of this year’s Karlovy Vary festival.
A series of interviews during which actors talk about their profession, their personal experiences, and the changing world of film and theater. The informal format provides audiences with personal perspectives, behind-the-scenes stories, and room for Q&A.
How well do you know the films, the stars, the festival, and Karlovy Vary? Test your knowledge with our daily quiz and win valuable prizes. Open to anyone who shows up at KVIFF.TV Park.
Rightfully one of the longest-playing house DJs in the Czech Republic. His beginnings are closely bound to the legendary Radost FX club in Prague.
DJs Malalata: 11 pm – 1 am
The Malalata music project, which has been active on the scene for eight whole years, is a unique fusion of Balkan beats, gypsy music, Mexican cumbia, and Caribbean reggae. The two Slovak DJs combine these rhythms into distinctive sets characterized by an unbound and infectiously energetic performance.
DJ Flux: 1 – 3 am
Flux is the absolute cream of the crop when it comes the Czech scratch DJ scene. A multiple winner of the DMC national championship and a regular presence at international DJ battles, he has a style that is technically precise but also playful and energetic, mixing hip hop, funk, breakbeat, and bass genres. Flux is also a founder of the Buggy Records label and an active promoter who is constantly pushing the boundaries of Czech club DJing.
Indian
Café, breakfast, lunch menu
Fine dining
International
Beef, angus, seafood, wine, champagne
Non-alcoholic drinks
hot dogs, coffee
Pastries, desserts, café
Czech
Food and draft beer
Authentic Italian
Pizza, pasta, salads
Czech and international
Cocktail bar
Burgers and cocktail bar
Top-quality mixology and modern street food
International and Czech
International
Czech
Traditional Czech
Czech
Czech and international
International
Garden bar
3 – 6pm THE MUSE TALK STAGE: Women Who Shape Culture; 6 – 6:30 pm Live music: Culture in Sound; 6:30 – 8 pm Dance Battle by Dogga Clan; 8 pm – 2 am DJs: Barbara, Sonja, Tony & Egy. Admission free.
Food and drink
Tapas bar
Czech and international
Traditional Czech
Burgers and Tex-Mex
Czech and international
Czech
First-hand brews throughout the year.
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