This new festival club at the Zámecké lázně (Castle Spa) combines music, encounters, refreshments, and charitable activities. During the day, Baden is an open terrace for relaxing between screenings; at night, it is transformed into a festival club with concerts and DJ sets. The program includes such acts as Manene, Akira, DJ Robot, Gruppo Salsicia, and Vladimir 518 with a DJ set. The venue also includes a charitable initiative. Baden powered by Visa is open daily from 10 am to 3 am for visitors with KVIFF festival passes, always depending on capacity.
For visitors with KVIFF festival passes, always depending on capacity.
Festival delirium? We know the cure.
KVIFF is beautiful. But your neck hurts, coffee isn’t enough, and every time you see a film’s closing credits you feel an existential crisis. For just such moments, Aerofilms’ spa reception is here for you. You’ll our unconventional wellness center along the colonnade of the Zámecké lázně building right next to “Baden powered by Visa.” Relaxing neck massages, cinema tarot, drinks, and a little bit of peace and quiet. Open Friday to Friday from 10 am to 8 pm. Reserve your spa procedure at aerofilms.cz/recepce or in person. Friendly prices depending on the chosen service. Admission is for accredited KVIFF visitors and festival pass holders.
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.
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
Juliette Binoche has been one of the defining faces of European cinema since the beginning of her career, while effortlessly moving between auteur filmmaking and mainstream productions. She has collaborated with some of the world's most acclaimed directors, including Leos Carax, Krzysztof Kieślowski, Anthony Minghella, Michael Haneke, Abbas Kiarostami, and Olivier Assayas, while continually embracing new artistic challenges. Winner of an Academy Award, a BAFTA, a European Film Award, and numerous other prestigious honours, she has delivered unforgettable performances in The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Three Colours: Blue, The English Patient, Chocolat, Certified Copy, and Clouds of Sils Maria.
At this year's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Juliette Binoche will receive the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema. She will also attend the festival in her capacity as President of the European Film Academy. The moderated discussion will explore not only her work as an actress and her collaborations with some of the world's leading filmmakers, but also the current state of European cinema.
The discussion will be moderated by Variety journalist Marta Balaga.
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.
Garden bar
KK, beatmaker and DJ from Milion Plus, arrives with his crew to bring you a DJ set full of contemporary rap, popular hits, and his own work. Also known under the producer name Its Okay K!, he has created such hits as RANDAL and HIP THRUST and produced Yzomandias’s album EXIT U PALICE. DJ Kreyz is a DJ from the Czech club scene whose sets are founded on a careful selection of music and a natural sense for atmosphere and energy capable of bringing people together from the first track to the last. Welcome to the Hot Springs Festival.
On the occasion of what would have been Václav Havel’s ninetieth birthday, this photo exhibition looks back at his visits to the festival and the long-term support that the Czech president, author, and playwright lent to the Karlovy Vary festival.
On the occasion of what would have been Václav Havel’s ninetieth birthday, this photo exhibition looks back at his visits to the festival and the long-term support that the Czech president, author, and playwright lent to the Karlovy Vary festival.
Dozens of photographs on thirty outdoor panels installed between two iconic festival locations – the Hotel Thermal and the Grandhotel Pupp – look back on the festival’s rich eighty-year history, including the atmosphere at past editions and important guests and festival moments.
Dozens of photographs on thirty outdoor panels installed between two iconic festival locations – the Hotel Thermal and the Grandhotel Pupp – look back on the festival’s rich eighty-year history, including the atmosphere at past editions and important guests and festival moments.
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.
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 a stand-up comedy show, have fun at the CCM hockey shooting range, or just grab a bite to eat and relax with a Lavazza coffee or Don Red Carpet drink. The evening and nighttime are reserved for concerts and the best DJs. The lounge on the upper floor is open for everyone until 8 pm; after that, only for visitors with festival passes.
In this unique series of short film reports from the 1960s, Miroslav Horníček guides viewers through the events at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival with his characteristic charm, intelligence, and fresh improvisation.
Host: Petr Čimpera
Archival Materials © Národní filmový archiv
Films, series, reality shows, and phenomena past and present. Šimon Holý and Hana Trojánková bring their Reflex magazine pop-culture podcast out of the recording studio and onto the stage! In this episode, they share their view of things live and in person. With exclusive guest Tono Stano.
This year, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival’s President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Czech and Slovak Cinema will be presented to Slovak actress, diplomat, and prominent public figure Magda Vášáryová. Audiences continue to associate her with unforgettable performances in films such as Marketa Lazarová, Cutting It Short, and All My Good Countrymen, yet her remarkable career has extended far beyond the world of cinema.
Festival visitors will also have the opportunity to meet Magda Vášáryová in person during a moderated discussion at KVIFF TV Park. The conversation will look back on her extraordinary acting career, her collaborations with some of the leading filmmakers of Czechoslovak cinema, and her work in diplomacy and public life.
The uniqueness of the event will be further enhanced by the participation of her daughter, screenwriter and author Hana Lasicová, who will bring a personal perspective to the discussion and offer unique insights into her mother's life and legacy.
The discussion will be moderated by journalist Veronika Bednářová.
Please note that the discussion will be held in Czech only, without interpretation.
Daily meetings with delegations from films in competition.
Reflex’s Festival Special celebrates the jubilee 60th edition of KVIFF with exclusive interviews. Host Pavlína Horáková sits down with familiar faces and unexpected guests from the festival program, which this year is dominated by big-name stars.
Daily meetings with delegations from films in competition.
Explore the story of premium Don Papa rum from the Philippines: its fascinating history, its unique production process, and the wide range of bottles that have earned it fans around the world. Come for a tasting, learn behind-the-scenes information, and explore the world of a rum that combines the exoticism of Negros Island with a modern production process.
How well do you know films, stars, the festival, and Karlovy Vary? Test your knowledge with our daily quiz. You can play for great prizes, and the quiz is open to anyone who stops by KVIFF.TV Park.
Colorfactory is one of the most distinctive bands of the Czech alternative scene of the 1990s. Their 1996 debut album has left an indelible mark on Czech culture, among other things because seven tracks from the album were used in director David Ondříček’s film Whisper. The band’s music is a symbol for an entire generation and is inextricably associated with the film to this day. They have made several attempts to reunite, but it wasn’t until this year’s 30th anniversary of the film that the opportunity arose to bring the legendary lineup back together. At the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Colorfactory is returning after many years for an exceptional reunion. Performing with its full lineup, the band will revisit songs that form an integral part of the history of Czech music and film.
Actor and Rádio 1 host Tim Otis is also a DJ with a refined sense for groove. In his sets, he moves between funk, soul, dance bootlegs, rare editions, unreleased tracks, and club bangers.
DJ Chris Sadler – 11 pm – midnight
DJ Michael C – midnight – 3 am
Celebrate twenty years of GIGA festival experiences at the Vodafone Happy Zone. You can look forward to our popular morning yoga and evening silent disco, a gaming zone, short films at the Vodafone TV cinema, and a series of thematic forums by the Vodafone Foundation. Enjoy excellent food and drinks from food trucks, and of course you can recharge your phone batteries with us as well. Our colleagues from our festival shop will gladly help you choose from Vodafone services or answer any other questions you might have. We look forward to your visit, every day from 10 am to midnight. Follow us on social media at @vodafonecz or visit us online at vodafone.cz/vary.
Beseda představí nouzový komunikační systém INER (Instant Network Emergency Response) od Nadace Vodafone, který zajišťuje zdarma nouzové spojení obyvatel v místech zasažených krizí a přírodními katastrofami.
The world of entertainment in Vary. The Allwyn Terrace at the Hotel Thermal is a unique new addition to the festival this year. You can look forward to the Showcar McLaren F1 Mastercard Team, a professional simulator, giant lottery scratchcards, lots of games, and a chillout zone with a stunning view over Karlovy Vary. The terrace is open to the public daily from 2 to 11 pm. More info at www.allwyn.cz/kviff.
Come on by to refresh your senses and immerse yourself in a world where scent dominates all. Discover perfumes inspired by unforgettable movie characters. You definitely won’t leave empty-handed. We look forward to seeing you at the Alza Zone, daily from 10 am to 6 pm.
Experience first-hand how nice it can be to wait at a modern bus shelter, just like the ones passengers encounter in Prague and Central Bohemia. You’ll find one near the Hotel Thermal behind KVIFF.TV Park – a fully operational festival bus stop marked in the timetable as “Hotel Thermal.”
At the sixtieth edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, BMW will be present in front of the Kaiserbad in the form of a newly designed BMW Pop-up. Festivalgoers can look forward to the exclusive Czech premiere of the new BMW X5 and the BMW 7 series. Other main attractions include the limited-edition BMW M2 CZ. A team of specialists will be on hand to answer any questions you might have about the exhibited vehicles or any other BMW products. Additionally, visitors with festival passes can register for a test drive, meaning they can experience first-hand the joy of driving a BMW. The BMW Pop-up zone is open daily 10 am – 6 pm.
During KVIFF 60 in Karlovy Vary, KVIFF.TV Park brings together the power of Canadian hockey brand CCM with the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97. 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 Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97, which is active in the fields of culture, education, healthcare, and social aid. Come and shoot at the goal and support a good cause!
Radiožurnál will again be broadcasting live from the Park Colonnade (Sadová kolonáda). Our special Filmžurnál program offers morning interviews with stars, afternoon film reviews, and tips on what you shouldn’t miss in Karlovy Vary. New this year, Radiožurnál has added an evening program. Plus more guests and a Festival Quiz. Featuring moderators Jan Pokorný, Libor Bouček, Hanka Shánělová, Martin Balucha, and film critic Pavel Sladký. Daily from 9 am to 8 pm.
10:00 Festivalový host: Magda Vášáryová (moderuje Jan Pokorný)
15:00 host Karel Och
15:30 hosté Jan P. Muchow, David Volenec (moderuje Hanka Shánělová)
16:00 Předpremiéra Pavla Sladkého
16:30 Festivalový host: Pavla Gajdošíková (moderuje Hanka Shánělová)
18:50 Festivalový kvíz o ceny – Přijďte vyzkoušet své znalosti a vyhrajte digitální rádio a další ceny.
19:00 host Denisa Barešová (moderují Aleš Stuchlý a Martin Hrnčíř)
Come and taste the festival’s official drink, the Don Red Carpet with Don Papa rum. The bar is open daily from 11am to 3am. Besides excellent drinks, we also have a diverse entertainment program, with music and DJ sets every evening. Find the taste that suits you. Everybody is a star – on the red carpet and at the bar.
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, a bistro and a bar on the terrace. From 9 am to 10 pm. Free admission. Full program at www.ceskatelevize.cz/vary.
Dance lessons for kids.
Discussion guests: director Vít Bělohradský; participants Tomáš Polák, Hanka Dvorská, Filip Hudlický, and Vanda Bartošová Dětinská; Czech Television creative producer Lucie Kapounová; Barbora Suchařípová, Project Manager; Viktor Průša, Executive Producer.
Come test your knowledge, skills, and quick thinking.
Discussion guests: director Jiří Strach; consultant Josef Mareš; Czech Television creative producer Jiřina Budíková
Dance lessons for kids.
Guests: director Bohdan Karásek; actors Marie Švestková, Jiří Havelka; producer Ondřej Lukeš; Czech Television creative producer Jaroslav Sedláček
Playful movement
Guests: director Pepa Lubojacki; producers Klára Mamojková and Wanda Kaprálová; Czech Television creative producer Věra Krincvajová
Evening fairy tales for kids
Since being founded in 2019, this band has oscillated between indie, rock, synth-pop, and at times even post-punk. You’ll want to sing along to their melodies over and over again, and their choruses will get you dancing. Nor are they afraid to show off at their energetic concerts. With Czech-language lyrics guaranteed to resonate with local audiences.
ELLE Beauty Lounge helps czech stars shine on the red carpet and beyond. Its gates are open at two strategic locations: Grandhotel Pupp and Spa Hotel Thermal. In their chambers, teams of make-up artists, hair and fashion stylists take care of the shine and radiance of the stars of czech and world cinema. Invited guests can also try a cosmetic treatment, a barre lesson, or relax with a coffee or a drink.
Kaiserbad – Lázně I. Open daily from 10 am to 8 pm. Reservations for men’s haircuts or styling via telephone at +420 603 109 301. Our services are free for visitors with festival passes.
Don’t miss a single film. Our rental shops have classic bikes and e-bikes ready for you to get around quickly and comfortably 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 and the cinema Kyselka.
Open daily 11 am – midnight. Great food, original cocktails, refreshing non-alcoholic drinks.
Lounge music
This year’s innogy Point is full of music, humor, and acrobatics. Always starting at 7 pm. Special program: Performances by Dasha, Dušan Kollár, Tali, and Rozálie, stand-up comic Tigran Hovakimyan, and the dynamic acrobatic performances React and Onyx from Losers Cirque Company. Slam Poetry, quizzes, dubbing, and afternoon talk shows with the people behind Bára: Diary of a Rockstar, Bohemian Paradise, Bardotky, and Kluci to vidí jinak než holky. More at innogy.cz/kviffmoments
Martha Issová, Jan Nedbal
Enter the world of IQOS | VEEV | ZYN – a place where individual moments are transformed into experiences. Experience them with us and let yourself be carried away by an atmosphere created by music, people, and the current moment, here and now. Our program includes talk shows by Dominik Vršanský with special guests. The lounge is open every day of the festival from 11 am to midnight.
Come and enjoy the festival’s unique atmosphere with a cup of Italian Lavazza coffee. Enjoy an espresso, cappuccino, and other specialties inspired by traditional Italian cafés as you relax between films. Our stand offers not only top-notch coffee, but also a pleasant atmosphere, inspiration, and the chance to meet other lovers of coffee and cinema. You’ll find us every day from 10 am to 10 pm. You can also compete for great prizes from Lavazza – simply stop by our stand and enter the festival contest. We look forward to all visitors who want to taste the true flavor of Italy in the heart of the festival.
The jubilee 60th edition of the Karlovy Vary film festival will again be not just about film, but about beauty as well. You are cordially invited to the L’Oréal Paris Lounge, where you can let yourself be pampered by this leading cosmetic brand. Treat yourself to exlusive make-up inspired by the stars of the red carpet, or come in for hair styling or skin diagnostics. We look forward to your visit, daily from 10 am to 8 pm. Admission free.
This year, the Mattoni Life Bar at the Thermal Spring Colonnade will once again be the place to be. Every day from 1 pm to 11 pm, you can look forward to a music program, signature non-alcoholic drinks, and a festival atmosphere featuring concerts by Mikolas Josef, PSH, David Koller, Chinaski, Monkey Business, and more. Our menu includes Jan Lukas’s winning drink from the Mattoni Grand Drink competition, The Nest, plus the Mattoni × ALMA pop-up restaurant with excellent food and Mattoni non-alcoholic drinks.
Local bands Big Beat 69 and Hlavolamy, a moderated discussion titled “How to Stay in the Game,” and interviews with interesting personalities.
Stop by our pop-up bar every day of the festival for refreshing Mattoni non-alcoholic drinks. You can look forward to the winning drink from the Mattoni Grand Drink competition, plus a special birthday drink celebrating the sixtieth edition of KVIFF, made in collaboration with Alma restaurant.
Visit the NEHERA brand’s festival pop-up at the Karlovy Vary Municipal Gallery. In this space inspired by the aesthetics of cinema, you can find minimalist fashions, iconic silhouettes, and collections from a brand that is the staff fashion partner of this year’s festival. Open daily from 10 am to 7 pm at Stará louka 26. More on Instagram at @neheraofficial.
The best bubbles in Vary never change. Pilsner Urquell again serves up the best beer on tap, with creamy foam poured by our master bartenders. You can also enjoy excellent food and a great program of events: our unique beer tapping school, pouring contests, live performers and DJs.
Where can you find us?
In the main zone by Hotel Thermal: 10 am – 2 am; the “Autíčko” taproom at Hotel Thermal: 10 am – 4 am; the stand 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 2 AM, near the Thermal Hotel.
Opening hours: 10 am – 4 am
One upon a time… there was a little theater… The Sváťovo Dividlo amateur puppet theater troupe from Litoměřice presents Budulínek.
Concert: Atomic – Karlovy Vary hard rock and Czech rock’n’roll.
Enjoy an oasis of peace inside the Hotel Thermal right at the heart of the film festival!
Discover the stylish Bjut Pop-up Lounge by Dr. Max, where special wellness rituals and beauty services await in a unique atmosphere.
Treat yourself to a Peptides & Collagen skin hydration ritual from Nuance (30 min. / CZK 299) or a relaxing hand massage (15 min. / CZK 99). You can also take advantage of professional daily make-up services (45 min. / CZK 799) by our experienced make-up artists, who will accentuate your natural beauty. Proceeds from the skincare ritual and hand massage will be donated to the VIZE 97 Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of KVIFF.
To book an appointment, please use our reservation system at www.bjut.cz. Slow down, recharge your energy, and let your beauty shine.
Follow us on Instagram @bjut_bydrmax.
Bjut by Dr. Max – your partner in beauty care.
Pedestrian bridge
Profimed delivers a pink container with its pop-up store to the very center of the festival, on the promenade not far from the Grandhotel Pupp. From Friday to Monday (10 am – 6 pm), you will find a premiere presentation of hot new items and a selected range of must-have festival products for the perfect smile and style. You can also look forward to revolutionary dental care from Japan, Swiss dental aesthetics, and new trends in K-Beauty products, all carefully chosen for you – this is just part of the care we provide specifically for the festival. For more information, follow us on Instagram @profimed.cz a www.profimed.cz.
The festival café, Progresus Café by Smetana Q, will be open daily from 9 am to midnight, with specialty coffees, delicious snacks, and evening drinks in the peaceful setting of Dvořák Park – a green oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of the festival. A place for a morning break in the shade of the trees, an afternoon get-together, or a moment of relaxation between film screenings. The café’s events program includes interviews and musical performances organized in collaboration with 2Media. For our current program, follow us on Instagram @progresusinvestholding.
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 served in an original manner.
Follow our program on Instagram: @grandhotelpupp
Reflex magazine is back in Karlovy Vary, where you can find it at several locations! At the Reflex Zone on the first floor of the Hotel Thermal is the traditional popular photo booth, where you can immortalize yourself and add a photo from KVIFF’s jubilee 60th edition to your collection. At the Alžbětiny lázně (Elizabeth Bath), you’ll find exclusive photographs of famous actors by our in-house photographer Nguyen Phuong Thao. But there’s more! We’re also bringing the popular podcasts Poprask and Prostor X to the festival, which you can watch live at KVIFF.TV Park. More information on all planned activities is available online at www.reflex.cz or on Instagram at @reflex_cz.
When the festival has drained your batteries, the Karlovy Vary Region can help recharge them. Every day in the relax zone in the small park behind the Geyser, the Karlovy Vary Region presents a piece of itself along with delicious catering by Pinkiez, featuring the Myšák pastry shop and a program focused on health, wellness, and mindfulness. Recharge your mind and body, daily July 4 – 10, 8 am – 7 pm.
Libor Mattuš. Free admission.
Libor Mattuš. Free admission.
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!
Brambůrky Theatre
Brambůrky Theatre
Čerstvě utrženo & Lozano Červenka
Every day from 9 am to 7 pm, Seznam.cz’s festival studio takes a fresh look at your favorite shows and show business personalities. You can look forward to live interviews, fresh festival news, and a unique behind-the-scenes look at the world of media. We report on current events every day, because at the festival everybody has a right to be a star, even without the red carpet and the glow of the spotlight. Come and see how we create the content you know from your screen and the internet.
K dokumentu o Báře Basikové
Nejen o filmu Lajf
Rozhovor k filmu Lajna
Come visit the booth of KVIFF’s official nonprofit partner, the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97, where you can enjoy a relaxing massage, view the interactive installation Ask Václav Havel, get information about the foundation’s activities, and perhaps get a T-shirt with a signature from Václav Havel. We look forward to seeing you every day starting at 10 am. For more information, visit www.vize97.cz and check out our Instagram @nadace_vize97.
Explore the 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 the nuclear reactor at Temelín, the top of a cooling tower in Dukovany, among high-voltage transmission towers, or inside the empty reservoir at Dlouhé stráně! More information at www.svetenergie.cz.
A virtual tour of power plants, photo corner, contests and prizes.
Admission free.
Discover wines and sparkling wines from Mikulov’s VINO CIBULKA organic family winery. Wine tastings and the chance to get to know our wines await you in the Hotel Thermal’s Lobby Bar Film Café, every day from 5 to 9 pm. More information on Instagram at @vinocibulka.
Celebrate twenty years of GIGA festival experiences at the Vodafone Happy Zone. You can look forward to our popular morning yoga and evening silent disco, a gaming zone, short films at the Vodafone TV cinema, and a series of thematic forums by the Vodafone Foundation. Enjoy excellent food and drinks from food trucks, and of course you can recharge your phone batteries with us as well. Our colleagues from our festival shop will gladly help you choose from Vodafone services or answer any other questions you might have. We look forward to your visit, every day from 10 am to midnight. Follow us on social media at @vodafonecz or visit us online at vodafone.cz/vary.
Beseda představí nouzový komunikační systém INER (Instant Network Emergency Response) od Nadace Vodafone, který zajišťuje zdarma nouzové spojení obyvatel v místech zasažených krizí a přírodními katastrofami.
Stop by the Zalando kiosk, a playful and stylish space created for the 60th edition of the Karlovy Vary IFF. Slow down, enjoy small snacks and refreshments, and let yourself be inspired by the question: “What should I wear?” And before you go, create your own postcard so you can take a piece of Karlovy Vary and Zalando home with you. Open daily, 11 am – 9 pm.
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 desserts, 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.
Bring Karlovy Vary’s heritage to life. Discover the main landmarks of this spa town, master nine game elements, and speak with the Spirit of the Springs. The latest technology and interactive features will immerse you in the game. Admission: CZK 75/150.
Music is love. Come and relax, just be, and dream. You can look forward to an evening of original music in a spontaneous atmosphere with songs we love. Free admission.
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 creased clothes. For more information, follow our Instagram @karcher_cz.
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. We look forward to seeing you, every day of the festival 10 am – 6 pm. More information at www.thun.cz
The festival is in full swing, and so are you. In the middle of Dvořák Park, you’ll find the Jedna hodina rotating gallery, where we will get you back down to earth in 60 minutes: just have a seat, close the door, and watch the outside world rotate around you. No program, no subtitles – just you, your surroundings, and a slow 360°. Room for up to 3 people. Reservations at aerofilms.cz/recepce, or try your luck in person. Open July 3 – 10, 10 am – 9 pm (final admission 8 pm). CZK 250 / session. The partner of the installation is IDEMIA Solutions Czech.
Jiří David – When Darkness is Necessary for Seeing
The Czech painter, intermedia artist, educator, and founder of the Tvrdohlaví art group Jiří David (1956) has significantly influenced Czech art – both in form and atmosphere – since the second half of the 1980s. From this artist’s thematically and stylistically broad oeuvre, the gallery will present fourteen large-format works possessing a deeply existential dimension formally inspired by the Stations of the Cross. The painting cycle processes inner transformations, suffering, chaos, shadows, and the darker aspects of human existence. July 4 – 11, 2026, open daily 10 am – 7 pm. Exhibition opening for the public: Saturday, July 4 at 6 pm.
Jindřich Štreit – Journeying to the Source
This exhibition marking the 80th birthday of the important photographer Jindřich Štreit presents a selection of his work dedicated to humanistic photography. In his photographic cycles, Štreit documents life in the countryside, explores various social issues, and focuses on the human condition, faith, and everyday life. The exhibition brings together two different, though inherently interconnected, worlds: the raw reality of the Czech village and the quiet humility of religious pilgrimages. July 4 – 11, 2026, open daily 10 am – 7 pm. Exhibition opening for the public: Tuesday, July 7 at 7 pm.
Seven Decades of the Karlovy Vary Art Gallery (1953–2023)
This permanent exhibition prepared 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 4 – 11, 2026, open daily 10 am – 7 pm.
An evening dedicated to film music and its influences on our perception of image, story, and emotions. The program features a lecture along with excerpts from films and live musical accompaniment by the Belladonna String Quartet. Your hosts for the evening are Martin Šigut and Ondřej Palán. The Music Behind the Image takes a unique look at the world of film music, from the composer’s first idea all the way to the final product on the silver screen. Through film clips, live music, and filmmaker/composer commentary, the program shows how music creates atmosphere, tension, and emotions and why it is essential for cinematic storytelling. Guiding you through it all are composer Martin Šigut and Ondřej Palán of Charles University’s Faculty of Arts. Together, they will introduce the audience to the process of creating film music, including how the composer and director work together. Musical samples will be performed live by the Belladonna String Quartet, whose interpretations take a new look at familiar movie scores. The program is founded on the contrast between scores by world-renowned composers. Through orchestral and electronic music, intimate as well as grand scores, and the emotions of loss, hope, tension, and triumph, the evening’s hosts will show how different composers use different tools to tell a story. The excerpts from films will be accompanied by interesting facts about the filmmakers and composers, their creative style, and behind-the-scenes information about the creation of the particular score. These will be interspersed with live performances by the string quartet.
The evening program takes place at the Karlovy Vary Gallery of Art as part of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Admission is CZK 200 (50% discount for KVIFF passholders).
Ivana Lomová – Hodiny / The Hours
This exhibition by the leading Czech painter Ivana Lomová (1959) is a fascinating dialogue between personal memory, cinematic fiction, and the unbending reality of everyday life. Lomová’s paintings – a rewriting of reality captured by photographs – are essentially an interpretation of the visible world. At the core of the exhibition are the artist’s latest works from the cycle Film Series. The exhibition’s opening combining the worlds of film and painting is perfect for anyone who wants to see how a visual story can be told without a camera.
July 4 – 11, 2026, open daily 10 am – 7 pm. The villa will be closed to the public on July 5. Exhibition opening for the public: Saturday, July 4 at 3 pm.
Jiří Klečka, recent recipient of the Magnesia Litera Award, journalist and author Lenka Pastorčáková, and Karlovy Vary native Antonín Mazáč will open the doors to their creative worlds. You’ll learn how a bestseller is created, how new books come to life, and writers forge friendships that need no rewriting. Admission: CZK 80.
On the occasion of what would have been Václav Havel’s ninetieth birthday, this photo exhibition looks back at his visits to the festival and the long-term support that the Czech president, author, and playwright lent to the Karlovy Vary festival.
On the occasion of what would have been Václav Havel’s ninetieth birthday, this photo exhibition looks back at his visits to the festival and the long-term support that the Czech president, author, and playwright lent to the Karlovy Vary festival.
Dozens of photographs on thirty outdoor panels installed between two iconic festival locations – the Hotel Thermal and the Grandhotel Pupp – look back on the festival’s rich eighty-year history, including the atmosphere at past editions and important guests and festival moments.
Dozens of photographs on thirty outdoor panels installed between two iconic festival locations – the Hotel Thermal and the Grandhotel Pupp – look back on the festival’s rich eighty-year history, including the atmosphere at past editions and important guests and festival moments.
Lenka Vilhelmová – Through That Which Is Spoken
Leading Czech printmaker, painter, conceptual artist, and recipient of the prestigious Vladimír Boudník Award Lenka Vilhelmová (1957) works with her own intaglio techniques, focuses on structural graphics, and combines traditional and modern technologies. She also creates relief-like objects from paper, artist’s books, and objects from coconut fiber. Her main motif is the human head, which she interprets as a timeless symbol and subjective reflection of the state of our mind, memory, feelings, and intuitions. Open daily except Monday, 10 am – 5 pm.
The Essence of Place is a series of art interventions exploring the imaginative fields and layers of various places throughout the Karlovy Vary region. They are created during artists’ residencies organized by VZBUĎME VARY (“Wake Up Vary”). All you need is a data connection and headphones, and you can explore three short tours around the center of the festival titled The Essence of Thermal, or go on an audio walk starting from Jáchymov’s oldest pharmacy all the way up Klobouk Hill. Links to the audio essays created by sound artist Šárka Zahálková and to Jáchymov, an audio composition by the Berlin-Slovenian shoegaze duo Päfgens, can be found at www.vzbudmevary.cz.
Reflex magazine is back in Karlovy Vary, where you can find it at several locations! At the Alžbětiny lázně (Elizabeth Bath), you’ll find exclusive photographs of famous actors by our in-house photographer Nguyen Phuong Thao. More information on all planned activities is available online at www.reflex.cz or on Instagram at @reflex_cz. The exhibition is accessible 24/7.
MOSER – glassworks – museum – gallery shop & Café Moser
Discover the world of hand-blown crystal glass and watch the work of master glass artists up close and in person. The Moser Glassworks offers guided tours of glass production, a museum about the history of the company, a gallery shop with iconic collections, and refreshments at Café Moser. Learn about the tradition, craftsmanship, and beauty of Bohemian crystal. Tours of the glassworks: July 3 – 10, daily 9 am – 2 pm. Gallery shop, museum, Café Moser: July 3 – 11, daily 9 am – 4 pm. Tour reservations: +420 353 416 132 / [email protected].
Special pop-up from Prague’s Alma restaurant
Homemade bagels
Craft beer
Cocktail bar
Coffee roasters
Craft beer
Come and taste the festival’s official drink, the Don Red Carpet with Don Papa rum. The bar is open daily from 11am to 3am. Besides excellent drinks, we also have a diverse entertainment program, with music and DJ sets every evening. Find the taste that suits you. Everybody is a star – on the red carpet and at the bar.
Ice cream
Inglorious Basterds – DJs Gory Ruffian, Siazan, Nesta, and Akki. An evening with performances by a whole range of well-known DJs, covering all club genres.
Czech and international
Modern fusion
Great food, original cocktails, refreshing non-alcoholic drinks.
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 a stand-up comedy show, have fun at the CCM hockey shooting range, or just grab a bite to eat and relax with a Lavazza coffee or Don Red Carpet drink. The evening and nighttime are reserved for concerts and the best DJs. The lounge on the upper floor is open for everyone until 8 pm; after that, only for visitors with festival passes.
In this unique series of short film reports from the 1960s, Miroslav Horníček guides viewers through the events at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival with his characteristic charm, intelligence, and fresh improvisation.
Host: Petr Čimpera
Archival Materials © Národní filmový archiv
Films, series, reality shows, and phenomena past and present. Šimon Holý and Hana Trojánková bring their Reflex magazine pop-culture podcast out of the recording studio and onto the stage! In this episode, they share their view of things live and in person. With exclusive guest Tono Stano.
This year, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival’s President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Czech and Slovak Cinema will be presented to Slovak actress, diplomat, and prominent public figure Magda Vášáryová. Audiences continue to associate her with unforgettable performances in films such as Marketa Lazarová, Cutting It Short, and All My Good Countrymen, yet her remarkable career has extended far beyond the world of cinema.
Festival visitors will also have the opportunity to meet Magda Vášáryová in person during a moderated discussion at KVIFF TV Park. The conversation will look back on her extraordinary acting career, her collaborations with some of the leading filmmakers of Czechoslovak cinema, and her work in diplomacy and public life.
The uniqueness of the event will be further enhanced by the participation of her daughter, screenwriter and author Hana Lasicová, who will bring a personal perspective to the discussion and offer unique insights into her mother's life and legacy.
The discussion will be moderated by journalist Veronika Bednářová.
Please note that the discussion will be held in Czech only, without interpretation.
Daily meetings with delegations from films in competition.
Reflex’s Festival Special celebrates the jubilee 60th edition of KVIFF with exclusive interviews. Host Pavlína Horáková sits down with familiar faces and unexpected guests from the festival program, which this year is dominated by big-name stars.
Daily meetings with delegations from films in competition.
Explore the story of premium Don Papa rum from the Philippines: its fascinating history, its unique production process, and the wide range of bottles that have earned it fans around the world. Come for a tasting, learn behind-the-scenes information, and explore the world of a rum that combines the exoticism of Negros Island with a modern production process.
How well do you know films, stars, the festival, and Karlovy Vary? Test your knowledge with our daily quiz. You can play for great prizes, and the quiz is open to anyone who stops by KVIFF.TV Park.
Colorfactory is one of the most distinctive bands of the Czech alternative scene of the 1990s. Their 1996 debut album has left an indelible mark on Czech culture, among other things because seven tracks from the album were used in director David Ondříček’s film Whisper. The band’s music is a symbol for an entire generation and is inextricably associated with the film to this day. They have made several attempts to reunite, but it wasn’t until this year’s 30th anniversary of the film that the opportunity arose to bring the legendary lineup back together. At the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Colorfactory is returning after many years for an exceptional reunion. Performing with its full lineup, the band will revisit songs that form an integral part of the history of Czech music and film.
Actor and Rádio 1 host Tim Otis is also a DJ with a refined sense for groove. In his sets, he moves between funk, soul, dance bootlegs, rare editions, unreleased tracks, and club bangers.
DJ Chris Sadler – 11 pm – midnight
DJ Michael C – midnight – 3 am
Indian
Café, breakfast, lunch menu
Fine dining
International
Beef, angus, seafood, wine, champagne
Pastries, desserts, café
Czech
Food and draft beer
Authentic Italian
Pizza, pasta, salads
Czech and international
Burgers and cocktail bar
Top-quality mixology and modern street food
International and Czech
International
Czech
Traditional Czech
Czech
Czech and international
International
Food and drink
Tapas bar
Czech and international
Italian-Asian fusion
Traditional Czech
Burgers and Tex-Mex
Czech and international
First-hand brews throughout the year.
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