The Festival Will Embrace Its 65th Anniversary
20. February 2025
At our first press conference in Zlín, we presented journalists and other guests with highlights and the program for the upcoming festival. To mark the 65th anniversary, we will offer film screenings and a supporting program for audiences of all ages, introduce several new features, pay tribute to important figures, and celebrate the anniversaries of Japan’s Studio Ghibli and Slovak animation.
Film fans can look forward to competition titles in our traditional categories, which filmmakers can still submit until March 1, 2025. The festival’s main non-competition section will focus on two pivotal milestones in the world of animation. To commemorate 40 years since the founding of Japan’s Studio Ghibli, we will present screenings of legendary anime films accompanied by special introductions, guest appearances, and masterclasses for both students and the general public. In conjunction with the 60th anniversary of Slovak animation, we will show a series of films prepared in collaboration with the Slovak Film Institute. A profile section dedicated to Viktor Kubal, the founder of Slovak animation, will be geared toward adult audiences, while other filmmakers will appear in a section designed for children.
The festival’s film program will also commemorate works by screenwriter-directors Jindřich Polák and Vojtěch Jasný, both of whom would be turning 100 this year.
From Jindřich Polák’s body of work, we’ll screen Riders of the Sky, a few episodes of the cult TV series The Visitors, and Alarm in the Clouds, featuring the legendary Mr. Tau character,
explained Artistic Director Markéta Pášmová.
We’ll remember Vojtěch Jasný’s oeuvre, particularly his famous film The Cassandra Cat, through a discussion featuring actress Emília Vášáryová. We’ll also commemorate the 120th birthday of Jan Werich,
Pášmová added.
A new highlight in this year’s professional festival program is Young Industry, featuring inspiring speakers from among established filmmakers and successful newcomers.
Our goal is to support and motivate the next generation of filmmakers. This initiative will offer fresh creators who are just finding their feet in the film industry, inspiration, opportunities for international networking, the sharing of experiences, and discussions,
explained Pášmová, adding that students will be actively involved in carrying out this initiative—a tactic that proved successful during the 3rd Zlín Film Weekend.
Undergoing a transformation this year is the international competition section Zlín Dog, where young filmmakers from around the world bring their own cultural perspectives and thus enrich the global film scene with new viewpoints, stories, directions, and trends.
We decided to focus the section even more toward its main target group—students. Along with screenings at Tomas Bata University, we plan to include discussions with young creators in the student blocks, allowing for an exchange of experiences and the opportunity to strike up new collaborations,
Pášmová explained.
Finally, we will bring this year’s festival to a close with the Echoes of the Zlín Film Festival, which will be spread throughout June and, in addition to visiting Mikulov, will stop in other towns across the Czech Republic.