In our stories, we have presented two of the most important filmmakers of Czechoslovak cinema, whose work is connected with the Zlín film studio. The only one missing from the Three Greats is Karel Zeman. The films of the legendary Karel Zeman amazed both Zlín and world audiences. His films are part of the festival program to this day. In his honor, from 1989 to 1994 the main prize bore his name. The European Debuts competition was enriched in 2019 with a brand new Karel Zeman Award for the visual interpretation of a film.

In 2006, the festival organizers had to face a protest by Czech filmmakers against the non-adoption of an amendment to the Act on Cinematography. The result was the cancellation of screenings not only at the Zlín festival. This situation affected, for example, the opening of the festival, when the filmmakers canceled the screening of the animated film Fimfárum 2.

The famous British actor Michael York and his wife, photographer Patricia McCallum, took away many unforgettable memories from their visit to the Zlín Festival, such as a special performance of the historical association and their participation in the Ride of the Kings in Vlčnov. Patricia even created a thematic clapperboard for the festival.

The project of child stars on the Walk of Fame started in 2006. The first to get a celebrated tile in front of the Grand Cinema were Žaneta Fuchsová (Cat Prince, Mr. Tau, Train of Childhood and Hope,…), Tomáš Holý in memoriam (Under Badger Rock, How to Extract a Whale's Molar, Holidays for a Dog,…) and Michal Kocourek (The Flight, Indians from Větrov, Sonata for a Red-Haired Girl,…). Let's remember all of those who got one of Zlín's stars on the sidewalk.

Thanks to the festival's cooperation with Microsoft, in 2001 children were able to explore the world of computers and the Internet not only in classrooms, but also in a double-decker bus in front of the Grand Cinema. The following year, a large tent appeared at the same place, which attracted many passers-by with its igloo shape.

As of 1948, the most massive film event in communist Czechoslovakia was held in Zlín under the name Film Festival of Workers. The first year was held under the auspices of the wife of the President of the Republic, Marta Gottwaldová. It didn't take long till the president and first lady "got" Zlín as a dowry, when it was renamed Gottwaldov on January 1, 1949. The competition films were screened in the Grand Cinema and in the natural amphitheater, and the film of several countries were represented. Of course, most were Soviet films (e.g. Symphony of Life, Tales of the Siberian Land). Many supporting events took place within the festival. For example, Oldřich Nový sang national songs, the Zlín Philharmonic Orchestra gave concerts, audiences could have fun with Jindřich Plachta, Ladislav Pešek, and Vlasta Fabianová.

The Zlín Festival is a place where interesting and sometimes touching meetings take place. As in the case of the meeting of Libuše Šafránková and Andrej Chalimon, the protagonists of the Oscar-winning film Kolja at the 47th year. The year 2007 was Chalimon's second visit to the Zlín festival. In 1996, he presented his film in Zlín together with Stella Zázvorková.

The expansion of the film program and the extension of the festival to 8 days in 2008 led to an increase in festival locations with the Golden Apple Cinema. Not only is the film program at home here, but visitors can get signatures from famous Czech filmmakers at autograph sessions or just see the exhibitions of films or clapperboards on their way to the cinema in the Golden Apple shopping center.

We came across some very interesting information in the festival archives. In 1987, Věra Chytilová's horror film Wolf's Hole won the Children's Audience Award. The film, which was nominated for a Golden Bear at the Berlinale, tells the story of some people at a ski course which turns out to be an experiment led by strange creatures.