Putting Together a Film Program Can Be an Adventure
The Zlín Film Festival has traditionally all about a varied film offering and opportunities to see films for children and young people on the big screen, which usually cannot be seen anywhere else but in Zlín.
But before we reveal which films the festival programmers have selected for the 64th Zlín Film Festival competition categories, we will at least outline what you can look forward to.
The film program this time will bring the audience over 300 films from 55 countries, including traditional European countries such as Germany, Finland and France. However, exotic countries such as the Philippines, Colombia, Ecuador, Cyprus and Thailand are also represented.
Our colleagues from the film program had the opportunity to see some interesting films from all over the world, especially from Asia and South America, which is proof that children's and youth film is thriving in such destinations and that the situation is slowly returning to normal after Covid.
"I was again very happy to see a new wave of Canadian (Quebec) film. By selecting several films from this country (both live action and animated) we are building on last year's great harvest,"
said Jaroslava Hynštová, the festival's dramaturge, adding:
"Feature-length animated films also play a major role, confirming the current quality of this very demanding film genre."
In terms of focus, the theme of friendship resonates a lot in the films, but the usual stories of love, family, sport, nature and fantasy are not forgotten. In the films for older audiences, the themes of national, religious, cultural, and sexual difference are also present.
According to the artistic director of the Zlín Film Festival, the compilation of the film program can be described as ADVENTUROUS.
"There are a lot of children's and youth films, but not of such quality that we can screen them with a clear conscience to our festival visitors. We are often in suspense until the last moment, here we have really managed to put together such a collection of films that we can be satisfied,"
stated Markéta Pášmová and added:
"In addition, from the position of a very respected international festival, we try to bring the latest productions, and that was a bit of a challenge this year because, especially in Europe, there has not been so much success in terms of quality children's film. I'm even more pleased that we can offer our audiences more films with a touch of the exotic - something you don't really see much of."
Traditionally, the festival is accompanied by a number of domestic and foreign film delegations consisting of actors, directors, producers, and other filmmakers. You can meet them during the festival not only at the screenings in the cinemas, but also on the Red Carpet at the Congress Centre, in the Festival Café on the main square (Náměstí Míru), and many other places in the city.