REPORT: Czech Film Springboard @ Finále Plzeň 2024

25/09/2024 – The industry initiative presenting Czech works in progress has showcased projects covering an eclectic mix of genres, from intimate family dramedies to explorations of masculinity

Markéta Šantrochová, director of the Czech Film Centre (centre), during the introduction to the event (© Czech Film Centre)

This year’s line-up of projects in early development curated by the Czech Film Springboard domestic industry platform at Finále Plzeň served to spotlight emerging filmmakers from the youngest generation. The projects delve into themes of identity, human relationships and societal challenges, offering a mix of intimate character studies and broader social commentary. From road movies exploring personal reinvention and self-worth to dramedies examining family dynamics and generational divides, these films are set against both contemporary and historical backdrops, blending humour and suspense.

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The Hour Between Dog and Wolf – Terézia Halamová (Czech Republic/Slovakia)
Slovak-born director Halamová, a FAMU graduate, is preparing her feature debut, a road movie set in the world of male strippers. The story follows 25-year-old Rudo, who joins a stripping tour across Central and Eastern Europe, seeking freedom and a way to break away from his mundane life. His desire for admiration and reinvention is challenged as the tour unravels, with drug use and impulsive decisions revealing cracks in his idealised escape.

Halamová’s style blends social realism with poetic imagery, influenced by Michal Marczak’s minimalist approach in All These Sleepless Nights [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Filming is planned for August to September 2025, with a premiere in May 2026. The project, which is being staged by Czech company Other Stories and Slovak co-producer guča films, is seeking partners from Poland.

Bohemian Vacation – Adam Koloman Rybanský (Czech Republic/Slovakia)
The emerging Czech director, whose graduation film, Somewhere Over the Chemtrails [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Adam Koloman Rybanský
film profile], premiered in the Berlinale’s Panorama section, is developing his second feature. The film explores the marital crisis of Milan and Týna, parents of two, who, instead of a seaside holiday, find themselves in a Czech forest camp. Milan’s immature behaviour deepens the rift between them as they grapple with the question of whether or not to save their marriage.

The film is being produced by Czech outfit Bratři, which also backed Somewhere Over the Chemtrails, with Slovak co-producer Artileria also on board. The producers are seeking additional partners from Poland and Germany. Development is set to continue throughout 2024, with filming scheduled for 2025 and a world premiere expected in 2026. International sales agent Pluto Film, which represented Somewhere Over the Chemtrails, is already attached.

Hotel Moldau – Jan Švejkar (Czech Republic/Slovakia)
Švejkar, a Czech director known for his award-winning adverts, is transitioning to fiction with his feature debut, Hotel Moldau, a mystery-thriller set in 1935 Czechoslovakia. The story follows a German radio engineer hiding out in a remote hotel, using it to broadcast anti-Hitler news into Nazi Germany. Unbeknownst to him, a Nazi spy has been sent to capture him and dismantle the transmitter. Set in a single location, the film intertwines historical events with fictional suspense, focusing on moral dilemmas and resistance.

Filming is planned for autumn/winter 2025, with completion anticipated by July 2026. Hotel Moldau is being produced by Stairway Films and co-produced with Slovakia, and the mostly German-language dialogue is prompting a search for partners in German-speaking countries.

The Disobedient Kids – Luboš Kučera (Czech Republic/Slovakia)
A newcomer with several short films to his name, Kučera is working on his debut feature, a dramedy blending comedy and social issues. The story centres on Lucie, a burned-out sign-language interpreter in her thirties, tasked with facilitating meetings between Zdeněk, a prisoner convicted of grievous bodily harm, and his deaf teenage son, Matěj. Initially hesitant owing to Zdeněk’s abrasive nature, Lucie realises her involvement is crucial to his potential parole. As she draws parallels between Zdeněk’s troubled relationship with Matěj and her own family struggles, Lucie becomes invested in helping them reconcile, unaware of the unintended consequences.

The film is being produced by Czech company nutprodukce and co-produced by its Slovak counterpart nutprodukcia. The producers are seeking additional partnerships, financing and sales agents. Filming is planned for 2025, with a release expected in 2026.

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Publish date : 2024-09-25 04:27:00

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