Big Names, Bold Films: Prague Film Festival 2025 Takes Off

The Prague Film Festival 2025 is in full swing, welcoming film lovers, students, and professionals to one of the most dynamic cinema events of the year.

The lineup includes more than 75 films from 29 countries, with appearances by renowned directors from Cannes and Berlinale, such as Marian Crișan, Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter, and Izabela Plucińska.

This year’s program offers a rich selection of award-winning features, thought-provoking premieres, and exclusive masterclasses, creating a unique platform for storytelling and international dialogue.

Berlinale Premieres Make Their Czech Debut

One of the highlights of the festival is the Czech premiere of the Oscar-winning film I Am Not A Robot. Alongside it, audiences can catch three premieres from this year’s Berlinale, including two powerful fiction films.

Cu Li Never Cries, directed by Vietnam’s Pham Ngoc Lana, explores the emotional journey of a woman trying to reconcile with her past while her personal life evolves under the weight of memory and time.

Maria’s Silence, from Latvian director Dāvis Sīmanis, delves into the dark period of Stalinist Russia. Actress Maria Leiko travels to visit her granddaughter but soon finds herself ensnared by the KGB’s brutal system. The film paints a tense, haunting portrait of survival and resistance.

Personal Stories and Unforgettable Screenings

Among this year’s must-see films is My Last Summer, a poignant dramedy by Oscar-winning Croatian director Danis Tanović. Set on a secluded island, it follows a young woman returning to deal with a family inheritance, only to be confronted by painful memories and unresolved conflicts.

The festival also features a personal appearance by Palme d’Or winner Marian Crișan, who will speak with audiences following the screening of his latest work.

Another standout title is Under the Volcano, from Polish filmmaker Damian Kocur. The film follows a Ukrainian family spending their last vacation day in Tenerife, unaware that the next morning their lives will be turned upside down by war. It’s a sobering reflection on sudden displacement and the fragility of peace.

Masterclasses and Animation Talent

Beyond the big screen, the festival hosts exclusive masterclasses led by Iceland’s Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter, a Cannes award winner, and Polish director Elżbieta Benkowska. These sessions offer attendees rare insight into the creative and technical aspects of filmmaking.

The event also includes Anirama Pitch, spotlighting promising student animation projects still in development. Supported by partners like Foley Stage, Shorts Wrap, and the Festival of Animation Berlin, this platform highlights emerging voices in the animation world.

Whether you’re drawn to deeply personal storytelling, political drama, or visual innovation, the Prague Film Festival 2025 delivers a rich cinematic experience that continues to position Prague as a major destination for international film culture.

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