The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is expanding its KVIFF Industry Days program, introducing new initiatives and widening its international reach. The 2026 edition will take place July 5–8 at the Kaiserbad venue, supported by the PPF Foundation, and structured around Cinematic Focus and Screen Focus strands.

A key change sees KVIFF Eastern Promises rebranded as KVIFF Promises, reflecting a broader global scope while maintaining a Central European focus. The platform will continue to showcase emerging and established talent, alongside projects developed with the Midpoint Institute.

Building on the introduction of its series-focused strand last year, the festival continues to expand its program to reflect the growing importance of broadcaster and streaming-driven content in Central Europe. The Screen Focus strand welcomes a new key partner, Oneplay, which will support a range of panels, masterclasses and presentations tailored to today’s audiovisual professionals.

Producers, commissioners, and talent will have the opportunity to connect around topics such as international co-production, regional storytelling, export potential and premium production values. With the support of Oneplay and the presence of leading regional players, KVIFF Industry Days will place a stronger spotlight on the specific creative and industrial dynamics of episodic and multi-format content.

Among the major additions is the launch of Book-to-Screen, a new initiative developed with Frankfurter Buchmesse and regional partners to connect publishers with producers and boost adaptations of literary works from Central and Eastern Europe. Selected titles will be presented to international producers during the event.

The industry program will also feature panels and workshops on key topics such as AI tools, true crime ethics, alternative distribution and private equity financing. In parallel, the International Casting Directors Association will present its Semiramis Award and host dedicated sessions on casting.

KVIFF Industry Days will further host the Global Media Makers Residency, organized with Film Independent, offering training for producers from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Meanwhile, streaming platform Oneplay joins as a new partner, underlining the growing importance of series and multi-format content in the region.

The initiative continues to position Karlovy Vary as a key hub for industry networking, co-production and talent development across Central and Eastern Europe.