Letní filmová škola (Summer Film School)

ongoing

Letní filmová škola (Summer Film School) is a unique film and cultural event and one of the biggest Czech film festivals in size and quality. It also has a unique mission and character. Since 1964, the SFS has aimed at widening horizons of members of film clubs and others interested in art-house cinema by presenting it in different contexts. During the 2000s, the SFS experienced remarkable progress – a small film club seminar evolved into one of the largest educating movie events in the Czech Republic. The SFS festival regularly hosts dozens of outstanding Czech and foreign directors, film critics, actors, scriptwriters, DOPs, and authors. In previous years, it welcomed J. Sheridan, J. Taymor, P. Greenaway, Kaurismäki brothers, E. Kusturica, T. Gilliam, A. Kiarostami, J. Troell, C. Saura, I. Szabó, K. Loach, J. Medem, F.T. Fridriksson, B. Tarr or Václav Havel among others. The Summer Film School is not only a film festival. It also offers a systematic method of film education. Its Expert Programme consists of a series of themed lectures, master classes, workshops, seminars, and discussion panels. Since 2018, it has been presenting a brand new Industry Programme. The SFS also runs a number of year-long activities such as SFS Presents label or Eastern Promises, satellite events such as Silent Films on Tour and special educational projects such as CinEd. The structure of the festival’s programme is stable; the event is annually visited by thousands of primarily young filmgoers (4,500 badges + 3,140 single tickets in 2023 and 4,600 badges + 3,540 single tickets in 2024). Non-national European films (including films from the countries with low audio-visual capacity) form an essential part of the programme. The festival is part of both domestic (Association of Czech Film Festivals) and international networks (Archive Film Festivals Network). The festival uses both traditional and innovative ways of marketing and communications, and it is gender balanced and sustainable.