Czech Film Week 2026 with a special screening of Franz, the latest film by acclaimed director Agnieszka Holland.
Inspired by the life and imagination of Franz Kafka, Franz is a visually striking and deeply engaging portrait of one of the world's greatest literary figures. We are especially honoured to welcome the film's lead actor, Idan Weiss, who will attend the screening and join the audience for a post-screening Q&A in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
This year's Czech Film Week also presents a carefully curated selection of outstanding Czech films, combining acclaimed contemporary productions with timeless classics. Audiences can look forward to the heartwarming comedy Sea of Hope, the inspiring sports drama Invincibles, and a tribute to legendary filmmaker František Vláčil with screenings of his masterpieces Marketa Lazarová and The Valley of the Bees. Together, the program offers a rich journey through the diversity, creativity, and enduring legacy of Czech cinema.
We look forward to welcoming you to another celebration of Czech cinema and sharing these remarkable films with you on the big screen.
The full festival programme, screening schedule, and all practical information can be found on our website.
This July and August, cinematheques across Israel will once again host the traditional Czech Film Week festival. The festival will begin on July 27 and, as every year, will offer audiences a selection of Czech cinema from the 1960s to the present day.
The main section of this year's festival aims to showcase contemporary Czech filmmaking. All three selected films were produced in 2025 and demonstrate the thematic and genre diversity of current Czech cinema. The second part of the festival will present a retrospective dedicated to František Vláčil, one of the greats of Czech cinematography.
The centerpiece of this year's festival is the Czech-Polish-German co-production Franz (2025). Director Agnieszka Holland assembles a kaleidoscope of events from fragments, dreams, letters, and preserved stories into a compelling narrative inspired by the life, work, and imagination of writer Franz Kafka. This ambitious film presents Kafka's life and personality from an entirely new perspective and on unexpected levels.
Another featured film is the drama The Invincibles (2025) by young director Dan Pánek. Inspired by true events, it tells the fascinating story of three people at crucial turning points in their lives: a successful businessman trying to save his family, a bitter coach whose world is on the brink of collapse, and a promising athlete who is stabbed by attackers while defending another man. Their lives intersect in a story about determination, strong will, and second chances in life. The film will also introduce Israeli audiences to the beauty of ice hockey, the Czech Republic's national sport.
The third film is the romantic comedy Sea of Hope (2025), directed by Martin Horský. It tells the story of an aging violin maker who spends his life safely within his workshop and among a close circle of friends—until a life-changing event turns everything upside down and prompts him to pursue his dreams before it is too late. Set against the beautiful backdrop of historic Prague, this stylized film delights not only with its warm atmosphere but also with performances by some of the most popular Czech actors of today.
As part of the František Vláčil retrospective, audiences will have the opportunity to see two of his most acclaimed films: Marketa Lazarová (1967) and The Valley of the Bees (1967), both set in the distant Middle Ages.
Marketa Lazarová, a cornerstone of Czech cinema, is regarded as one of the most significant historical films of all time. The story follows the fate of a virtuous young woman destined for life in a convent, who is instead forced to become the lover of a violent young man. The film captivates with its striking visuals, inventive sound design and musical score, and frequent visions and memories of its characters, which disrupt the linear narrative.
The Valley of the Bees depicts the conflict between enforced membership in an ascetic crusading order and the desire for a free life. The fanatical knight Armin von Heide pursues his friend, the young nobleman Ondřej, who has fled the order and returned to his ancestral estate. Determined to punish him for violating the order's rules, the knight seeks to destroy his attempt to build a normal and happy life.
Partners of the event: Embassy of the Czech Republic in Tel Aviv, NFA - Národní filmový archiv, Cinematheque Haifa, Herzliya, Jerusalem, Rosh Pina, and Tel Aviv.
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