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Books transform into films at Karlovy Vary fest
7 Jul
Summary
- KVIFF launched Book-to-Screen to foster Central-Eastern European IP market.
- Eight literary IPs from across Europe were pitched for adaptations.
- Showcase aims to bridge publishing and film industries for rights transparency.
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) introduced its new Book-to-Screen showcase during the 60th edition's Industry Days program. This initiative is designed to cultivate a Central-Eastern European intellectual property market, fostering stronger connections between the film and publishing sectors.
The showcase presented eight literary works from Central and Eastern Europe, identified as having strong potential for film or television adaptation. These selections span various genres, from historical dramas and folk horror to dystopian satires and children's literature.
Among the featured works is "Cupid at the Kremlin Wall" from Georgia, a historical drama set during the Stalinist terror. From the Czech Republic, "Playing Wolf" offers a folk-horror thriller, while Poland's "The River Odyssey of Kora from Willow Meadow" is a children's book with ecological themes. Moldova's "Queen of Hearts" is a dystopian satire, and Lithuania's "Aspic Bistro" presents a magic-realism satire.
Further selections include the Czech memoir "The True Way Out," detailing a Roma upbringing in Prague. Slovakia's "The Zone" is a graphic novel with dark humor and cult status. Finally, Ukraine's "Amadoka" is a historical/war novel exploring Eastern European trauma and resilience.
The Book-to-Screen initiative aims to create a more transparent environment for adaptation rights in the region, supporting creators and producers in navigating the process of bringing literary stories to the screen.
