Zlín Film Pioneers: Children’s Film Through the Changing Times

Vít
Karas

Vít Karas is a director, actor, and educator. He graduated in directing from FAMU in Prague. During his studies, he directed several festival-acclaimed films, such as Pouta nejsilnější and Malý svět. In collaboration with TV Nova, he created the fashion-industry series Dokonalý svět. Later, working with Czech Television, he directed fairy-tale films such as Micimutr, O pokladech, and Přání k mání. In addition to his film and television work, he is also active in dubbing direction. His work on Toy Story was awarded by Pixar Animation Studios as the best language adaptation of the film.

Zlín became the cradle of Czech film for children and youth, where a distinctive style emerged based on authenticity, playfulness, and a deep understanding of the child’s world. A key figure of this tradition was director and screenwriter Josef Pinkava, whose films captured the naturalness of children’s experiences without pathos or simplification. Other Zlín filmmakers, such as Radim Cvrček, also built on a sense of realism, working with non-actors and focusing on everyday situations that reflected genuine emotions and values. The discussion will offer a look at the development of this genre from its Zlín roots to the present day, represented by director Vít Karas, author of a number of successful films for young audiences.

A unique program that brings the renowned Zlín film history to life and confronts it with the present. It highlights the areas in which Zlín filmmakers were true pioneers and shows how their approach resonates in today’s work. The sessions offer a lively connection between past and present in a light and accessible format—through dialogue with contemporary creators. The series of talks is held on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Zlín film studios.