Zlín Film Pioneers: From the Trick Films of Karel Zeman to VFX

Boris
Masník

Boris Masník is a renowned visual artist, VFX and SFX supervisor, and a specialist in film special effects. He has worked on more than 100 films—from Arabela and The Flying Čestmír to Burning Bush and Angel of the Lord. He is considered one of the leading experts in the Czech Republic and frequently collaborates on international projects. He graduated from the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, specializing in film and television graphics. In 1998, he joined Universal Production Partners (UPP), a company focused on digital post-production, computer animation, and visual effects. In 2025, he received the Golden Slipper Award at the Zlín Film Festival for his outstanding contribution to cinema for children and youth.

Zlín gave the world one of the greatest film visionaries—Karel Zeman, who pushed the boundaries of trick filmmaking and captivated audiences with his unique imagination. His ingenious combinations of live-action, animation, and artistic techniques anticipated today’s world of visual effects. From handcrafted tricks to digital VFX, there is a fascinating journey of cinematic illusion that has fundamentally transformed the way stories are told on screen. The discussion will offer insight into the development of film effects across the decades and their present form, introduced by leading Czech visual effects expert Boris Masník.

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.