EFP (European Film Promotion) and the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) are pleased to announce that the Georgian director Dea Kulumbegashvili will serve as this year’s mentor for EFP FUTURE FRAMES – Generation NEXT of European Cinema. Acclaimed Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland is contributing a keynote speech.
In an exclusive masterclass, the award-winning director Dea Kulumbegashvili will give the young filmmakers an insight into her professional journey from making two successful short films to her recent second feature film, April. The powerful drama about female independence competed at the 2024 Venice Film Festival where it received the Special Jury Prize.
Kulumbegashvilli was born and raised in Georgia. She studied directing at Columbia University’s School of the Arts and Media Studies at The New School in New York. Following two highly acclaimed and award-winning short films (Invisible Spaces, 2014 and Lethe, 2016) her feature debut, Beginning (2020) premiered in Toronto, winning the FIPRESCI Prize. The film also took home the Silver Seashell Jury Prize and the Golden Seashell at the San Sebastián Film Festival.
Another major highlight of the programme is the keynote speech by the renowned and multi-award-winning Polish director Agnieszka Holland who will exclusively share experiences from her impressive career spanning decades. Holland’s most recent film, Green Border competed at the 2023 Venice Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize.
The masterclass and keynote are part of the broader industry programme for the 2025 edition of EFP FUTURE FRAMES. Supported by Creative Europe – the MEDIA programme of the European Union, and presented in cooperation with KVIFF and its partner Allwyn, a leading multinational lottery-powered entertainment company, the initiative also includes exclusive sessions with KVIFF programmers and one-on-one meetings with representatives from UTA and Range Media Partners. The industry experts will provide feedback and guidance to the participants—and will later select one director for an Allwyn scholarship and professional development trip to Los Angeles.
All partners are proud to present a striking new line-up of recent European film school graduates whose films will be showcased during this year’s festival.
Anna Korinek, KVIFF’s Programme Coordinator and curator of the programme confirms that “this year’s selection highlights the strength and promise of a new generation of European filmmakers. The selected films stood out for their creativity, thoughtful storytelling, and distinctive perspectives. We’re pleased to present ten compelling student works that reflect the evolving voice of young European cinema. Now in its 11th year, the programme is beginning to show its long-term impact, with alumni stepping confidently into their professional careers — a testament to the strength and relevance of this initiative. The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is proud to host this programme and to collaborate with European Film Promotion in supporting emerging cinematic voices.”
“We are truly grateful for our long-standing partnership with the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. EFP FUTURE FRAMES offers young directors real opportunities to be seen, to grow and to connect internationally. Welcoming Agnieszka Holland and Dea Kulumbegashvili this year as part of the programme is a special honour. Their experience and voices in European cinema are a great source of inspiration”, says Sonja Heinen, Managing Director of EFP.
Pavel Turek, Chief Officer of Global Partnerships at Allwyn pronounces that “supporting emerging talent is at the core of our mission. We are thrilled to once again welcome the next generation of visionary directors to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival through this year’s FUTURE FRAMES initiative, in partnership with UTA and Range Media. We are also proud to continue our tradition of awarding a month-long scholarship to Los Angeles to this year’s winner, offering them the invaluable opportunity to work alongside some of Hollywood’s finest. Initiatives like these reflect our deep and ongoing commitment to nurturing creative talent through the power of film.”
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about the karlovy vary international film festival
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) is the largest film festival in the Czech Republic. It is one of the oldest A-list film festivals, a category it shares with the festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, San Sebastian, Montreal, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Among filmmakers, buyers, distributors, sales agents, and journalists, KVIFF is considered the most important event in all of Central and Eastern Europe.
about allwyn
Allwyn is a leading multi-national lottery operator. Allwyn builds better lotteries that return more to good causes by focusing on innovation, technology, efficiency and safety across a growing casual gaming entertainment portfolio. The lottery-first approach of focusing on affordable recreational play has earned Allwyn leading market positions with trusted brands across Europe in Austria, Czech Republic, Greece and Cyprus, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States (Illinois).
