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Karlovy Vary International Film Festival marks 60th edition with expanded program and cashless payments
The 60th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) runs from 3 to 11 July in the Czech spa town. More than 150 feature films, including world premieres and award‑winning titles, are screened, with stars such as Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jesse Eisenberg, Dustin Hoffman and Juliette Binoche attending.
Beyond film screenings the festival offers a broad side programme: daily talk‑show interviews, live concerts, an IQOS lounge, and the “World without Smoke” art installation by Lucie Jindrák Skřivánková. A Zalando fashion campaign ties styling and interactive kiosks to the event, while a dedicated “Zalando KVIFF” Instagram, TikTok and YouTube‑Shorts series highlights celebrity outfits.
The festival is also moving to a cashless model. According to festival production director Petr Lintimer and Visa’s Czech country manager Petr Polák, card payments now account for about 90 % of transactions, driving regional spending to roughly 600 million CZK and increasing vendor sales by up to 20 %.
KVIFF’s programme includes notable film premieres such as “Bojovník” (world premiere on 6 July) and a strong Spanish presence with titles by Pedro Almodóvar and Rodrigo Sorogoyen featured in the Horizons section.