Karlovy Vary Festival President Position Vacant
- The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) will proceed as planned, honoring the vision of its late president, Jiří Bartoška, who died in 2025.
- Kryštof Mucha, who has been with the festival as 1997 and served as Executive Director since 2004, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of KVIFF...
- Mucha stated, "For many years I had a great prospect to work with Jiří Bartoška and perceive how he thought and where the festival led.
Karlovy Vary Film Festival to Continue Legacy of Jiří Bartoška
Table of Contents
- Karlovy Vary Film Festival to Continue Legacy of Jiří Bartoška
- Karlovy vary Film Festival: A Legacy Reborn
- What is the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF)?
- What is happening with the Karlovy Vary film Festival?
- Who was jiří Bartoška and what was his role?
- How is the festival honoring Jiří Bartoška’s legacy?
- Has the leadership of the festival changed?
- Who are the key figures in the new leadership team?
- What has Kryštof Mucha said about the transition?
- What is the role of Rockaway Arts?
- What other cultural interests does Rockaway Arts have?
- How long has Jiří Bartoška been involved in the festival?
- What does the future hold for the Karlovy Vary Film Festival?
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) will proceed as planned, honoring the vision of its late president, Jiří Bartoška, who died in 2025. Organizers have pledged to maintain the high standards established under Bartoška’s leadership.

Leadership Transition
Kryštof Mucha, who has been with the festival as 1997 and served as Executive Director since 2004, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of KVIFF Group. Karel Och remains as Artistic Director, and Petr Lintimer continues in his role.
Mucha stated, “For many years I had a great prospect to work with Jiří Bartoška and perceive how he thought and where the festival led. I believe that with Karel Och and Petr Lintimer we will be able to follow his legacy.”
Rockaway Arts’ Role
Rockaway Arts, a joint venture between jakub Havrlant, founder of Rockaway Capital, and Karel Komárek, founder of KKCG, became a majority owner of KVIFF in 2021. this occurred during a period when many cultural events faced challenges due to the pandemic. Karel Komárek, a longtime supporter of the festival and a friend of Jiří Bartoška, subsequently joined Rockaway Arts.
- Rockaway Arts also has interests in Colors of Ostrava and Designblok.
Rockaway Arts has decided that the title of festival president will remain permanently associated with Jiří Bartoška.
According to Jakub Havrlant, “In thirty years, Jiří Bartoška has built one of the most crucial film festivals in Europe.He did this thanks to his own vision and a team of people who were able to assemble in a great way. That is why we decided that the position of the president would remain connected with his name.”
Havrlant added, “Our role – as a owner - is to ensure stability and create conditions for further growth,” emphasizing the continued strength and experience of the festival team.


Karlovy vary Film Festival: A Legacy Reborn
here’s a Q&A-style guide too understanding the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) and its continued evolution.
What is the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF)?
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) is a prominent film festival held annually in Karlovy Vary,Czech Republic. It’s a significant cultural event,showcasing a wide array of films and attracting filmmakers,industry professionals,and film enthusiasts from around the world.
What is happening with the Karlovy Vary film Festival?
The KVIFF will proceed as planned, honoring the vision of its late president, jiří Bartoška, who died. Organizers have committed to upholding the high standards established during Bartoška’s leadership.
Who was jiří Bartoška and what was his role?
jiří Bartoška was the President of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. He played a crucial role in building and shaping the festival into one of Europe’s most critically important film events over three decades.
How is the festival honoring Jiří Bartoška’s legacy?
The festival plans to continue to honour Jiří Bartoška’s legacy by:
Maintaining the high standards he set.
Permanently associating the title of festival president with his name.
Has the leadership of the festival changed?
Yes, there have been some key leadership changes.
Who are the key figures in the new leadership team?
The leadership team consists of:
kryštof Mucha: Appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of KVIFF Group.
Karel Och: Remains as Artistic Director.
Petr Lintimer: Continues in his role.
What has Kryštof Mucha said about the transition?
Kryštof Mucha stated that he looks forward “to work with jiří Bartoška and perceive how he thought and where the festival led”.He believes that with Karel Och and Petr Lintimer they will be able to follow his legacy.
What is the role of Rockaway Arts?
Rockaway Arts, a joint venture between Jakub Havrlant (founder of Rockaway Capital) and Karel Komárek (founder of KKCG), became a majority owner of KVIFF in 2021. They aim to:
Ensure the stability of the festival.
Create conditions for further growth.
What other cultural interests does Rockaway Arts have?
Rockaway Arts also has interests in:
Colors of Ostrava
* Designblok
How long has Jiří Bartoška been involved in the festival?
According to Jakub Havrlant, Jiří Bartoška spent thirty years building the festival into one of Europe’s crucial film festivals.
What does the future hold for the Karlovy Vary Film Festival?
the festival is committed to continuing under the new leadership team, upholding its high standards, and honoring the legacy of Jiří Bartoška. rockaway Arts’ involvement aims to ensure the festival’s stability and support its continued growth.
Key Roles and Responsibilities at KVIFF
| Role | Person |
| :———————————— | :—————– |
| Chairman of the Board of Directors | Kryštof Mucha |
| Artistic Director | Karel Och |
| Role | Petr Lintimer |
