Industry Heavyweights to Converge at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

The upcoming Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is set to feature an impressive lineup of industry heavyweights, including David Chase, the acclaimed creator of HBO’s The Sopranos, and Sharon Horgan, the BAFTA-winning actress-writer-producer behind the critically acclaimed series Bad Sisters.

Chase, a seven-time Emmy winner, will participate in an on-stage conversation at Karlovy Vary on July 8, where he will reflect on his extraordinary contribution to television and film storytelling while discussing the evolution of the audiovisual industry and creative risks. With over fifty years of experience in the industry, Chase has earned credits on notable series such as The Magician, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and The Rockford Files.

Sharon Horgan, known for her work on Bad Sisters, Catastrophe, and Divorce, will join Czech cinematographer Andrij Parekh for a session on July 8 titled The Cinematic Series: Storytelling in the Age of Streaming. Parekh, a BAFTA nominee, is recognized for his work on Succession and Hunting.

Debbie McWilliams, the legendary casting director behind every James Bond film since 1981’s For Your Eyes Only, will take part in a KVIFF Talks special panel on July 10. McWilliams’ extensive experience in casting includes her work on cult comedies like Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Mollye Asher, producer of Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland and The Rider, will join The Hurt Locker producer Greg Shapiro for a panel discussion titled Curating Projects and Building a Producing Identity on July 7. Asher will also participate in a Film Independent workshop organized for Czech and Slovak producers.

Riff Raff Entertainment’s Ben Jackson and Katie Sinclair will discuss their company, which Jackson founded with Jude Law. The company is behind a raft of projects, including Black Rabbit and the crime thriller The Order, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2024.

Other notable speakers at the festival include Juan de Dios Larraín, co-founder of Fabula, and Cecilia Shen, alumna of the global Forbes 30 Under 30 class of 2026 and CEO of Utopai AI. KVIFF’s film program will also feature two Czech titles, The Cursed Warrior and Filter, a six-part miniseries.

The 60th edition of KVIFF takes place from July 3-11, 2026.

The industry strand of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Industry Days, has announced its impressive lineup of speakers for this year’s edition. The list includes David Chase, Sharon Horgan, Andrij Parekh, Ben Jackson, Katie Sinclair, Mollye Asher, Greg Shapiro, Debbie McWilliams, and Juan de Dios Larraín, among others.

Key themes at this year’s edition include technological transformation and storytelling in the era of artificial intelligence. Cecilia Shen, CEO of Utopai AI, will present her vision of the technological future of film and television production.

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is set to take place from July 3-11, 2026.