Zlín Film Festival opens with nearly 300 films from around the world

The 65th Zlín International Film Festival for Children and Youth kicks off on Thursday in the south-east Moravian city. Running until June 4, the festival will showcase 297 films from 50 countries. The line-up includes 19 world premieres, 13 international premieres, and 121 Czech premieres.

Recognized as the world's largest and oldest festival of its kind, the event will open with a gala evening where visual effects artist Boris Masník will receive the Golden Slipper Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children's and Youth Cinema.

This year’s edition will also honour the work of filmmakers Jindřich Polák and Vojtěch Jasný, marking the centenary of their births. Additionally, the festival will celebrate two major milestones in animated film: the 40th anniversary of Japan’s Studio Ghibli and 60 years of Slovak animation.