Hello, Welcome is the title of the third feature film by thirty-year-old director Šimon Holý. After the films Mirrors in the Dark and And Then Came Love..., Holý will release the film, this time shot during the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in July 2023. The film, starring actresses Eliška Soukupová, Alena Doláková and Sára Venclovská, promises humour and a glimpse behind the curtain of the Czech film industry. Hello, Welcome will have its festival premiere as the opening film of the LFŠ Uherské Hradiště on 27 July 2024, and will then appear in cinemas from 8 August 2024.

Hello, Welcome is a comedy film about finding love for oneself, the acting profession, and a film industry that often doesn't make sense even to people "on the inside". It describes authenticity as a goal that can never be met. This film concludes a trilogy of films in which Holý has focused on women on the verge of change, and also ends an era of his low-budget projects. "It made sense to me to put the third part in the setting where the previous two films actually premiered. So the three actresses closest to me and the Karlovy Vary festival had to be part of it. I'm glad it worked out," says the director and producer. Interestingly, some of the situations in the film are based on his personal experiences at the festival, although he points out that none of the actresses are playing themselves.

The film will also feature many Czech directors in unusual acting roles (Tomáš Pavlíček, Tereza Vejvodová, Tomasz Wiński) and, of course, established actors such as Jana Plodková, Václav Vašák and Gabriela Heclová. The crew, as in previous films, consisted mainly of female filmmakers. Jana Hojdová was again behind the camera, Hana Kašpárek Vyšínská took care of the sound and Sabina Mladenová edited the film together with Holý. In addition to Holý, the film is also produced by Jan Syruček.

For more information on when and where you have a chance to see the film, check out Hello, Welcome in cinemas site.