As part of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) exchange program, the Korean Film Archive (KOFA), in collaboration with the National Film Archive (NFA) of the Czech Republic, presents a special presentation bringing together golden-age masterpieces that achieved the most original and unconventional aesthetics in Czech cinema history. NFA Collection: The Captivating Czech Films showcases a curated selection of eight Czech genre films from the 1960s to the early 1980s, works that have rarely had the opportunity to be introduced to Korean audiences.
 

Spanning the 1960s to the 1980s, the Czechoslovak film industry faced the massive barriers of political upheaval and strict ideological censorship. However, rather than succumbing to oppression, the brilliant cineastes of the era responded by pushing the boundaries of imagination. To bypass the eyes of the censors, they departed from traditional realism and actively adopted the varied outer layers of genres such as sci-fi, horror, historical drama, and slapstick comedy. As a result, these Czech genre films achieved a high degree of artistic accomplishment, going beyond mere entertainment to explore profound existential isolation, chillingly indict the violence of totalitarianism, and inventively subvert capitalist culture. This program is filled with works that shine with unparalleled, overwhelming visuals and avant-garde directing. The spectrum is remarkably diverse, ranging from grand epics that vividly weave the vastness of space and the bleak landscapes of the Middle Ages, to horror and thrillers that portray human self-destructive obsession and oppressive regimes like a nightmare, and to original comedies that combine surreal special effects with a comic-book aesthetic.
 

Armed with timeless imagination and aesthetic innovation, these eight unfamiliar yet captivating films vividly demonstrate how the medium of cinema can transcend the limitations of its time to confront human nature. We invite you to fully experience the magical moments of Czech cinema, which blossomed most fiercely and beautifully on the silver screen, through this special exhibition.