Mike Leigh

British film director

“It is a big honour to me. I will be licking this ice cream whole night. I spent a great week here, very stimulating, with awesome audience. I hope I will come back again one day.”

Abbás Kiarostamí

Iranian film director

“I was amazed at the yesterday’s screening. The cinema was crammed with people watching a forty-year-old movie. It’s the people who make the festival. If I don’t accept an invitation, someone else will do so. If someone else cannot come, I will. But raising up a regular and learned viewer – that takes a lot of skill.”

Peter Greenaway

British film director

“I’ve received all kinds of prizes, including the Golden Mouse. And now it’s the Golden Ice-cream. Two days at the festival were not enough. I would love to come again with another unique masterclass that would fit the festival’s audience.”

Julie Taymor

American film director

“It is great to be somewhere where people love film and go to the cinema instead of sitting in front of the TV.”

Carlos Saura

Spanish film director

“My son’s fiancée lives in Madrid but she comes from Uherské Hradiště. It must be fate that I’ve ended up here…”

Aki Kaurismäki

Finnish film director

“I just can’t get myself to leave this town. Please extend my accommodation for the whole year and count me in for the next year’s SFS.”

Emir Kusturica

Serbian film director

“I don’t really like film festivals but I understand they are important. Summer Film School has a great atmosphere, young audience and good selection of films.”

Ken Loach

British film director

“I would like to thank you for your warm welcome. Your festival is exceptional in many aspects including the number of screenings and the viewers watching films with such a great passion.”

Béla Tarr

Hungarian film director

“I hate having my time wasted, but my visit at SFS was an exact opposite. Thank you for the well-elaborated retrospective of my work, for the book and also for the excellent masterclass about my films.”

Jan Troell

Swedish film director

“Thank you for your hospitality and warm welcome. I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to introduce my films. People at your festival really live and breathe film. I am so happy to have been part of such an incredible event.”

Ivan Passer

Czech film director

“I’ve been to many festivals, but Summer Film School is one of the most enjoyable. Cannes is about business, Summer Film School is about film. That’s why I I vote for the latter.”

Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Thai film director

“Thanks for the amazing days I could spend with you. The audience was extraordinarily familiar with film and it was a pleasure to answer their smart questions. Thanks for your generosity. Relax and have sweet tropical dreams.”