KVIFF Industry Days to Feature 'The Sopranos' Creator David Chase, 'Bond' Casting Director, and Oscar-Winning Producers

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) has unveiled a stellar lineup of global industry heavyweights for its upcoming KVIFF Industry Days. This year’s professional programming is set to feature The Sopranos creator David Chase, veteran James Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams, and Academy Award-winning producers Mollye Asher (Nomadland) and Greg Shapiro (The Hurt Locker). Positioned as a premier networking and educational hub in Central Europe, the event aims to bridge the gap between independent European filmmakers and Hollywood’s elite, offering deep-dive discussions on the evolving landscape of global cinema and television.

A major highlight of the programming is an exclusive, on-stage retrospective featuring television pioneer David Chase. Scheduled for July 8 at the historic, recently restored Kaiserbad Spa, the session will see Chase reflect on his groundbreaking career and his monumental contribution to the golden age of television. With The Sopranos celebrating the milestone anniversary of its era-defining run, Chase is expected to discuss the creative processes that shaped the iconic crime drama, the challenges of character development, and the ongoing convergence of television and feature-film storytelling. Festival organizers note that having a visionary of Chase’s caliber share his insights at Kaiserbad underscores KVIFF’s commitment to hosting high-level dialogues that address both artistic and structural shifts in the industry.

Beyond episodic television, the industry program will dive into the mechanics of international casting and independent film production:

• The Art of Casting: Debbie McWilliams, whose keen eye helped define the modern James Bond franchise for over three decades, will share her expertise on the delicate art of casting global blockbusters and identifying breakthrough talent.
• Independent Producing: Producers Mollye Asher and Greg Shapiro will lead panels addressing the precarious state of independent film financing. Asher, celebrated for her work on Chloé Zhao’s Oscar-winning Nomadland, and Shapiro, who produced Kathryn Bigelow’s critically acclaimed The Hurt Locker, are slated to offer practical strategies for navigating international co-productions and maintaining artistic integrity within tight budgetary constraints.

By gathering such a diverse array of creative minds, KVIFF Industry Days continues to solidify its reputation as an essential cornerstone of the international festival circuit. The inclusion of prominent American and British industry figures alongside Central and Eastern European filmmakers fosters a collaborative environment at a time when the global film market faces unprecedented challenges from streaming dynamics and shifting theatrical distribution models. The insights shared during these discussions in the Czech spa town will likely resonate across the international film community long after the festival concludes.