This October, the town of Ostrov once again became a bright hub for children’s cinema and family storytelling as it hosted the 57th Dětský filmový a televizní festival Oty Hofmana (the 57th Ota Hofman Children’s Film and Television Festival) at the Dům kultury Ostrov and surrounding venues. The festival, an enduring cultural event named after Ota Hofman himself, celebrated six days of screenings, panels, exhibitions, and public programs that brought filmmakers, families, and young audiences together. The 57th edition continued a long tradition of honouring the sort of imaginative filmmaking Hofman championed (Festivalostrov.cz, 2025).
Among the program highlights this year was a special slot featuring Ota Dvorský and his recent work connected to Barrandov, notably material tied to his novel Once Upon a Time at Barrandov. Dvorský’s participation included a public talk and a moderated conversation about his book’s themes: filmmaking under pressure, the legacy of Barrandov Studios, and how creative communities navigate censorship while preserving playfulness and wonder. The festival program noted Dvorský’s session (listed in the event newsletter/program), which drew readers and festivalgoers interested in both film history and contemporary literary reinterpretation of that past.
The Ota Hofman Festival, held from 12–17 October in Ostrov (Karlovy Vary region), remains one of the Czech Republic’s most important cultural gatherings for young audiences and filmmakers. This year’s edition included an expanded film slate, workshops for children (including media and film school days), exhibitions, and a busy industry roster, all reflecting the festival’s educational mission and community focus. Organisers emphasised the festival’s dual role: preserving the legacy of Hofman and nurturing future storytellers through hands-on experiences and public engagement (Kudyznudy.cz, 2025).
Dvorský’s presence at Ostrov connected multiple threads. As the son of Ota Hofman, a longtime friend of the town and a figure closely associated with the festival’s early years, Dvorský’s appearance underscored the intergenerational nature of the event. Hofman himself was awarded honorary citizenship of Ostrov for his cultural contributions, and the festival bearing his name has long been a place where family memory and national cultural memory intersect. Dvorský’s talk emphasised that continuity: the same imaginative energy that shaped Pan Tau and other projects remains vital, and contemporary writers and filmmakers have an obligation to preserve and reinterpret that energy for new audiences (Ota, 2025).
Beyond the author talk, festivalgoers were able to attend screenings, student film showcases, and panel discussions that highlighted how children’s films can be both artistically ambitious and pedagogically meaningful. The festival’s emphasis on education, noted in the program and news reporting, highlights how local cultural institutions can nurture future generations of creators. This was exactly the spirit many in the audience credited as the reason the festival endures: it keeps storytelling alive, and it teaches younger viewers that imaginative work matters not only for entertainment, but for civic memory and cultural identity (Ostrov.cz, 2025). Closing reflection: Ota Dvorský’s participation in the 57th Ota Hofman Festival in Ostrov was more than an author appearance; it was a return of sorts, a continuation of a family’s cultural mission. The festival’s intergenerational energy affirmed a simple truth: stories endure when they are told and retold across generations. By bringing Once Upon a Time at Barrandov into that conversation in a town that once honoured his father, Dvorský helped ensure that Czech children’s storytelling remains vibrant, relevant, and alive for the audiences who will one day carry it forward.
