Deliverance II Cinematic Cut’ World Premiere at KVIFF

The 59th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) is expanding the range of audiovisual content presented with the world premiere, as part of its Special Screenings section, of “a cinematic cut of Warhorse Studios’ internationally successful video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Cinematic Cut.”

“We are honored to be working together with world leaders in their field on this unique project, which represents an exceptionally original contribution to our long-standing goal of presenting powerful and gripping stories captured in a unique manner,”  KVIFF artistic director Karel Och said Tuesday in unveiling the news.

“I have wished to see Kingdom Come: Deliverance II on the big screen for a long time,” said Warhorse CEO Martin Frývadlský. “I believe that the civil story of a blacksmith’s son will also appeal to film audiences and stand up to the competition of international movie productions. Together with my colleagues in the studio, we are proud that we have the opportunity to present the story we have been working on for many years in a world premiere at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.”

A description of the medieval role-playing game (RPG) reads: “Kingdom of Bohemia, 1403. Chaos has befallen the Kingdom. As invaders pillage this ungoverned land, sowing fear and terror, Henry of Skalitz seeks revenge for his murdered family. Now a trusted servant of the rightful king’s allies, Henry is sent to escort Sir Hans Capon on a diplomatic mission. After they are ambushed and nearly killed, the two young men embark on a series of perilous adventures, putting their skills, character and friendship to the ultimate test.”

Daniel Vávra and Petr Pekař are credited as directors of the movie.

Vávra is a Czech screenwriter, director, and video game designer who has worked in gaming for over two decades. He made a name for himself as the lead writer and director of the game Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven. He later created the historical RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance, which gained recognition for its authentic medieval setting, deep story, and complex gameplay. He was then the lead writer and director of the sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.

Pekař, originally an editor and director, has for the past 10 years working in the video game industry as a creator of cutscenes, short animated sequences that carry the narrative component of video games. He has worked on the likes of Mafia III and Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Since 2018, he has been working as a cinematic director, meaning the head of the film department, at Warhorse Studios. Under his leadership, more than five hours of cutscenes were created to help tell the epic medieval story of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.

The world premiere of the cinematic cut in Karlovy Vary is scheduled for July 9. Earlier that day, audiences will get the opportunity to listen to the creators of the game speak during a KVIFF Talk.

This year’s edition of the festival in the Czech spa town runs July 4-12.