Prior to taking the position to launch the children’s channel, Koliha had himself been the director of the Zlin IFF, and continued to be a much-loved presence at the festival after his departure.

Zlin IFF, the world’s oldest and largest children’s film festival, will run 24 May to 1 June 2019. The festival will screen 280 films from 51 countries, including under-represented territories such as Ethiopia and Albania. According to artistic director Marketa Pasmova, the festival once again is cutting back on the number of films selected, and focusing on films that will have their Czech premieres at the festival.