Andrej wants a quiet summer. To spend time with his grandmother, stay out of trouble and avoid alcohol, which sometimes leaves him stuck up a tree, unable to get down. But then he meets Miša. Over a glass of Fanta, a connection begins that changes his plans entirely.

Lover, Not a Fighter, the debut feature from writer-director Martina Buchelová, will screen at Košice International Film Festival on Friday, 11 December at 20:00. The film will also receive the festival's Golden Fountain Award.

The Slovak-Czech romantic tragicomedy won the top prize in the Proxima competition at this year's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Buchelová follows young people trying to navigate relationships and understand themselves. Family problems, uncertainty and alcohol shape their summer, alongside humour and a desire for closeness. Adam Kubala plays Andrej, with Michaela Kostková as Miša.

The international jury at Karlovy Vary praised the film's tenderness, its attention to everyday relationships and the way it captures the experience of a young generation. In her debut, Buchelová finds lightness even in situations where her characters have little reason to laugh.

We invite audiences in Košice to spend Friday evening at the festival with Andrej and Miša.
Their summer will continue on screen this December.

Lover, Not a Fighter
Written and directed by: Martina Buchelová
Slovakia / Czech Republic, 2026, 108 minutes
Screening: Friday, 11 December 2026 at 20:00