If you've taken a break from gaming this year to experience the real world, you might have spotted something unusual at major film festivals. It began last May when a film adaptation of the viral Japanese indie game Exit 8 debuted at Cannes - marking the first time a video game movie premiered at the prestigious festival. Director Genki Kawamura adds an arthouse twist to this viral sensation, bridging gaming and cinema audiences. But video game adaptations are hardly revolutionary – which makes the Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Cinematic Cut project particularly fascinating.
Unlike typical adaptations, this isn't a live-action take on Warhorse Studios' acclaimed RPG. Instead, it's a re-edited cinematic version of the game's first act - compressing cutscenes and key gameplay moments into a two-hour linear experience. Its premiere at this year's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival surprised audiences as one of the most unconventional "films" ever shown.
A Festival-Meets-Gaming Experiment
The project wasn't originally Warhorse's brainchild. "This collaboration started at our game's launch party," explains KVIFF artistic director Karel Och. "Through mutual connections, we discovered shared interests between our festival and Warhorse Studios. Over months of discussions, we were fascinated to peek behind the curtain of game development – just as the studio team became intrigued by film festival culture."
Tobias Stolz-Zwilling, Warhorse's communications director, saw potential in the unexpected proposal. "KVIFF wanted to modernize their programming - to surprise their adventurous young audience." For the Czech studio, this presented a golden opportunity to elevate gaming's cultural status beyond its traditional bubble. Interestingly, several team members already straddled both industries.
From Film School to Game Development
Cinematic director Petr Pekař originally trained as a filmmaker before switching to games. "Our local film industry can't support all the talent here," he explains. "Thankfully, Czech game studios need skilled filmmakers for their cinematic sequences." Pekař cut his teeth on Mafia 3's cutscenes before joining Warhorse, eventually directing Kingdom Come 2's narrative sequences.
Translating these interactive moments into passive cinema required rethinking their fundamental purpose. "Players want gameplay first – cutscenes are like dessert," Pekař notes. "But when done right, they enhance the entire experience." The finished product begins like a typical "all cutscenes" YouTube compilation before revealing its more ambitious approach.
Gameplay as Cinema
After traditional cutscenes conclude, the Cinematic Cut does something radical – transitioning into edited first-person gameplay sequences with cinematic precision. Marketing specialist Vítek Mičke's expertly choreographed combat sequences demonstrate how even unscripted moments can thrill when framed correctly.
Occasional rough edges remind viewers of the project's experimental nature, but overall, the ambitious edit works. "This could absolutely be refined further," Pekař admits. "At festivals or conventions, I suspect we'll see more attempts at this hybrid format."
KVIFF's Och sees broader potential: "We've expanded our festival's storytelling vocabulary through this groundbreaking collaboration." Pekař agrees, envisioning mutual appreciation between mediums: "Gamers might develop deeper cinematic awareness, while film lovers could better understand interactive storytelling."
The limited-edition Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Cinematic Cut remains available through July 31, 2027 on KVIFF's streaming platform for approximately $6.
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