The Fighter Showcased at Colours of Ostrava as the Iconic Locations of Dolní Vítkovice Came to Life on Screen
- Jul 22
- 5 min read
Some film stories remain inseparably connected to the places where they were created. The Fighter is one of them—a new Czech sports drama set in the world of MMA, directed by Vojtěch Frič and Tomáš Dianiška, with part of the film shot on location in Ostrava and Bohumín.
The Moravian-Silesian Film Office collaborated on the project last year, assisting the filmmakers with scouting and facilitating filming locations, supporting the production in the region, and now helping promote the film. The project also received financial support from the Moravian-Silesian Region through its film voucher programme, which aims to encourage audiovisual production and attract film projects to the region.
Produced by love.FRAME and Bontonfilm Studios, The Fighter will be released in Czech and Slovak cinemas on 13 August 2026. The Moravian-Silesian Film Office had the opportunity to see the film earlier this year during the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where the final version of the film—partly created in our region—was screened for the first time. This made its subsequent screening in Ostrava, in the very environment closely connected to its production, all the more meaningful.
The Fighter was presented at Colours of Ostrava as part of the KVIFF @ Colours programme, a section of the Meltingpot discussion forum. The programme introduces festival audiences to selected new films while connecting cinema with inspiring discussions and personalities from the worlds of culture, the arts, and public life. The film was also included in the Karel Och & Guests programme, which showcases outstanding films alongside the creative context behind their production.
The screening at the Science and Technology Centre offered not only a memorable cinematic experience but also a reminder of the locations that became an integral part of the story itself. On this occasion, the Moravian-Silesian Film Office revisited the filming locations where The Fighter was made.
One of the film's most striking settings is Dolní Vítkovice, the unique industrial heritage site that serves not merely as a backdrop but as an authentic part of the film's atmosphere. Filming took place in the former administrative headquarters and throughout the Dolní Vítkovice complex. The film also features several other locations across Ostrava, including the former mining spoil heap in Hrabůvka, Ostrava City Hospital, Jubilejní Colony, Havlíček Embankment, Miloš Sýkora Bridge, and many more.
It is precisely the atmosphere of Ostrava that gives the film its distinctive energy. The industrial landscape, carrying the stories of the region's past, becomes intertwined with the story of a man searching for renewed strength and purpose.
The Fighter follows the journey of retired Olympic medallist and boxer Pavel "Hoff" Hoffmeister (Milan Ondrík), who decides to return to combat sports after years away—this time, however, not to the traditional boxing ring but to the MMA cage.
The cast also includes Hana Vagnerová, Eliška Balzerová, Martin Finger, and Ján Jackuliak. Drawing inspiration from iconic sports dramas and genre classics such as Rocky, Fist in the Dark, and The Wrestler, the filmmakers present their own perspective on the world of fighters, exploring both their physical battles and inner struggles. The film is built on authenticity, powerful emotions, and a deep respect for the environment in which its story unfolds.
From Film Location to Festival Stage
The connection between The Fighter and Colours of Ostrava feels entirely natural. Just as the film makes use of the extraordinary atmosphere of Dolní Vítkovice, so too does one of the Czech Republic's most important cultural festivals.
Colours of Ostrava has long grown beyond being simply a music festival. Every year, it transforms the industrial grounds of Dolní Vítkovice into a vibrant space filled with music, film, science, art, and inspiring encounters. The festival also hosts Meltingpot, an international discussion forum that brings leading personalities from a wide range of fields to Ostrava. Colours connects diverse cultural projects and collaborates with major institutions, including Czech Television.
What The Fighter and Colours of Ostrava share above all is their sense of place. Dolní Vítkovice and Ostrava have the unique ability to serve both as an impressive film location and as an exceptional festival venue. A place once dedicated to heavy industry is now alive with new stories—on cinema screens, concert stages, and through the experiences of thousands of visitors.
And the film's journey through Ostrava is not over yet. Following its presentation at Colours of Ostrava, audiences will also have the opportunity to attend a special local preview screening.
On 8 August 2026 at 7:30 p.m., a special preview of The Fighter will take place at the Amfi za Pokladem Summer Cinema, attended by members of the film delegation, including lead actor Milan Ondrík.
The nationwide theatrical premiere of The Fighter will follow on 13 August 2026, when the film opens in cinemas across the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
For the Moravian-Silesian Film Office, The Fighter is a wonderful example of how cinema can connect places, people, and stories. Film locations have the power to become part of memorable cinematic experiences, draw attention to the region, and demonstrate that the Moravian-Silesian Region is a place where compelling film stories come to life.
Related Links
The Fighter – official information, photographs, and press materials (Bontonfilm)
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF)
Colours of Ostrava – Official Festival Website
The Fighter at Its World Premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
The Moravian-Silesian Film Office had the opportunity to see The Fighter for the first time at this year's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where the film celebrated its world premiere.
Directors Vojtěch Frič and Tomáš Dianiška introducing The Fighter at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
The Big Bang Stage – The Film Stage of Colours of Ostrava
As part of the Meltingpot discussion forum, the Big Bang Stage hosts selected new film premieres and special screenings during the festival as part of the KVIFF @ Colours programme.
Ostrava as a Cinematic Backdrop. The authentic settings of Dolní Vítkovice, the former administrative headquarters, the Hrabůvka spoil heap, and several other locations across Ostrava became an integral part of The Fighter, giving the film its distinctive atmosphere and visual identity.
Ostrava as a Cinematic Backdrop. The authentic settings of Dolní Vítkovice, the former administrative headquarters, the Hrabůvka spoil heap, and several other locations across Ostrava became an integral part of The Fighter, giving the film its distinctive atmosphere and visual identity.
Ostrava as a Cinematic Backdrop. The authentic settings of Dolní Vítkovice, the former administrative headquarters, the Hrabůvka spoil heap, and several other locations across Ostrava became an integral part of The Fighter, giving the film its distinctive atmosphere and visual identity.
Ostrava as a Cinematic Backdrop. The authentic settings of Dolní Vítkovice, the former administrative headquarters, the Hrabůvka spoil heap, and several other locations across Ostrava became an integral part of The Fighter, giving the film its distinctive atmosphere and visual identity.
Ostrava as a Cinematic Backdrop. The authentic settings of Dolní Vítkovice, the former administrative headquarters, the Hrabůvka spoil heap, and several other locations across Ostrava became an integral part of The Fighter, giving the film its distinctive atmosphere and visual identity.
Ostrava as a Cinematic Backdrop. The authentic settings of Dolní Vítkovice, the former administrative headquarters, the Hrabůvka spoil heap, and several other locations across Ostrava became an integral part of The Fighter, giving the film its distinctive atmosphere and visual identity.
Ostrava as a Cinematic Backdrop. The authentic settings of Dolní Vítkovice, the former administrative headquarters, the Hrabůvka spoil heap, and several other locations across Ostrava became an integral part of The Fighter, giving the film its distinctive atmosphere and visual identity.
World Premiere at KVIFF. The Fighter had its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was introduced to audiences in the presence of the filmmakers and the film delegation.
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