The fourth Czech and Slovak Film Festival of Australia (CaSFFA) is on this year from 14 to 23 September, with the theme of ‘Text and Texture’ encompassing all those points where the cinematic and literary arts collide.

Inspired by Melbourne (2008) and Prague’s (2014) newly shared status as ‘UNESCO Cities of Literature’, the 2016 CaSSFA program includes a pick of the greatest film adaptations of Czech and Slovak literature, such as Cutting it Short and the medieval epic Marketa Lazarova, as well as an underseen ‘60s classic where cinema and comic books merge as never before or since, Who Wants to Kill Jessie?, which will be followed by a panel with local graphic novel luminaries Shaun Tan and Bernard Caleo.

In a very strong year for Czech and Slovak cinema, several new films also fit the theme of ‘Text and Texture’. The Opening Night feature The Noonday Witch adapts a folkloric ballad by Karel Jaromír Erben. Alice Nellis’ new fairy tale film The Seven Ravens is a gem for the whole family. The Closing Night film, Petr Zelenka’s absurdist comedy Lost in Munich, is right on-topic too, centred around one of the more significant documents of the 20th century for Czechs and Slovaks – 1938’s despised Munich Agreement.

Off-screen, visit ‘First Impressions’, an exhibition of beautiful, formally playful vintage Czechoslovak film posters, or book your kids into the fairy tale comic book workshop and concertina book-making workshop.

Every year at CaSFFA has seen extraordinary local artists provide a brilliant trailer for the festival – check out the trailer for the 2016 festival by Melbourne-based artists Alesh Macak and Lindsay Cox here.

Readings is a proud supporter of The Czech and Slovak Film Festival. Tickets and full program details are available on the website.