We will have the pleasure of welcoming one of the world’s finest mountaineers, a man who, over several decades of exploring the mountains, has embarked on numerous expeditions around the world: Marek Holeček.

Marek writes:
“I will share with you the story of a dream that took root in my childhood. Over time, it became a reality and accompanied me on nearly fifty expeditions – from Antarctica, through South and North America, all the way to the Himalayas. I will present footage and film clips from this lifelong journey. I look forward to seeing you there!”

Marek Holeček is a mountaineer, explorer, and filmmaker. He is one of the world’s leading alpinists, having received numerous honors and awards in his home country, Czech Republic, including distinctions for outstanding mountaineering achievements, as well as nominations and awards for the highest recognition in mountaineering: the Piolet d’Or.

In 2018, Marek received the Piolet d’Or for an ascent he completed with Zdeněk Hák: an alpine-style ascent of the southwest face of Gasherbrum I. Marek had been pursuing this objective for several years, with different partners. One of them, Zdeněk Hrubý, lost his life on the mountain in 2013.

Before that ascent, and ever since, Marek has completed a remarkable number of challenging climbs. We look forward to an inspiring and enjoyable evening in the company of a man whose dedication to and love for the mountains run deep.

We would like to express our gratitude to the Embassy of the Czech Republic for supporting Marek Holeček’s visit to our Festival.