Secret Delivery

Secret Delivery
Directed byJán Sebechlebský
Written byJán Sebechlebský
Klára Formanová
Based onTichá pošta
by Jiří Stránský
Produced byJulietta Sichel
Silvia Panáková
Starring
CinematographyMartin Štrba
Edited byMichal Kondrla
Music byVladimír Martinka
Production
companies
8Heads Productions
Arinafilm
Living Pictures
Distributed byCinemArt
Release date
  • 27 February 2025 (2025-02-27) (Czech Republic)
[1]
Running time
97 minutes
Countries
  • Czech Republic
  • Slovakia
  • Serbia
LanguagesCzech
German
French

Secret Delivery (Czech: Tichá pošta) is a 2025 Czech-Slovak-Serbian adventure family film directed by Ján Sebechlebský. The screenplay was written by Ján Sebechlebský and Klára Formanová. The story is based on a novel of the same name by Jiří Stránský, which is based on true events. The film premiered in Czech cinemas on 27 February 2025.[2]

Plot

The film takes place in the snowy Giant Mountains at the end of World War II. A group of child heroes rescue a downed French pilot. Their action resembles the principle of the game of silent mail – they pass the pilot between mountain villages as a secret message at school. But they play a risky game. They must face deadly soldiers of the German occupation army, outwit traitors and informers, and survive in the harsh conditions of the winter in the mountains.

Cast

Production

The film was produced by 8Heads Productions, Arinafilm and Living Pictures. The film was produced by Czech Television, Slovak Radio and Television, Barrandov Studio and Moss & Roy, and was supported by the State Film Fund, the Slovak Audiovisual Fund and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. The film was distributed by Cinemart.[2]

The film was shot in Ústí nad Labem, Liberec and Plzeň regions, as well as in other locations that also include Slovakia.[3][4] The 32-day shooting began at the end of January 2024 and was completed in mid-March 2024. Post-production took place in Prague and Belgrade.[5]

The premiere in Czech cinemas took place on 27 February 2025.[1]

The film was presented as a work in progress at the Tallinn Black Nights film festival in the Just Film children's section in November 2024.[6][7]

The film had its international premiere at the Locarno Film Festival on 13 August 2025.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Otcovský, Karel (8 February 2024). "Děti zachraňují sestřeleného pilota. Filmaři natáčejí snímek Tichá pošta". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Film TICHÁ POŠTA podle předlohy Jiřího Stránského se začne točit již v únoru". cinemart.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  3. ^ Borovan, Aleš. "Režisér Sebechlebský začne točit dobrodružný film Tichá pošta z druhé světové války". Borovan.cz. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Film Tichá pošta - 6. února 2024 - Události v kultuře". Czech Television (in Czech). Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  5. ^ Lukeš, Jan. "Tichá pošta: dobové drama podle novely Jiřího Stránského obnovuje tradici českého rodinného filmu". FORUM 24 (in Czech). Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  6. ^ Dalton, Ben. "Tallinn Black Nights selects 17 Works in Progress projects across three strands". Screen Daily. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  7. ^ Pham, Annika (14 October 2024). "Two-Time Oscar Contender Arturo Montenegro Among Pitchers at Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event Works in Progress (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  8. ^ Szalai, Georg (2 July 2025). "Marcel Barelli to Get Locarno Kids Award, Annecy Winner 'Arco' to Screen at Fest". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 January 2026.