Petr Čech’s Big Pete Shines in Milan After SPORTFILM Festival Success!

From October 30 to November 2, 2026, Milan, Italy, became the centre of international sports cinema as it hosted the prestigious 44th Milano International FICTS Fest. This major international festival marks the culmination of the global FICTS festival circuit, which also includes SPORTFILM LIBEREC. The event concluded with a spectacular awards gala on November 2, 2026, at the magnificent Palazzo Lombardia, bringing together filmmakers, sporting legends, and representatives of international media.

The twelve-part documentary series Big Pete impressed the jury at this year’s SPORTFILM Festival in Liberec and went on to achieve another remarkable success on the international stage in Milan, receiving a Mention d’Honneur in the Great Champions category.

Director Michal Fencl stood out among strong international competition with his documentary series featuring legendary goalkeeper Petr Čech as the host of interviews with some of the biggest stars in world football. The original project, produced by Canal+ and Livesport, features personal conversations with some of the most prominent figures in world football. Candid reflections and shared experiences reveal not only defining sporting moments, but also the behind-the-scenes realities, pressures, and personal relationships at the highest level of the game. The unique format draws on Petr Čech’s own experience as a professional athlete and the trust he shares with his guests. As a result, the series goes beyond the traditional interview format, offering a more personal and human perspective on some of football’s most celebrated personalities.

“Petr and all of us are absolutely delighted, and we truly appreciate the recognition from Milan. It is a tremendous encouragement as we prepare to start filming new episodes very soon,” said Jiří Hošek of Canal+ and Alan Záruba of Livesport. Both producers accepted the award in person.

In recent years, SPORTFILM LIBEREC has established itself as a launching pad for internationally acclaimed sports films. Notable examples include The Gentle Fighter (2025), Adolf Zika’s documentary about Olympic champion Lukáš Krpálek; Gabriela Soukalová: Truth Is Still Worth It (2024); The Modrý Case (2023); as well as the acclaimed films Zátopek, The Last Race, and Jan Koller: The Story of an Ordinary Boy (2022).

Festival Director Renata Balašová commented on these achievements: “Czech sports films continue to prove that they belong among the very best in the world. International awards recognise the talent of our filmmakers while strengthening SPORTFILM’s reputation as a place where powerful stories find their audience.These achievements also open up new opportunities for collaboration and encounters with extraordinary personalities. It is precisely their stories and inspiration that we want to bring to Liberec again next year, when we celebrate the festival’s milestone 30th edition.”