Czech film festival "Finale" will screen 18 new features at this year''s event (April 10-16) including the international premieres of David Ondricek''s Recluses and We Have To Help Each Other by acclaimed young Czech director Jan Hrebejk who scored a domestic box office hit last year with Cosy Dens.

The Pilsen-based festival, currently the Czech Republic''s biggest showcase for domestic fare, will also feature young Czech director Alice Nellis'' Ene Bene. Other sections include new television productions, documentaries, student films from Prague-based film school FAMU, children''s programmes and archive films.

Finale will also establish an exchange between the East European Film Festival in Cottbus, Germany and the Los Angeles-based American Cinema Foundation, which aims to encourage film production in Eastern Europe.

According to Finale director Ivan Jachim, the festival is also on course to become an international event following a budget increase and an upturn in visitor numbers last year.

"We want to attract more people from abroad who are interested in Czech films," Jachim said. "For the next edition of the festival we plan to bring in film professionals and sellers who could share experiences with Czech filmmakers and possibly help the Czech film industry."