I. A Calendar»
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1. 12.
European Film Awards were presented in Berlin (Germany). Jean-Luc Godard, a representative of the French New Wave received the Lifetime Achievement Award for directing. The Critics Award went to the French director Alain Resnais for his Coeurs (2006). The European Film 2007 award went to 4 luni, 3 săptămâni şi 2 zile (dir. Cristian Mungiu, 2007, Romania). Helen Mirren won the Best European Actress for her performance as Elisabeth II in The Queen (dir. Stephen Frears, 2006, Great Britain – France – Italy). The Best Actor went to Sasson Gabai for his performance in Bikur Ha-Tizmoret (dir. Eran Kolirin, 2007, Israel – France – USA). Czech cinema was represented in the contest for the Audience Prize (based on an internet vote) by I Served the King of England (Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále, dir. Jiří Menzel, 2006, ČR – SR). But the Audience Prize went to La sconosciuta (dir. Giuseppe Tornatore, 2006, Italy – France).
1. 12.
Nova TV launched its new channel Nova Cinema, which offers the viewers mainly American movies and TV series. The channel is available through cable and satellite, but TV Nova’s management plans to apply for digital broadcasting license as well. Nova Cinema is available free of charge.
3. 12.
Světozor cinema in Prague (Czech Republic) held a benefit closing night before the two-month renovations of the cinema, which cost 8 million crowns and aimed to transform the old movie theatre and its interiors with 90 years of history into a modern cinema matching European standards. Through voting, the audience could chose which film would be screened. For inspiration, they could turn to clips from Czech puppet – animated film The Losers (Chcípáci, dir. Radek Beran, 2006) performed by the Buchty a loutky theatre group. Screenings were held in the Big screening hall as well as in the Small screening hall, where a “solace movie” was offered. Viewers could adopt one of the chairs for the new cinema interior. The renovated cinema was re-opened in February 2008.
3. - 7. 12.
Aix-en-Provence (France) hosted its International Short Films Festival, which presented in cooperation with the National Film Archive in Prague Jiří Trnka film from 1965 The Hand (Ruka).
3. - 11. 12.
Following an initiative of the Indonesian Embassy, the National Film Archive organized in its Ponrepo screening-hall in Bio Konvikt in Prague (Czech Republic) a Week of Indonesian Films. The festival presented feature films representing the Indonesian cinema from 1960 – 1991. The event opened with a screening of Ibunda (dir. Teguh Karya, 1986), the programme further featured Cinta dalam sepotong roti (dir. Garin Nugroho, 1991), Suci sang primadona, (dir. Arifin C. Noer, 1977), Pagar kawat berduri (dir. Asrul Sani, 1963) and Pejuang (dir. Usmar Ismail, 1960). One of the actors of Pejuang – Bambang Hermanto – performed a role in a thematically similar Czech-Indonesia co-production feature from 1962 Operation Kalimantan (Akce Kalimantan, dir. Vladimír Sís).
4. 12. 2007 - 31. 1. 2008
Via Art Gallery in Prague (Czech Republic) opened an exhibition titled Journey to Patagonia, displaying works of painter, sculptor and glass artist Jaroslav Róna. Jaroslav Róna’s scenic art debut came at the 37th annual IFF Karlovy Vary 2002 – in a trio with artists František Skála and Aleš Najbrt he performed the Tros Sketos festival trailer.
6. 12.
Antonín Dvořák Theatre in Příbram (Czech Republic) staged the premiere production of a play by Dal Wasserman One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Přelet nad kukaččím hnízdem). The play is based on the eponymous novel by the American author Ken Elton Kesey (17. 9. 1935 – 10. 11. 2001) One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The Příbram production was directed by Milan Schejbal. The main role, Randl McMurphy was played, as a guest performance, by Filip Blažek, member of Prague City Theatres. His rival – head nurse Ratched – was played by Kateřina Fixlová. Miloš Forman made a film adaptation of the novel, with Jack Nicholson in the main lead – One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975, USA).
6. 12.
In Los Angeles (USA) Grammy Awards nominations were announced. Czech singer and pianist Markéta Irglová together with Glen Hansard, the frontman of the Irish band The Frames, gained two nominations. Their album with songs from Once (dir. John Carney, 2006, Ireland – USA) was nominated in the category of Best Soundtrack. They both performed two main leads in the film. Their song Falling Slowly, which had appeared in the Czech feature Beauty in Troubleistress (Kráska v nesnázích, dir. Jan Hřebejk, 2006) was nominated for Best Film Song. Markéta Irglová, who co-authored both the album and the song, deserves credit for gaining the first Grammy Awards nomination in the history of Czech popular music. However, neither of the two leading actors in Once received an award.
6. 12.
Palace Cinemas Slovanský dům multiplex in Prague (Czech Republic) hosted the premiere of the Czech feature film Václav (dir. Jiří Vejdělek, 2007).
6. - 9. 12.
The French Institute screening-hall in Prague (Czech Republic) hosted the closing part of the Cinepur Choice 2007 film festival. The film showcase, which was held in Olomouc (26. – 29. 11.) and in Brno (3. – 6. 12. ), where it presented eight internationally awarded films, opened in Prague with the screening of Redacted (dir. Brian De Palma, 2007, USA – Canada) and closed with the Hungarian silent film titled Tejút (dir. Benedek Fliegauf, 2007, Hungary).
6. - 9. 12.
The 6th Festival of Animated Films PAF OLOMOUC 2007 was held in the Center of the Palacký University in Olomouc (Czech Republic) and in Metropol cinema. The section Animated Film and Propaganda presented films with Soviet shock-workers, classic figures of American “armed cartoons”, and also the Czech Mr. Prokouk. Other parts of the programme focused on Dutch animators (Dutch Flush), Bulgarian animated film, and a selection of the most interesting animated films in the Czech distribution (Late Harvest). Czech animated cinema was represented by films by Karel Zeman (3. 11. 1910 – 5. 4. 1989) and others. For the first time at the festival, this year’s edition introduced the Live Animation cycle, featuring animation created during a real-time performance. The competition program Different Visions 007 presented only Czech artists working along the borderline between animated film, experiment and video art. Unlike in the past editions, this year’s selection of ten films and videos which made it into the competition was determined by a curatorial choice of Czech art and film experts. The jury’s choice of the winning video was Mr. Möbius Lives on the 2nd Floor by director Viktor Takáč. The Special Award went to the video Lucifer /Hands Up All You Whores!/ ( Lucifer (ruce vzhůru všichni kurvy!, dir. Miroslav Bambušek, 2007). Among the films featured in the Late Harvest section were Persepolis (dir. Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud, 2007, France – USA), The Simpsons Movie (dir. David Silverman, 2007, USA), Ratatouille (dir. Brad Bird, 2006, USA), Surf's Up (dir. Ash Brannon, Chris Buck, 2007, USA), Terkel i Knibe, (dir. Stefan Fjeldmark, 2004, Denmark) and One Night, One City (Jedné noci v jednom městě, dir. Jan Balej, 2007, CR). As the festival’s accompanying programme there was a performance of Buchty a loutky puppet theatre. Gerrit van Dijk, Pier Kroon, Floex, Vladimír Václavek, Witold Giersz and many others were among the festival’s guests. The accompanying programme introduced the latest productions in film, theatre, and music.
6. - 12. 12.
Filmania took place in the Czech Republic. The event was aimed at boosting cinema attendance. Multiplexes across the country and several other screening-halls offered their current programme but the admission fee was lowered to CZK 50. In 2006, the event was joined my most cinemas and multiplexes in the Czech Republic, successfully drawing to film screens much larger audience than is usual. The programme included all current Czech and foreign films in distribution.
7. 12.
Town Hall of Skuteč near Chrudim (Czech Republic) opened a screening-hall with digital projection, as the first of its kind in the Pardubice region. The new technology was installed during a renovation of the town’s Culture Center. Digital projector and sound system with 18 speakers cost the Town Hall two million crowns. The equipment enables projections of all kinds of data carriers such as CD, DVD, or computer files. The screening-hall can now serve not only for film screenings, but also for seminars, conferences and congresses where specific data need to be projected. The technology also made it possible to play advertisements, which are more accessible in digital form for the advertising firm.
7. - 8. 12.
The MOVIE & TV STUDIO MAT in Prague (Czech Republic) hosted the 15th Festival of Czech and Slovak Documentary and Animated Films, organized by FITES – Czech Film and Television Association. The festival programme included Czech documentaries Beautiful Olympic Prague (Krásná Praha olympijská, dir. Andrea Culková, 2007), Friends for Death (Kamarádky na smrt, dir. Ladislav Kaboš, 2007, CR), Troublemakers (Potížistky, dir. Věra Chytilová, 2007), Farmers (Sedláci, dir. Alena Činčerová, 2006) and The Power of Ideals (Síla ideálu, dir. Jaroslav Bařinka, 2007, CR – SR). Slovak documentaries and Slovak student films were presented on 8. 12.
7. 12.
The Lichtenstein Palace in Prague (Czech Republic) hosted a ceremony at which for the fourteenth time, the Government Board for People with Disabilities (VVZPO) awarded its prizes for journalism focusing on health disabilities, in the category of television programmes. The awards of the Government Board for People with Disabilities in the category for television were presented by the Prime Minister and chairman of VVZPO Mirek Topolánek. 1. The 1st prize went to the programme Magazine Key 14/2006 – St. Joseph’s Home (Klíč 14/2006 – Domov svatého Josefa, dir. Aleš Sobotka), 2nd prize went to the programme TV Club for the Deaf 19/2007 (Televizní klub neslyšících 19/2007, dir. Alena Derzsiová), 3rd prize to Magazine Key 4/2007 (Klíč 4/2007, dir. Aleš Sobotka). Honourable mentions were awarded to a two-part TV programme from the Reporters CT (Reportéři ČT) series – Afflicted without a Right to Compensation (Postižení bez nároku na odškodné, 2007) and Revision to the Law (Oprava chyby v zákoně, 2007) by director Roman Šantúr and to Magazine Key 10/2007 (Klíč 10/2007, dir. Jaroslav Hovorka, CR).
7. - 14. 12.
The International Film Festival in Kerala (India) featured a retrospective of Czech director Jiří Menzel. In cooperation with the National Film Archive in Prague the event presented Larks on a String (Skřivánci na niti, 1969), My Sweet Little Village (Vesničko má středisková, 1985), The End of Old Times (Konec starých časů, 1989) and Snowdrop Festival (Slavnosti sněženek, 1983).
7. 12. 2007 - 17. 2. 2008
The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague (Czech Republic) hosted an exhibition Flowers in the Dustbin: 1970s Czechoslovak Fashion and Society. The exhibition presented 1970s lifestyle through a display of clothes and accessories, which represent the contemporary society. The show was supplemented by fashion photographs by Fred Kramer (real name Alfréd Kramer, 27. 11. 1913 – 27. 10. 1994) and Viktor Kolář (7. 9. 1941), as well as a screening of clips from 1970s TV weekly programmes. The Museum has organized a number of accompanying events to the exhibition, such as a cycle of lectures about the normalization era, eating habits and the environment. As part of the exhibition there were screenings of Czech films from the 1970s including Goslings (Housata, dir. Karel Smyczek, 1979), People from the Subway (Lidé z metra, dir. Jaromil Jireš, 1974) and Story from a Housing Estate (Panelstory aneb Jak se rodí sídliště, dir. Věra Chytilová, 1979).
8. 12.
The awards ceremony of the 5th Travelling International Festival of Outdoor Films took place in Prague (Czech Republic). The ceremony marked the ending of the festival which opened in Ostrava 12. 10. and toured 19 Czech cities (Ostrava, Plzeň, České Budějovice, Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, Brno, Opava, Police nad Metují, Hradec Králové, Olomouc, Jeseník, Hranice, Frýdek-Místek, Spálené Poříčí, Liberec, Nový Bor, Sušice, Kadaň and Sokolov). The festival’s Grand Prix went to the Swiss film Harvest Moon (2007, Switzerland – USA) by Stephan Siegrist and Rob Frost, which was awarded 1st prize in the category B – Mountain climbing and mountain films. From the Czech films the following were awarded: Adrenalin cup (dir. Daniel Šumbera, 2007) – 2nd prize in the A category – Adventure and extreme sport film, The Path to Discovery (Cesta za objevem, dir. Roman Grošek, 2007) – 3rd prize in the category A – Adventurous and extreme sport films, How Could It Happen? (Jak to vlastně tenkrát bylo?, dir. Pavel Rýva, Karel Macas, Vlastimil Šafránek, 2006) – 2nd prize in the B category – Mountain climbing and mountain films, On One Breath – Martin Štěpánek (Na nádech – Martin Štěpánek, dir. Miroslav Hrdý, 2006) – 1st prize in the category C – Adventurous water sports films, The Myth Called Shark (Mýtus jménem žralok, dir. Steve Lichtag, 2006) – 2nd prize in the category C – Adventurous water sports films, Hitchhikers (Stopaři, dir. Petr Horký, Jan Tutoky, 2007) – 3rd prize in the category C – Adventurous water sports films, KEMBALI! (dir. Jan Popelka, 2007) – 1st prize in the category D – Travel films, Cuba Libre (dir. Petr Horký, 2006) – 2nd prize in the category D – Travel films. The Special Jury award for historical documentary went to Ingriš! Eduard Ingriš (2007) by Petr Horký, the Special Jury Award for original theme and execution went to Pavel Rýva, Karel Macas and Vlastimil Šafránek for their How Could It Happen? (Jak to vlastně tenkrát bylo?) , the Special Jury Award for cinematography in Red Bull Dolomitenmann (2006) went to Red Bull Czech Republic, the Special Jury Award for film music went to Pavel Kotzian for his soundtrack to Steve Lichtag’s The Myth Called Shark (Mýtus jménem žralok) and the Special Award of the festival’s organizers for filming in extreme conditions was awarded to Pavel Bém for his Window to the Sky (Okno do nebe, 2007).
9. 12.
Czech singer and pianist Markéta Irglová and the frontman of the Irish group The Frames Glen Hansard were awarded the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) prize for best film soundtrack for the music to Once (dir. John Carney, 2006, Ireland – USA), in which they both star. Film critics chose the French Marion Cottilard as the best actress, based on her leading role performance in the biographical film Edith Piaf (La Môme, dir. Olivier Dahan, 2007, France – Great Britain – CR).
10. 12.
The National Film Archive in its Ponrepo screening-hall at Bio Konvikt in Prague (Czech Republic) hosted a festival of Slovak animated films dedicated to the 40th anniversary of Slovak animation titled The Magic of Animation – Slovak animated express across the world’s cities (Kúzlo animácie – slovenský animovaný expres po velkých světových městech). The festival programme was organized in two sections with older as well as more recent films. The first section included John Pea and the Magician (dir. Viktor Kubal, 1973), Pik and Nik (dir. Martin Snopek, 2006) and Cock-a-doodledoo (Kikirikí, dir. František Jurišič, 1985). The second section featured Little Table (Stolček, dir. Ondrej Slivka, Rudolf Urc, 1991), Totem (dir. Ivan Popovič, 1981) and the first film by students of the Faculty of Film and Television of the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (Slovakia) Steps, Leaps, Years… and the Last One’s Turns Out the Light (Kroky, skoky, roky… A posledný zhasne!, 1995).
14. 12.
Museum of Třinec Ironworks and Town Třinec (Czech Republic) opened an exhibition entitled Silver Screen Stars – Beautiful Women of the Czech Cinema 1933 – 1945. The exhibition presented more than forty unique photographs of important figures of Czech film from the period, such as Adina Mandlová, Lída Baarová, Marie Glázrová and others. In 2006 there was an exhibition of photographs of famous Czech actresses from the same time period in Wroclaw (Poland) and in Prague (Czech Republic) in café Platýz.
15. 12.
ČFTA – The Czech Film and Television Academy awarded the annual Elsa Awards to makers of television programmes in fourteen categories. Most nominations, 36 in all, went to Czech Television, programmes of Prima TV were nominated in two categories, TV Nova in one category as well as AXN channel. The pre-shot Elsa Awards ceremony, hosted by actor Tomáš Matonoha, was broadcast by Czech Television. The annual television Elsa award in four categories went to the two-part TV film Silver A Operation (Operace Silver A, dir. Jiří Strach, 2006). Besides winning in the Original Czech Drama category, some of the film’s makers were also awarded. These were director Jiří Strach, actress Klára Issová for her performance as Hana, and screenwriters Lucie and Josef Konáš. Vladimír Dlouhý was awarded in the category of Actor for his performance as Pavel in Swingtime (dir. Jaromír Polišenský, 2006). The award in the category talk show went to In the Swimming Pool (Na plovárně, dir. Jan Hojtaš; 2007), its host Marek Eben winning also in the category Moderator. In the category entertainment the critics chose Bolek Polívka’s Manege (Manéž Bolka Polívky, dir. Rudolf Chudoba, 2007). In category magazine the winner was Divadlo žije (Divadlo žije, dir. Jan Brichcín, 2007), category documentary went to the eight-part project The Private Century (Soukromé století, dir. Jan Šikl, 2007). Members of the academy also awarded foreign productions. The best foreign television programme went to the three-part series Speer und er (dir. Heinrich Breloer, 2005, Germany) and the two-part series Das Goebbels-Experiment (dir. Lutz Hachmeister, 2005, Germany – Great Britain) was chosen as best foreign television documentary. The most viewed TV programme of the years was Czech fairy-tale Angel of the Lord (Anděl Páně, dir. Jiří Strach, 2005). All winning films were broadcast by Czech Television. The first three editions of Elsa Awards for the support of Czech television production took place on the internet and the show was moved to TV in 2004.
15. 12.
Aero cinema in Prague (Czech Republic) aired for the first time in the Czech Republic and in Central Europe a live broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera’s (New York) production of Romeo and Juliet (Roméo et Juliette) by the French composer Charles Gounod. The broadcast started a series of the unique project Live in HD, which transmits live opera performances onto movie screens. The transmission played to a sold-out cinema. Another interesting feature were views into the New York’s theatre backstage. The leading roles were performed by Russian sopranist Anna Netrebkova and French tenor Robert Alagna, with Plácido Domingo conducting and the production was directed by Guy Joosten. During the break the audience had the opportunity to hear an interview with both main protagonists. By 26. 4. seven more performances had been transmitted. They were shown in High Definition, and five-channel surround sound. The initiator of the transmissions to the Czech Republic was the Musical Theatre Society.
17. 12. 2007 - 26. 2. 2008
Forum des Images Paris (France) hosted a screening of films of Czech director Hermína Týrlová entitled Czech Season for Young Audience. In cooperation with the National Film Archive in Prague the following films were screened: Ferda the Ant (Ferda Mravenec, 1943), The Revolt of the Toys (Vzpoura hraček, dir. H. T., František Sádek – acted part,1947), Marble (Kulička, 1963),A Woolly Tale (Vlněná pohádka, 1964), The Christmas Tree (Vánoční stromeček, 1968), Colourings (Malovánky, 1970), Little Whistle (Píšťalka, 1971), How the Urchin Got the Wit (Kluk dostává filipa, 1972), The Dreaded Duck (Obávaná kačenka, 1972) and Two Glomerules (Dvě klubíčka, 1982).
18. - 19. 12.
The National Film Archive in Prague (Czech Republic) organized in its Ponrepo screening-hall in Bio Konvikt three series of screenings of films of one of the best Czech filmmakers, the photographer and film theorist Alexander Hackenschmied (17. 12. 1907 – 26. 7. 2004), marking the 100th anniversary of his birth. Under the heading Purposeful Walks of Alexander Hackenschmied, the first part of the programme featured his films At Prague Castle (Na Pražském hradě, 1931), Aimless Walk (Bezúčelná procházka, 1930), A Better Tomorrow (Lepší zítřek, 1945, USA), Library of Congress (Knihovna Kongresu, 1945, USA) and Arturo Toscanini (1945, USA). The second part of the programme (19. 12.) presented a selection of films entitled Alexander Hackenschmied – Documentary Author Series. It included the films 1st May 1937 in Zlín (První máj ve Zlíně tisíc devět set třicet sedm, 1937), The Face of Zlín (Tvář Zlína, co-direction: Elmar Klos, 1937), Pozdní léto TGM (1937), Poor People (Chudí lidé, 1939), Remembering Paradise (Vzpomínka na ráj, 1939) and The River of Life and Death (Řeka života a smrti, 1940). 21. 12. the last, third series was presented, entitled Hackenschmied – Documentary, Advertisement, Avant-garde. The programme featured screenings of films in which Alexander Hackenschmied was the cameraman: Summer at Home! (Léto doma!, dir. Ivan Skála, 1936), Harbor in the Heart of Europe (Přístav v srdci Evropy, dir. Drahoslav Holub, camera together with Bedřich Košťál, 1946), films by Elmar Klos: India-rubber Twice (Dvakrát kaučuk, 1946), A New Song (Nová píseň, 1935,), Slipper (Střevíček, 1935), Round and Round (Kolem dokola, 1937), The Road Is Singing (Silnice zpívá, 1937) and November (Listopad, 1935) by Otakar Vávra.
19. 12.
Palace Cinemas Slovanský dům multiplex in Prague (Czech Republic) hosted the opening premiere of the documentary Jan Saudek – Traped by His Passions, No Hope for Rescue (Jan Saudek – V pekle svých vášní, ráj v nedohlednu, dir. Adolf Zika, 2007, CR – USA).
20. 12.
The National Film Archive presented in its Ponrepo screening hall in Bio Konvikt in Prague (Czech Republic) a screening of the documentary The Immortal Balladier of Prague (Písničkář, který nezemřel, dir. Marek Jícha, Josef Lustig, 2007, CR – USA) based on a screenplay by writer Arnošt Lustig and Thomas Hasler. The subject matter of the documentary was the quest of Thomas Hasler, the illegitimate son of Hašler, who was born after his father’s death and lived with his mother in the United States. Based on a letter from his mother, Lotte Jurda, he began in 2007 with the help of Arnošt Lustig to search for the past of his father in the Czech Republic. The documentary portrays Karel Hašler (31. 10. 1879 – 22. 12. 1941) as an artists, humanist, film actor, producer and political songwriter, who through his songs agitated not only against the Austro-Hungarian authority but later also against all those who betrayed the ideals of democracy. This proved fatal for him, when after the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia he was arrested and tortured to death in the concentration camp Mauthausen (Austria). The film was produced with the cooperation with the National Film Archive and with LP records collector Gabriel Goessel, whose original LP records of Hašler’s songs were used in the film.
26. 12.
A collection of items in the possession of Barrandov Studios connected to films made between 1951 and 1983 was registered in the central record of museum collections of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. It included costumes and accessories: the “Mouse jacket” worn by Marie Kyselková as princess Lada in the fairy tale The Princess with the Golden Star (Princezna se zlatou hvězdou na čele, dir. Martin Frič, 1959), the King’s dressing-gown of Jan Werich and a dress of Nataša Gollová from the film The Emperor’s Baker – The Baker’s Emperor (Císařův pekař a Pekařův císař, dir. Martin Frič, 1951), the dress worn by Milena Dvorská as Maruška in the fairy tale Once Upon a Time, There Was a King… (Byl jednou jeden král, dir. Bořivoj Zeman, 1954) and slippers of Libuše Šafránková from the fairy tale Three Hazel Nuts for Cinderella (Tři oříšky pro Popelku/Drei Haselnüse für Aschenbrödel, dir. Václav Vorlíček, 1973, CR – GDR). Other valuable Barrandov property included were a wheelchair from the film The Good Soldier Švejk (Dobrý voják Švejk, dir. Martin Frič, 1931) and wooden scene decoration from Homolka and the Purse (Homolka a tobolka, dir. Jaroslav Papoušek, 1972). The collection consists of 98 valuables. From the large collection of cultural heritage property of Barrandov Film Studio the most endangered items were selected – primarily costumes, movie props, photographs and written documents from well-known Czech fairy tales and feature films. The set of items will be systematically filed, preserved and extended as a museum collection, and in the future it will also be presented to the public.