I. A Calendar»
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
3. - 9. 10.
Czech cities České Budějovice (3. – 6. 10.), Třeboň (3. – 7. 10.) and Český Krumlov (6. – 9. 10.) hosted EKOFILM – The 37th International Film Festival on the Environment, Natural and Cultural Heritage (EKOFILM – 37. mezinárodní filmový festival o životním prostředí, přírodním a kulturním dědictví), which focused on the International Year of Forests. The programme consisted of competition screenings, programmes for schools, panel discussions, workshops, seminars and exhibitions. One of the exhibits was devoted to photographs from the shooting of the Czech feature film My Sweet Little Village (Vesničko má středisková, dir. Jiří Menzel, 1985). The MC of the festival and closing evening was actor Jaroslav Dušek. For the awarding of Czech films see EKOFILM – 37. mezinárodní filmový festival o životním prostředí, přírodním a kulturním dědictví.
4. - 5. 10.
Czech city of Nový Bor hosted the ceremony for the 11th Awards of the Association of Cinema Operators Nový Bor Academy of United Cinematography in the Czech Republic (11. ceny Novoborské akademie spojených kinematografií Asociace provozovatelů kin ČR), whose academy awards each year the best Czech films, actors and directors. The heads of some fifty cinemas from around the CR met in Nový Bor to award film prizes and to learn of novelties of the distribution company Warner Bros.(Warner Bros. Entertainment s.r.o.). CR for 2012. They also became acquainted with new developmental trends of digital technology and projector lights. The Association of Cinema Operators (Asociace provozovatelů kin) and the State Fund of the Czech Republic for the Support and Development of Czech Cinematography (Státní fond České republiky pro podporu a rozvoj české kinematografie) informed them of possibilities of obtaining subsidies to digitise cinemas. For awarded films and filmmakers see 11. ceny Novoborské akademie spojených kinematografií Asociace provozovatelů kin ČR.
5. 10.
Postage stamps with the characters of Czech animated do-it-yourselfers Pat and Mat went on sale. The figures first appeared in 1976 in the film Do-It-Yourselfers (Kuťáci, dir. Lubomír Beneš). This was followed by the series ...And That’s It!/Pat and Mat (...A je to!/Pat a Mat) in which the characters were presented in a change of clothes – t-shirts, a beret and a ski hat. The stamps are sold in sets of ten. Graphic artist Jan Chvojka created the characters and also is the screenwriter for the series.
5. 10.
Visitors to the Evening of iShorts at Bio Oko in Prague had a unique chance to see the short films of students of three prestigious American film schools that are considered to be the best in the world: The American Film Institute, University of Southern California and University of California, Los Angeles.
5. - 9. 10.
A retrospective of films of the Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki was held in the Aero cinema in Prague. The five-day screening entitled Aki Kaurismäki – Man, Cigarette and a Wistful Look offered 16 films of the renowned Finnish filmmaker. The programme featured three older successful films that entered Czech cinemas on 6. 10. as renewed premieres. These films were Juha (1998), Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002, Finland – Germany – France) and Laitakaupungin valot (2006, Finland – Germany – France).
5. - 12. 10.
Cinema 35 at the French Institute in Prague and Ponrepo, the National Film Archive’s screening hall at Bio Konvikt (Národní filmový archiv) in Prague (starting on 6. 10.) hosted a retrospective of films by American director of Polish origin Roman Polanski. Those works screened included six student and short films and nine feature films such as Nóz w wodzie (1961, Poland) filmed in Poland, Dance of the Vampires (1967, Great Britain – USA) and his most recent work The Ghost Writer (2010, France – Germany – Great Britain). Roman Polanski as an actor was presented in the film Zemsta (2002, Poland) by Polish director Andrzej Wajda.
5. - 23. 10.
Luxembourg and its surroundings hosted the 4th cinÉast festival – a screening of films from Central and Eastern Europe that offered a selection of films from the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The Czech Film Center (České filmové centrum) took part in arranging the festival. Some 40 feature-length films and over 30 short films were screened at the festival. The official competition for the Grand Prix featured 9 films that included the Czech feature films Walking Too Fast (Pouta, dir. Radim Špaček, 2010), Eighty Letters (Osmdesát dopisů, dir. Václav Kadrnka, 2011) and the co-production Slovak-Czech film The House (Dům/Dom, dir. Zuzana Liová, 2011). The festival’s programme offered 2 thematic cycles: On the Edge of Society (film about people excluded from the majority society) and East Goes West (works of filmmakers who have achieved success in Western Europe and in the USA). The professional jury was chaired by Polish director Agnieszka Holland.
6. - 8. 10.
The 44th International Festival of Films and Video Spots on Tourism TOURFILM was held concurrently with the 18th National Festival of Films, Videos and Multimedia on Regional Tourism TOUR REGION FILM (44. mezinárodní festival turistických filmů a videosnímků TOURFILM souběžně s 18. národním festivalem filmů, videozáznamů a multimédií o regionech v cestovním ruchu TOUR REGION FILM) in Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic). The TOURFILM festival’s programme traditionally consists of a competition of films with tourism-based themes, a competition of films for television, a competition of multimedia, a screening of announced films and multimedia for the public, seminars, discussions and swapping of experiences among specialists in the area of tourism, the participation of filmmakers and journalists and accompanying, specialised, social, cultural and commercial events. The competition was divided into four categories: The 1st was films up to 30 minutes long with tourism themes; the 2nd was advertising spot and short clips up to 3 minutes; the 3rd was television films (current events and documentary) with tourism themes and the 4th was multimedia (www + CD) with tourism themes. The festival’s main guest was Swiss psychiatrist and balloonist Bertrand Piccard. The TOURFILM festival is a member of the International Committee of Touristic Film Festivals with its seat in Vienna. For awarded Czech films and filmmakers see 44. mezinárodní festival turistických filmů a videosnímků TOURFILM souběžně s 18. národním festivalem filmů, videozáznamů a multimédií o regionech v cestovním ruchu TOUR REGION FILM.
6. - 8. 10.
The Czech Penguin – The 3rd Festival of Young Artists (Český tučňák – 3. soutěžní festival nejlepších výkonů mladých umělců): The Biggest Gathering and Awards Ceremony for Young Artists. The festival awards works by Czech artists in four areas: fine arts, theatre, music and film, but the awarding of prizes is not the main reason why the festival is organized. It’s more about bringing together the upcoming generation of artists. The 3rd annual festival took place in the art spaces of the ROXY, NoD and 2. Patro clubs on Dlouhá street where it also opened on 6. 10. The closing ceremony took place as in many years on the National Theatre’s New Stage. Competition films shown included Automatic for the People (dir. Jan Vejnar, 2010), The View (Výhled, dir. Milan Ondruch, Jaroslav Mrázek, 2011), A Game Like No Other (Není hra jako hra, dir. Matěj Mráz, 2011), People Involved (dir. Jan Těšitel, 2010), Departure: On Time (Pravidelný odlet, dir. Tomáš Pavlíček, 2010), Elevator (dir. Jan Drozda, 2010). For awards see Český tučňák – 3. soutěžní festival nejlepších výkonů mladých umělců.
6. - 8. 10.
Kroměříž hosted the ARTEDiem 2011 project that was created to support the worsening position and role of art in, above all, the system of Czech general secondary-school education. The consequence of this is a marked drop in the general cultural knowledge of graduates of secondary schools. The project’s main objective is to support greater communication and the effective co-operation of secondary schools with cultural organization and to make use of experiences from abroad. The three-day programme offered a practical workshop for teachers of aesthetics at basic and secondary schools. Jiří Siostrzonek gave a talk on the fine arts and film. Every basic and secondary school in Kroměříž took part in the cultural programme as part of tuition. Attractive cultural programmes were prepared for students.
6. - 9. 10.
The 9th Festival of Bollywood Films (9. festival bollywoodského filmu) was held in the Evald and Světozor cinemas in Prague. This year the festival was subtitled “Enhanced film experiences” that drew attention to the diverse and rich programme that demonstrated the dynamic development that the Indian film industry is currently going through. Viewers were treated to the comedy Tere Bin Laden (dir. Abhishek Sharm, 2010) or the typical Bollywood romantic story full of song, dance and colours Band Baaja Baaraat (dir. Maneesh Sharma, 2010). In addition to the films, the festival also featured a Bollywood fair, a novelty in 2010 that was very popular with visitors. The Světozor cinema’s vestibule offered Indian delicatessens, clothes and accessories, henna tattooing and a presentation of the popular Indian game Carrom. The accompanying programme culminated with a traditional Bollywood party in the Klub P.M. where DJ Sanjay, DJ Bhalu and DJ Idly played well-known Bollywood hits.
6. - 9. 10.
The 11th International Student Film Festival (11. mezinárodní festival studentských filmů) was held in Czech city Písek. The festival’s theme was entitled We Love Film. The competition included 36 films from 19 countries and the festival became a platform for the confrontation of student films of all genres (up to 30 minutes). The programme also featured a block of films by disabled filmmakers from the Czech Republic, Denmark and Switzerland. In the second year of this category, disabled directors have demonstrated to audiences in the Portyč cinema their imagination and ample talent that led to the creation of very interesting film works. The screenings concluded with the Czech film Prince Igor (Kníže Igor, dir. HENDAVER, o. s., 2007). The workshops, traditionally focussed on the latest trends in audiovisual production in connection with an educational component, were geared this year towards the trends of introducing media education into school curricula. This workshop, designated for the public as well as teachers and students was led by a leading Czech expert on this theme, Radek Mezulánik. The Film Academy of Miroslav Ondříček in Písek (Filmová akademie Miroslava Ondříčka v Písku, o. p. s.) organized a conference on the theme of Digitising Cinemas and Trends in Film Distribution. For awards see 11. mezinárodní festival studentských filmů.
7. - 8. 10.
The 39th ARSfilm – International Selective Competition of Non-Professional Film and Videos on Art, Animated Films, Video Art and Experimentation was held in Czech city of Kroměříž (39. ARSfilm – mezinárodní výběrová soutěž neprofesionálního filmu a videotvorby o umění, animovaných snímků, videoartu a experimentu). Taking part in the ARSfilm were artists and artist collectives from the CR and abroad, including 1st and 2nd year students of FAMU (Filmová a televizní fakulta Akademie múzických umění v Praze), foreign film and art schools and independent artists with their video programmes created on a non-commercial basis and corresponding to the categories of the competition. Films nominated for the competition were divided into three categories – I films on art (including films from all fields of art), II animated film – films made with any animation technology, III video art and experimental films. The festival jury was led by Czech Television Ostrava (ČESKÁ TELEVIZE – Televizní studio Ostrava) script editor Lenka Poláková Ph.D. For awarded filmmakers and films – see 39. ARSfilm – mezinárodní výběrová soutěž neprofesionálního filmu a videotvorby o umění, animovaných snímků, videoartu a experimentu.
7. - 9. 10.
Rychnov nad Kněžnou held the 28th Nationwide Seminar of Lecturers and Members of Film Clubs of the Czech and Slovak Republics – Film Laughter of Oldřich Navrátil (28. celostátní tematický seminář lektorů a členů filmových klubů ČR a SR – Filmový smích Oldřicha Navrátila). Each year the Film Laughter focuses on a major figure of Czech film. This time the film work of Czech actor Oldřich Navrátil was presented. On the evening before the ceremonial opening, on 7. 10., there were screened several Czech films in which Oldřich Navrátil played, including the television fairy tale series Sillytown (Kocourkov, dir. Karel Smyczek, 1992) and An Angel of the Lord (Anděl Páně, dir. Jiří Strach, 2005). Following Saturday’s ceremonial opening, other works with Oldřich Navrátil were screened, including the television series There Were Five of Us (Bylo nás pět, dir. Karel Smyczek, 1994), the film for television Men’s Show (Pánská jízda, dir. Karel Smyczek, 1983), Hitchhiker (Stopař, dir. Petr Tuček, 1978), The Sick White Elephant (Nemocný bílý slon, dir. Karel Smyczek, 1989) and How the World Loses Poets (Jak svět přichází o básníky, dir. Dušan Klein, 1982). A discussion was held on Saturday, 8. 10. with Oldřich Navrátil and the artist Barbora Srncová, who played in the series There Were Five of Us.
7. - 16. 10.
The Festival of Animated Films in Bucharest (Romania) included films by Jiří Trnka The Song of the Prairies (Arie prerie, 1949), A Novel With a Double Bass (Román s basou 1949), Cybernetic Granny (Kybernetická babička, 1962), The Hand (Ruka 1965), by Břetislav Pojar – A Drop Too Much (O skleničku víc, 1953) and by Jan Švankmajer – Darkness, Light, Darkness (Tma, světlo, tma, 1989) – all loaned by the National Film Archive (Národní filmový archiv).
10. 10.
The 10th concert of the queens of pop was held in the State Opera. The ceremonial evening Limelight: In Honour of Barrandov commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Barrandov film studios celebrated on 28. 11. Czechoslovak films shot during this long period were represented at the concert via unforgettable film songs in the interpretation of leading Czech singers such as Bára Basiková, Ilona Csáková, Leona Machálková, Helena Vondráčková and Jitka Zelenková. Other performers also appeared at the gala, including the Havelka Sisters, Pavel Vítek, Lucia Šoralová as well as other singers at the start of their careers such as Ben Cristovao. Some hits from American films that were worked on in the Barrandov recording studio at Smečky in Prague were played as well.
10. 10.
The ceremonial premiere of the Czech feature film Nothing against Nothing (Nic proti ničemu, dir. Petr Marek, 2011) was held Atlas cinema in Prague.
10. - 16. 10.
Evald cinema in Prague hosted the Norfest – A Week of Norwegian Film that featured 7 Norwegian films including the pre-premiere of the comedy Sykt lykkelig (dir. Anne Sewitsky, 2010) nominated for the American Film Academy’s Oscar Award. The event included an accompanying programme entitled Norway Up Close that offered lectures given by experts on travelling in and exploring Norway.
11. 10.
The Lucerna and Palace Cinemas Slovanský dům cinema in Prague held the ceremonial premiere of the Czech feature film Long Live the Family! (Rodina je základ státu, dir. Robert Sedláček, 2011).
11. - 14. 10.
Ostrov (Czech Republic) hosted the 43rd Ota Hofman Children’s Film and Television Festival (43. dětský filmový a televizní festival Oty Hofmana). The festival’s objective is to present and promote Czech film heritage and the most valuable contemporary film works. Four films were screened in the competition of 35mm-films: Devil’s Bride (Čertova nevěsta, dir. Zdeněk Troška, 2011), Nicky’s Family (Nickyho rodina, dir. Matej Mináč, 2011, CR – SR), In the Duvet (V peřině, dir. F. A. Brabec, 2011) and Saxana (Saxána a Lexikon kouzel, dir. Václav Vorlíček, 2011). Five films vied in the competition of films made for television. The main theme of the accompanying events was that of the Hero. Four Czech films on this theme that received awards at a children’s festival over the past forty years were screened: A Journey into the Primeval Times (Cesta do pravěku, dir. Karel Zeman, 1955), The Girl Robinson Crusoe (Robinsonka, dir. Jaromír Pleskot, 1956), The Mystery of a Puzzle (Záhada hlavolamu, dir. Hynek Bočan, 1969) and Kidnapped Home (Únos domů, dir. Ivan Pokorný, 2002). For awarded filmmakers and films – see 43. dětský filmový a televizní festival Oty Hofmana.
11. - 14. 10.
The 5th annual conference Cross-Media Form, organized by the company Power to the Pixel and geared toward trans-media works was held in London. The conference featured a public presentation of the most interesting projects – The Pixel Pitch –supported by the MEDIA programme. Trans-media works – telling a story on various platforms with a different degree of interaction and participation of the viewers - belonged until recently more to the experimental realm of new media. However, the development of digital technology, the development of the Internet and social networks in recent years has expanded the possibilities that trans-media offer. New generations of viewers, who grew up on computer games, who are used to moving on social networks and easily shift their attention from one media to another, are also entering the scene. The story acquires more dimensions, a puzzle is created – “a story world” composed of e.g. a film, book, comics, Internet project, content on social networks, computer games and even live events. Business models for financing and commercial use of trans-media are just now emerging, although some European television stations are already making use of trans-media. Twenty-five of 100 entered projects were selected for the Pixel Market 2011. Among the most interesting publicly presented projects were the documents We R Democracy (dir. Matthieu Lietaert, Fritz Moser, 2011, Belgium) on the network of lobbyists in the European parliaments that inconspicuously influence our lives.
12. 10.
The Světozor cinema in Prague hosted the ceremonial renewed premier of the Czech feature film Marketa Lazarová (1967) by director František Vláčil (19. 2. 1924 – 27. 1. 1999). The film was presented by the National Film Archive (Národní filmový archiv) in a digitally restored version in DCP (with 2K/4K resolution). The ČEZ Foundation, FILM SERVIS FESTIVAL KARLOVY VARY, a. s., Czech Ministry of Culture (Ministerstvo kultury České republiky) and the National Film Archive (Národní filmový archiv) shared in the creation of the version that was carried out by specialists from Universal Production Partners, a. s. in conjunction with the company Soundsquare, a. s. under the supervision of a consortium of cinematographers – František Uldrich, Marek Jícha and Jiří Myslík. The NFA (Národní filmový archiv) prepared for the release of two versions of film carriers – one on DVD, the second in Blu-ray format with exclusive bonuses. The bonus DVD offers an interview with František Vláčil, shot by cinematographer František Uldrich in 1989, interviews with the film critic Zdena Škapová, with art historian Jan Royt and with UPP studio technical director Ivo Marák, as well as a photo-gallery from the film and its shooting and brief biographies and filmographies of main figures working on and acting in the film. The twenty-page booklet contains more extensive profiles. According to the agreement with the other participating parties, the digitised products became part of the NFA’ s (Národní filmový archiv) collections. The production of DVD and Blu-ray discs (BRD) was completed 6. 12.
12. 10.
Sir Tom Stoppard (real name: Tomáš Straüssler), a British playwright, screenwriter and director hailing from Zlín received from Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg in London at the Embassy of the Czech Republic the Gratias Agit award for spreading the good name of the Czech Republic, departmental honors of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí České republiky). The award has been presented by the minister of foreign affairs since 1997 to major Czech and world figures, organizations and associations. Among the award’s laureates are former American secretary of state Madeleine Albright, American director of Czech origin Miloš Forman and entrepreneur Tomáš Baťa. A frequent theme in the works of Tom Stoppard is revolt against the totalitarian regime and Czech themes also appear. His major theatre works include Dogg’s Hamlet and Cahoot’s Macbeth (1979) and Rock ’n’ Roll (2006). Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (dir. Tom Stoppard, 1990, USA – Great Britain) was adapted for film from his eponymous play. He collaborated with Marc Norman to write the screenplay for Shakespeare in Love (dir. John Madden, 1998, USA).
12. - 16. 10.
The Grand Prix of the 19th International Festival of Mountain Films in Poprad (Slovak Republic) was won by the Czech film Once Upon a Time In Paradoxe or Damals in Paradies (Tenkrát v Ráji aneb Damals im Paradies). The film was shot by David Svárovský in 2011.
12. - 27. 10.
The Czech-Slovak co-production film Gypsy (Cigán 2011) by director Martin Šulík, the first feature-length film by Slovak director Zuzana Liová The House (Dům /Dom, 2011, CR – SR) and Alois Nebel (dir. Tomáš Luňák, 2011, CR – SR – Germany) were included in the Cinema Europa section at the London Film Festival.
13. 10.
The Lucerna cinema in Prague hosted the ceremonial premiere of the documentary film My Father George Voskovec (Můj otec George Voskovec, dir. Libuše Rudinská, 2011).
13. 10.
The CineStar Anděl in Prague hosted the ceremonial premiere of the Czech-Slovak feature film The House (Dům/Dom), the feature-length debut by director Zuzana Liová.
13. - 15. 10.
The 18th Czech Film Days, a traditional part of the Czech Culture Days in Košice (Slovak Republic) organized by the Czech association of fellow-country men there, featured the films Lidice (dir. Petr Nikolaev, 2011, CR – SR), Ženy SHR (dir. Martin Dušek, Ondřej Provazník, 2010), Eighty Letters (Osmdesát dopisů, dir. Václav Kadrnka, 2011), Nothing against Nothing (Nic proti ničemu, dir. Petr Marek, 2011) and the older Czech film Life Is a Dog (Život je pes, dir. Martin Frič, 1933) loaned by the National Film Archive (Národní filmový archiv).
13. - 16. 10.
The 52nd International Short Fiction Film Festival – Brno Sixteen (52. mezinárodní festival krátkých hraných filmů – Brněnská šestnáctka) was held in Brno. Two blocks of fifty films were presented in the main competition. Select films from FAMU (Filmová a televizní fakulta Akademie múzických umění v Praze) shot in the 1960s were also screened, as well as short films from Romania. In commemoration of film director and teacher Otakar Vávra (28. 2. 1911 – 15. 9. 2011), a group of his first avant-garde attempts from the 1930s were screened. Experimental 8-mm and 16-mm films were screened in the Baroque hall of the Moravian Gallery in Brno. The festival also included an exhibition of historical projectors and cameras from the legendary manufacturer Jindřich Suchánek. At the end of the evening, representatives of both juries – the main and the student juries – presented a total of 6 awards: 2 main, 3 medals and one special recognition. Another prize was given by TIC director Petra Kačírková and the final prize, the Petr Hvižď prize for a young, promising talent, went to Kristýna Hvižďová for the Association for Brno 16 and alternative film. The film by South Korean directors and brothers Chang-wook Park and Chang-kyong Park entitled Night Fishing won the festival. Their entire film was shot on an iPhone 4. Its premier was 1. 1. 2011 and it also won the Golden Bear for best short film at the Berlin Film Festival. The filmmakers were presented with the festival’s traditional award – the Head Full of Films statue by artist Blanka Šperková. No Czech film received an award.
14. - 26. 10.
A screening of the Czech film Eroticon (Erotikon, dir. Gustav Machatý, 1929) accompanied by the Icon Orchestra, was held at the Czech Film Center in Brussels and in Luxembourg. The National Film Archive (Národní filmový archiv) loaned the film.
14. 10. - 3. 12.
The 9th International Travelling Festival of Outdoor Films – A Competition and Screening of Sports, Adventure, Adrenaline and Travel Films (9. mezinárodní putovní festival outdoorových filmů MFOF – soutěž a přehlídka sportovních, dobrodružných, adrenalinových a cestopisných filmů) was held. It opened in Ostrava and closed in Prague. Films were also screened in another 25 towns in the Czech Republic and 2 towns in the Slovak Republic. Over the nine years of its existence, MFOF (9. mezinárodní putovní festival outdoorových filmů MFOF – soutěž a přehlídka sportovních, dobrodružných, adrenalinových a cestopisných filmů) has become the large film competition travelling festival in the Czech Republic. In 2011 there were 59 films nominated to four competition categories, of which the jury, chaired by photographer, journalist, traveller and mountain climber Martin Krejsa, chose for the Grand Prix, the Slovak film Trou de Fer – Železná diera (dir. Pavol Barabáš, 2011). For awarded Czech films and filmmakers see 9. mezinárodní putovní festival outdoorových filmů MFOF – soutěž a přehlídka sportovních, dobrodružných, adrenalinových a cestopisných filmů.
15. - 19. 10.
The 48th International Film Festival Golden Prague (48. mezinárodní televizní festival – Zlatá Praha 2011) presenting the best television music and dance programmes and films of all genres at Prague’s Žofín Palace. The international competition was supplemented by a rich accompanying programme: video library, workshops, concerts, presentations of television companies, screenings and meetings with renowned directors, producers and choreographers and their work. Czech programmes shown included Tap Tap (dir. Zora Cejnková, 2011) and Gustav Mahler Gala (dir. Stein-Roger Bull, 2011, CR – Norway). The Golden Prague Grand Prix went to the French film The Carnival of the Animals (dir. Andy Sommer & Gordon, 2010, France); Czech crystals went to the documentary film Jiří Kylián: Forgotten Memoirs (dir. Don Kent, 2010, France) and to the film Rigoletto in Mantua (dir. Marco Bellocchio, 2010, Italy). Special recognition for an exceptional work of art went to the German film The Baton (dir. Michael Wende, 2010, Germany). No Czech TV show or film received an award.
17. 10.
The National Film Archive (Národní filmový archiv) celebrated at its Ponrepo screening hall at Bio Konvikt in Prague the International Day of Animated Film (28. 10.) and the Month of Czech and Slovak Cultural Reciprocity with a series of Slovak animated films entitled The Eye of Animation. The programme consisted of three parts of the documentary series The Magical World of Animated film (all directed by Rudolf Urc, Marek Urban, 2002, SR): The Eye of Animated Film, Two Masters and A Time of Searching, A Time of Hope. The cycle is the first comprehensive view of the history of Slovak animated film. The artists of the youngest generation, which is also spoken about in the cycle, also included artist, animator, screenwriter and director Vanda Raýmanová, who took part in the event with Professor Rudolf Urc. Her films About two People (O dvoch ľuďoch, 1996) and Who’s There? (Kto je tam?, 2010) were screened.
17. - 23. 10.
The 54th International Leipzig Festival of Documentary and Animated Film included the screening of two older Czech documentary films: Houses from Panels (Domy z panelů, dir. Jiří Menzel, 1960) and the Hall of Lost Steps (Sál ztracených kroků, dir. Jaromil Jireš, 1960) loaned by the National Film Archive (Národní filmový archiv).
19. 10.
Czech actress Jana Gýrová, who spoke about her experience from the shooting of the Bulgarian film Poslednata duma (1973) by the late director Binka Zhelyazkova (15. 7. 1923 – 31. 7. 2011), was a guest of the National Film Archive (Národní filmový archiv).
19. - 21. 10.
The 10th International Festival of Films and TV Documentaries on Technical and Industrial Monuments Focusing on Cooperation in Scientific Research and on the Tourist Industry – TECHNÉ Ostrava (10. mezinárodní festival filmů a televizních pořadů o technických a průmyslových památkách se zaměřením na vědeckou spolupráci a cestovní ruch – TECHNÉ Ostrava) was held in Czech city Ostrava. Each year the primary theme of the festival consists of technical and industrial monuments, their maintenance, use and promotion, but also wider themes linked to technical monuments as tourism, architecture, original crafts, the work culture, history and social aspects of industrial development, the influences of industry on the development of cities, the development of education, etc. These themes are most distinctly presented in the annual publication of the anthology of professional lectures from the international colloquium of the TECHNÉ OSTRAVA festival (TECHNÉ Ostrava). Since the first year, the festival's organizers have collaborated with the VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, where subjects dealing with technical monuments and their use in tourism are taught. This collaboration gradually expanded to include other tertiary schools with similar areas of study such as the Silesian Polytechnical School in Gliwice or the Technical University – Mining Academy in the German town of Freiberg. The festival has also featured since 2003 an international competition on the best student work on the theme of technical and industrial monuments and tourism. Winners of the competition receive each year prizes from the festival's director and prizes from the rector of the VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, or of the Upper Silesian Trade School in the Polish town of Katowice. For awarded films see 10. mezinárodní festival filmů a televizních pořadů o technických a průmyslových památkách se zaměřením na vědeckou spolupráci a cestovní ruch – TECHNÉ Ostrava.
19. - 28. 10.
DAS FILMFEST 2011 – The 6th Screening of German Speaking Films (DAS FILMFEST 2011 – 6. přehlídka německy mluvených filmů) was held for the sixth time at Lucerna and Evald (19. – 23. 10.) in Prague and at Art cinema (24. – 28. 10.) in Brno. Viewers saw new feature and documentary films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland in the sections Rebels, On the Threshold, Die Doku and The Wall (to commemorate the 50th anniversary for the construction of the Berlin Wall). The festival opened with the German film Wer wenn nicht wir (2011) with the participation of director Andres Veiel and cinematographer Judith Kaufmann. The film received in 2011 the bronze award in the competition for the German Film Award.
20. - 22. 10.
The Modřanský biograf cinema in Prague hosted a three-day screening of animated films from ANIFEST 2011 – The 10th International Festival of Animated Films (ANIFEST 2011 – 10. mezinárodní festival animovaných filmů). Three groups of animated films for children and adults were presented. Visitors also had a chance to try to create a fairytale character at the animation school led by animated filmmakers – František Váša, co-director of the film Car Fairy Tales (Autopohádky, 2011, CR) and artists Barbora Dlouhá and Kristina Dufková, one of three directors of the film Fimfarum the Third Time Lucky 3D (Fimfárum do třetice všeho dobrého 3D, 2011). Puppets and original decorations from some of the animated films were exhibited in the Modřanský biograf cinema.
20. - 26. 10.
The Thalia and Programmkino Ost. cinemas in Dresden hosted the 1st Czech Film Week. The event took place as part of the 13 Days of Czech and German Culture, the largest presentation of Czech culture in Germany. The festival, which opened with Robert Sedláček’s black comedy Men in a Rut (Muži v říji, 2009), presented new feature and documentary films, short films and a retrospective of the work of director Bohdan Sláma. The programme offered 14 feature-length films. The feature films included the films Walking Too Fast by Radim Špaček (Pouta, 2010), Eighty Letters (Osmdesát dopisů, 2011) by Václav Kadrnka and Kawasaki’s Rose (Kawasakiho růže, 2009) by Jan Hřebejk. The section Focused on Czech Document presented 5 documentary films made by the young generation of Czech documentary filmmakers. Films screened included Matchmaking Mayor (Nesvatbov, 2010) by Erika Hníková and Welcome to North Korea! (Vítejte v KLDR, 2009) by Linda Jablonská. A retrospective by Bohdan Sláma was augmented by a meeting with the director.
21. 10.
Starting on 22. 10. the broadcasting of a commercials on Czech Television 1 and Czech Television 24 ended. Advertising on all Internet pages of Czech public television was also stopped. By stopping advertising, Czech Television (ČESKÁ TELEVIZE) also ceased contributing money to the State Fund of the Czech Republic for the Support and Development of Czech Cinematography.
21. - 23. 10.
The 11th Film Seminar Film Sokolov on the Theme of Junk (11. filmový seminář Film Sokolov na téma Odpad was held. The seminar linked with the screening of films and other accompanying activities was organized by students of the Aesthetics Department and of the Department of Cinema Studies of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University (Univerzita Karlova v Praze - Filozofická fakulta), by the DÉMONICKÝ KONÍK civic association and by Sokolov’s Municipal House of Culture. The seminar focussed on the theme of junk and students grasped it from a perspective of a plurality of possible meanings. The event is accompanied each year by an anthology of writings by students and experts on the given theme.
21. - 23. 10.
The Prague 48 Hour Film Project competition at the Prague club Chapeau Rouge began. This was a world-wide event that took place in 2011 for the tenth time, though the first time in the Czech Republic. The competition’s objective is to shoot and complete a short film during two days; each team gets its genre, character, prop and sentence from a dialogue. The screening of competition films and the awarding of prizes to the winners took place on 29. 10. at the Lucerna cinema in Prague. The competition winner was the film by the group BulvarART.cz (CHA&ME s.r.o.) entitled No Country for Young Men (Tahle země není pro mladý, 2011) shot by Robin Kvapil, a student from the department of documentary film direction of the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (Filmová a televizní fakulta Akademie múzických umění v Praze – Katedra dokumentární tvorby). The film also received other awards – see The Prague 48 Hour Film Project.
23. 10.
The Czech Film and Television Academy (ČFTA – Česká filmová a televizní akademie) nominated the animated film Alois Nebel (2011, CR – Germany – SR) of debuting director Tomáš Luňák for the American Film Academy’s Oscar Award. The candidate for the Oscar was chosen from 38 Czech films.
24. 10.
The Bibiana (BAB) Biennale of Animation Bratislava 2011 took place as part of the Month of Czech-Slovak Reciprocity. The National Film Archive (Národní filmový archiv) loaned a number of animated films by Zdeněk Miler and Miloš Macourek for this event. Film screened included About a Millionaire Who Stole the Sun (O milionáři, který ukradl slunce, dir. Richard Bláha, Zbyněk Bláha, Zdeněk Miler, 1948), How the Mole Came by Some Trousers (Jak Krtek ke kalhotkám přišel, 1957), How the Sun Returned Water to the Puppy (Jak sluníčko vrátilo štěnátku vodu, 1960), both directed by Zdeněk Miler, and the film How Žofka Organized a Sport Day (Jak Žofka pořádala sportovní den, dir. Adolf Born, Jaroslav Doubrava, Miloš Macourek, 1986) among others.
24. - 30. 10.
During the 30th Uppsala International Short Filmfest in Uppsala (Sweden) several Czech short films were screened in collaboration with the National Film Archive, Prague (Národní filmový archiv). These films were Dimensions of Dialogue (Možnosti dialogu dir. Jan Švankmajer, 1982) and The Vanished World of Gloves (Zaniklý svět rukavic, dir. Jiří Barta, 1982).
25. - 30. 10.
The 15th Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival (15. mezinárodní festival dokumentárních filmů) was held in Czech city Jihlava. Four sections made up the basis of the festival programme: Opus Bonum for documentaries from around the world that are innovative in theme and style, Between the Seas from countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Czech Joy providing a view of the latest Czech works and Fascinations focused on experimental documentary filmmaking. Other programme sections presented current events on the Czech and foreign documentary scene, Transparent Beings showed retrospective profiles of major filmmakers. Five Czech documentary films with the current political focus of students and graduates of the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts (Filmová a televizní fakulta Akademie múzických umění v Praze) were shown in the new programme section ZOON Politikon (the Czech country, my home). The festival ceremonially opened with a joint project of twenty-four Czech documentary filmmakers entitled 24 hours in the Czech Republic (24 hodin v České republice, 2011), which captures one day, 27. 9., through the eyes of various people – including Jiří Krejčík, Helena Třeštíková and Jan Němec. Woody Vasulka, a theoretician, director and experimenter in film of Czech origin, was among the festival’s guests. The unique British film The Great White Silence from 1924 by Herbert G. Ponting on the Antarctic expedition of the British team led by Robert Scott was screen in Jihlava the occasion of the World Day of Audiovisual Heritage. For awarded filmmakers and films – see the 15. mezinárodní festival dokumentárních filmů.
26. 10.
The Czech film Perfect Days (2011) by Alice Nellis had its ceremonial premiere at Světozor and Lucerna cinemas in Prague.
26. 10. - 26. 11.
the UNESCO general conference passed in Belgrade the Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images on 27 October 1980. On the initiative of the National Film Archive in Prague (Národní filmový archiv) and the Czech UNESCO Commission (Česká komise pro UNESCO) supported by other national commissions, the 33rd UNESCO general conference of UNESCO 2005 in Paris endorsed the Czech proposal to declare this day the world Day of Audiovisual Heritage. The National Film Archive (Národní filmový archiv) commemorated this major day in its Ponrepo screening hall at Bio Konvikt in Prague. The theme of the World Day of Audiovisual Heritage was for 2011: To See, To Hear, To Learn. Upon the occasion of this day the NFA expert Tomáš Hála M.A. read a message by UNESCO general director Irina Bokovová as the introduction of the ceremonial gathering. The event’s programme consisted of two groups of films – one included the films Kiddies (Človíčkové, dir. Karel Baroch, 1940), To School for the First Time (Poprvé do školy, dir. Drahoslav Holub, 1955), The Experimental Civic School in Zlín (Pokusná škola měšťanská ve Zlíně, dir. Jaroslav Novotný, 1937), Eternal Darkness (Věčná tma, dir. Jindřich Brichta, Petr Klen, 1940), Students from St. James (Žáci od sv. Jakuba, dir. Pavel Hobl, 1960) and Thoughts on a Gymnasium School (Úvahy o gymnáziu, dir. Jaroslav Harvan, 1989). The second group dealt included two films by Bohumil Vošahlík entitled How People Captured Motion (Jak lidé zajali pohyb, 1962) and How People Captured Sound (Jak lidé zajali zvuk, 1957), Darwin Anti-Darwin or What the Earthworm Didn’t Suspect (Darwin Antidarwin aneb Co žížala netušila, dir. Břetislav Pojar, 1969) and One Step to Progress (Od kroku k pokroku, dir. Pavel Koutský, Břetislav Pojar, 1987). To commemorate the late Czech director Otakar Vávra (28. 2. 1911 – 15. 9. 2011) there was a screening of his feature film Presentiment (Předtucha, 1947). In addition to the screening of films, the National Film Archive (Národní filmový archiv) presented its activities in the form of shorter lectures given by NFA experts. Jitka Kohoutová Ph.D., informed on the distribution of the film Marketa Lazarová (dir. František Vláčil, 1967) on DCP, Jiří Horníček M.A., spoke of the preparation of the Documentary Film Catalogue, Michaela Mertová M.A., with the progress on the Czech Animated Film I 1920 – 1945 Catalogue, head of Department of cinema studies of Charles University' Faculty of Arts in Prague (Univerzita Karlova v Praze - Filozofická fakulta - Katedra filmových studií) and head of Department of film theory and history of NFA (Národní filmový archiv - Oddělení teorie a dějin filmu) Associate Professor Ivan Klimeš Ph.D, spoke on the theme of Czech Society for Film Studies (Česká společnost pro filmová studia) and Tomáš Lachman M.A., the head of the Department of written records of NFA (Národní filmový archiv - Oddělení písemných archiválií) informed on the European Film Gates project.
27. 10.
Upon the occasion of the Czechoslovak Independence Day the National Theatre in Prague hosted the awards ceremony for the State Awards for Literature, State Awards for Translation Work, the Awards of the Ministry of Culture CR for Contribution to Theatre, Music, Fine Arts and Architecture and the Awards of the Ministry of Culture CR for Contribution to Cinematography and Audiovisual Works. The ceremony took place on the evening before the state holiday on 28 October 2011 with the participation of Czech Minister of Culture Jiří Besser. Awards from literature, professional art and cinematography were presented together for the first time ever. In addition to the State Awards for Literature received by writer Daniela Hodrová and translator Martin Hilský, the names of the recipients of this year’s Czech Ministry of Culture awards were announced: choreographer Jiří Kylián, music journalist and promoter of jazz in the Czech Republic Lubomír Dorůžka and Leoš Válka in the category of fine arts for building the DOX Centre of Contemporary Art in the Holešovice part of Prague. Architect Miroslav Masák was also awarded for his lifelong work. Director and producer Jan Němec and musical composer Zdeněk Liška (in memoriam) received awards in the category of cinematography and audiovisual work.
27. 10.
The Czech film Eroticon (Erotikon, dir. Gustav Machatý, 1929) was screened at the Kinoteka na Makedonija in Skopje (Macedonia) on the occasion of the World Day of Audiovisual Heritage 2011.
27. 10.
Lucerna cinema in Prague hosted the ceremonial premiere of the Czech feature film Bastards 2 (Bastardi 2, dir. Jan Lengyel, 2011).
28. 10.
At the Prague Castle’s Vladislavský Hall Czech President Václav Klaus presented state honours to individuals from culture and art upon the occasion of Czechoslovak Independence Day. Medals for services to the state in culture and education went to translator and teacher Martin Hilský; medals for service to the state in art went to caricaturist Vladimír Renčín who could not attend the ceremony due to illness. Other medals for services to the state in art were received by theatre expert Jiří Srnec and musician Emil Viklický.
28. 10. - 5. 11.
The 6th KOMIKSFEST! (6. Komikfest – česká přehlídka komiksu), a comics festival featuring films, exhibitions, events, discussions, theatre, books, autographs and workshops was held in Prague at the MeetFactory, Klubovna no. 2, Bio Oko and in other places in Prague. Among the films screened were animated films from the Anifest 2011 festival (ANIFILM – 2. mezinárodní festival animovaných filmů Třeboň), The Illusionist (L’ Illusionniste, dir. Sylvain Chomet, 2010, Great Britain – France), Persepolis (dir. Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi, 2007, France – USA) and the feature film Holidays by the Sea (Ni à vendre ni à louer, 2011) by French comics artist Pascal Rabaté. He received the Direction Award for this film at the 46th Karlovy Vary Film Festival 2011(46. mezinárodní filmový festival Karlovy Vary 2011). Festival visitors were also treated to the new Czech comics film Alois Nebel (2011, CR – SR – SRN) by director Tomáš Luňák and a discussion panel with animators from the Tobogang studio (TOBOGANG s.r.o.). The Muriel awards, named after one of the comic figures created by Czech artist Kája Saudek, were presented at the close of the festival. The award for best Czech comics and also for best screenplay went to Lucie Lomová for her story Savages (Divoši). In 2011 another award, the Arnal (again named after a character created by Kája Saudek) was presented for best superhero/supervillain. This award went to Slovak artist Martin Groch for the character of Michal.
31. 10.
The Czech Ministry of Culture (Ministerstvo kultury České republiky) publicly announced an open competition for the position of general director of the National Film Archive, Prague (Národní filmový archiv).