A retrospective of Filip Remunda (40) and Vít Klusák, two strong filmmaking personalities, is the subject of a special programme section, which brings festival premieres of three documentaries from their Czech Journal series, and apart from popular provocative documents, such as Czech Peace and Czech Dream, the festival will present a number of their early works as well as different curiosities and bonuses.
The total of 170 films will be showed – complete Czech feature-film production from between April 2012 and 2013 (both in and out of competition); a selection of the best and the most interesting of 2012’s documentaries (also in the competition and non-competition sections); unique archive materials screened exclusively at Finále Plzeň, and more retrospectives. Thanks to the international juries the festival offers a look through the eyes of foreign professionals.
Films by Jiří Menzel and Juraj Jakubisko will appear in the Wings of Fame section, yet another part of the festival paying tribute to important jubilees.
“The ZOOM section focusing on foreign production continues,”says festival director Ivan Jáchim. After focusing on Poland in 2012, the attention is brought to Germany this year. “Our aim is to introduce and point out the qualities of German cinematography to the audiences, to facilitate the comparison of Czech and German cinematography, and last but not least, to provide filmmakers a platform for meeting and sharing their experience in professional panel discussions and informal get-togethers,“ adds Jáchim. German filmmakers will also take part in international juries, assessing new Czech documentaries and feature-films and awarding the Golden Kingfisher prize. The “industry guide” for local and foreign professionals, dealing with German cinematography this year, will become a part of the traditional Industry Days.
The programme also features debates with a number of local filmmakers, projections of short and children’s films, free outdoor screenings, public author readings and an exhibition.
The festival’s tradition started in 1968, to be suspended after a few years, and revived after a 20-year break following the “Velvet Revolution” in 1989.
Ticket sale opens about a month before the festival starts.
For more information, visit www.festivalfinale.cz
More information on the tributes and the retrospective:
Ester Krumbachová is often called “the Muse of Czech New Wave”. “Although there is only a single film where she is credited as a director, her strong influence on Czechoslovakian cinematography of the time is undeniable. Be it the playfulness and originality of the designs she created for a number of films, or her co-writing of screenplays for The Daisies and Valery’s Week of Wonders,” says Ivan Jáchim. The audiences will have the opportunity to see such masterpieces as The Party and the Guests by Jan Němec, Murdering the Devil by Krumbachová, The Last Butterfly by Karel Kachyňa, author documentaries from the GENUS series, and others.
Pavel Kohout is an artist who manages to skilfully mingle Czech, German and Austrian cultures. “This year, the traditional publication containing memories of an artist’s colleagues, co-workers and friends, is dedicated to him,” says Ivan Jáchim. As usual, the publication is edited by Jan Lukeš and Ivana Lukešová. The festival programme contains films Kohout participated on: Tomorrow, People Will Be Dancing Everywhere by Vladimír Vlček, Das Ohr by Kohout, and others, including films shot abroad. “The author and his wife are naturally expected to attend the book launch as well as the debates with the audience following the screenings,” says Jáchim.
The tribute to Břetislav Pojar will have the form of traditional morning programme for children, featuring the Yaya & Paya series and How They Met at Kolin shorts.
Filip Remunda and Vít Klusák – two personalities, two points of view, twin enfants terribles. “Despite of their youth, they have taken part in unbelievable feats reaching beyond Czech borders. They are not afraid to address complicated issues, to stir up a hornet’s nest – and emotions,” says Ivan Jáchim. This year, the directorial duo is going to present three documentaries from the Czech Journal series. Films dealing with the “feeler bus-driver” Roman Smetana, the first direct presidential election and the burning problem of racism in the town of Tanvald will surely not go unnoticed.
More information, photographs etc.:
Daniela Vítová
tel.: +420 725 754 412
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