PRODUCTION: Havel starts filming his Leaving on July2
Former Czech president and playwright Vaclav Havel announced he will begin shooting his film directing debut Leaving on July 2 instead of June, as previously announced. Havel rejected media speculation…
EU approves Czech film tax incentives
The European Union approved a Czech film tax incentive, announced by the Czech government on Firday, June 18. The proposal, which was approved in October 2009 by the Czech government,…
Illness forces Nellis to abandon Lidice
Czech director Alice Nellis has stepped down from Lidice, Czech-Slovak-Polish coproduction based on a WWII screenplay by Czech historian Zdeněk Mahler. Just days from the beginning of filming, Nellis announced…
FNE at Zlin: Magic Tree wins Zlin festival
Central European films made a strong showing at the 50th anniversary edition of the Zlin International Film Festival for Children and Youth (www.zlinfest.cz), with Poland's Magic Tree by Andrzej Maleszk,…
FNE at Zlin’s 50th Anniversary: Central Europe's animation revival
Is Central Europe poised to regain its position as a leading force in the field of animation? Judging from the recent upsurge in production, and a new emphasis on feature…
FNE at Zlin’s 50th Anniversary: ECFA convenes first CEE meeting
The European Children's Film Association (ECFA, www.ecfaweb.org) held its first board meeting in Central Europe on June 2 at the Zlin International Festival of film for children and youth (May…
FNE at Zlin 50th Anniversary: Zlin's long road to the top
The Zlin International Festival of film for Children and Youth (www.zlin-fest.cz) proudly bills itself as the oldest children's film festival in the world -- as well as the largest. But…
FNE at Zlin’s 50th Anniversary: Visegrad Competition
The Zlin festival of films for children and youth (May 31-June 6, www.zlin-fest.cz) has been steadily expanding beyond its original mission and name suggests. One of the more welcome sections,…
FNE at Zlin’s 50th Anniversary: Czech and Slovak films take center stage
For Zlin (www.zlinfest.cz) festival director Petr Koliha, deciding how to mark the 50th anniversary of the Zlin festival of films for children and youth was an easy decision. At least…
FESTIVALS: Zlin announces final competition line-up
The 50th anniversary edition of the Zlin film festival for children and youth (May 30-June 6, www.zlinfest.cz) has finalized its competition sections, with 34 feature films competing in four competition…
FESTIVALS: AniFest finds new direction and a new home
In just nine years, AniFest (www.anifest.cz) has become the leading Czech animation festival and a destination on the international map. The 2010 edition expanded in the festival's new home, the…
FNE at Cannes: EFP Producer on the Move Pavel Bercik
In less than two years, Pavel Bercik fast-tracked from FAMU film school student to a spot as one of the Czech Republic's busiest producers.
Czech Cinema to Be Presented at 2010 Cannes FF
Prague, May 7, 2010 - The 63rd Cannes International Film Festival is set to run from May 12 to 23, 2010, and Czech cinema is going to be there. In…
FNE at AniFest: AniFest spotlights Lithuanian animation, visual efffects
AniFest 2010, which takes place May 18-23 in Teplice, Czech Republic, will feature a Lithuanian Retrospective of animation film and a programme on special visual effects films in the context…
FNE at Anifilm: Anifilm revives Trebon festival
The Czech spa town of Trebon and the organizers of the first Anifilm festival (www.anifilm.cz) succeeded in pulling together a ne animated film festival in two months, after the original…
FESTIVALS: Fresh Film fest moves to Prague
The Fresh Film Fest will move to Prague this year, after six years in the spa town of Karlovy Vary.
FNE at Finale Plzen: Midpoint launches new training programme
Five leading Central European film schools are joining forces on a project to move young filmmakers into the professional world with Midpoint, the Central European Script Center (www.midpoint-center.eu).
FNE at Finale Plzen: CFC introduces new Czech productions
The Czech Film Center (CFC, www.filmcenter.cz) offered a platform for 18 films in development and production at its annual presentation during the Finale (www.filmfestfinale.cz) festival of Czech films on April…
FNE at Finale Plzen: Kawasaki's Rose wins Finale Plzen festival
Director Jan Hřebejk picked up the Golden Kingfisher for best feature film and the Audience Award for Kawasaki's Rose at the closing ceremony of Finale festival of Czech films held…
New Czech animation festival premieres
The Czech Republic will see two animation film festivals competing for attention in the upcoming weeks: Anifest, which moved to the town of Teplice, and Anifilm, which has been newly…