The Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles is pleased to announce the first annual Czech Filmfest 2012 which will take place at the Cinefamily in Hollywood on May 16 – 24, 2012. The festival will introduce both new and classic Czech movies to film audiences in Los Angeles and several successful directors and actors will be present to promote their films.
“Czech cinema has always been a passion for The Cinefamily. It’s some of the most playful, cinematic, dynamic, and we think underappreciated national lineages in the film world. It’s exciting to work with the Czech Consulate in LA to put on what we hope to be an annual festival celebrating both the classics we love, and the films today that continue that fine tradition”–Hadrian Belove, The Cinefamily
The festival will officially kick-off with disturbingly relevant dark thriller “Walking Too Fast” (2010) from director Radim Špaček, who will answer questions after the screening, followed by the opening night reception on May 17. The film achieved critical success in Europe and won five Czech Lions (the Czech Oscars), including best picture from the Czech Film Academy, among many other awards.
The fest will also include “Four Suns” (2012), directed by esteemed award-winner Bohdan Sláma, which shows the self-destructive nature of humanity. The film premiered at the Sundance Festival this past January. Director Tomáš Luňák will personally introduce his animated picture “Alois Nebel” (2011), the Czech entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the most recent Academy Awards.
Concluding the festival will be the musical “Rhythm on My Heels” (2009) at the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles. Based on “The Tenor Saxophonist’s Story” by Josef Škovorecký, the story shows the trials of love that take place in 1950s Czechoslovakia. Director Andrea Sedláčková and actors Marika Šoposká, Jan Maxián, Margareta Hrůza and Berenika Kohoutová will attend and perform songs from the film accompanied by famous Czech jazz pianist Emil Viklický.
As a tribute to former President of the Czech Republic, the late Václav Havel, his directorial debut “Leaving” (2010) will be screened together with TV adaptation of his famous play “Garden Party” (2010). The latest feature of Robert Sedláček explores the burden of responsibility in “Long Live the Family” (2011) and nostalgic crowd-pleaser “Identity Card” (2010) will also be shown, with a post-screening celebration dedicated to 1970s pop music. Documentary “Matchmaking Mayor” (2010) will dramatize a demographic crisis in Slovakia.
A pajama party will take place after the screening of “Daisies” (1966), a famous classic of Věra Chytilová. Other films of the 1960s Czech New Wave golden era will be “Valerie and Her Week of Wonders” (1970) and “Fruit of Paradise” (1970). A collection of shorts by Jan Švankmajer will also be part of the fest.
2012 CZECH FILM FESTIVAL IN LOS ANGELES (May 16 – 24, 2012):at the Cinefamily – 611 N Fairfax Avenue // Los Angeles // 90036
Wednesday, May 16th:
7:30 pm – Collected shorts of Švankmajer
10:00 pm – “Valerie and Her Week of Wonders”
Thursday, May 17th:
7:30 pm – “Walking Too Fast” with director & reception
11:00 pm – Collected shorts of Švankmajer
Friday, May 18th:
5:00 pm – “Four Suns”
7:30 pm – “Identity Card”
Saturday, May 19th:
1:45 pm – “Matchmaking Mayor”
4:00 pm -“Long Live the Family”
7:20 pm – “Alois Nebel” with director
10:00 pm – “Daisies” with pajama party
Sunday, May 20th:
5:30 pm – “Havel’s Leaving…” & “The Garden Party”
9:00 pm – “Valerie and Her Week of Wonders”
Monday, May 21st:
10:30 pm – “Daisies”
Wednesday, May 23rd:
7:30 pm – “Fruit of Paradise” –
9:40 pm – “Daisies”
Thursday, May 24th: 6:00 pm – “Rhythm on My Heels” at the Italian Cultural Institute (1023 Hilgard Ave, LA, CA 90024) followed by a concert and reception
The 2012 Czech Filmfest, organized by the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles and the Czech Film Center in Prague in cooperation with the Cinefamily in Hollywood and the Czech Center in New York, with gracious support of Milk & Honey Films, Prague Studios, the Czech Tourism and European Language Movies in America (ELMA), is part of the traveling program “New Czech Films US Tour” that visits major American cities such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City and Washington, DC.