Experience the Czech Republic through Film

Several festivals, which a real film fan cannot miss, take place in the Czech Republic throughout the year. Whether you choose the most posh International Film Festival Karlovy Vary or you prefer passionate discussions with other fans of documentaries in Jihlava, it will definitely be a unique film experience. Film festivals in the Czech Republic exist mostly for viewers and film lovers, not for movie stars. You can often meet them when they enjoy the festival atmosphere with the other participants.

The biggest film festival which takes place in the Czech Republic is The International Film Festival Karlovy Vary. This opulent spa town livens up each year at the turn of June and July. On the colonnade, you can meet film stars as well as crowds of excited film viewers who came to enjoy the festival atmosphere. Screenings take place in spa hotels and local cinemas. This year’s honourable guest is actress Helen Mirren, famous for her movies The Queen and Red.

Summer Film School in Uherské Hradiště in East Moravia is the biggest non-competitive film event in the Czech Republic. The festival focuses on thematic cycles and retrospectives; and allows viewers to penetrate individual topics. You can have a discussion with filmmakers as well. This year focuses on Hungarian film, with legends like István Szabó and young promising filmmakers like Benedek Fliegauf. Uherské Hradiště will be flooded with young people hungry for films and directors like Aki Kaurismäki appreciate its informal atmosphere. Kaurismäki said last year that he did not want to leave the festival and wished to stay until next year.

Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival traditionally takes place at the end of October. The motto of the festival is to “to think film” and a symbol of the festival is a funnel which film viewers might use to put all film ideas in their heads. The 16^th (originally student) festival introduces documentaries from Central and Eastern Europe; however, it also brings documentaries which are currently popular in the world. It offers probably the most relaxed festival atmosphere where a viewer has the opportunity to analyze the film with its maker.

Many film festivals in Prague offer unique films and atmosphere as well. Festival One World focuses on documentaries about human rights and brings thrilling testimonies about lives of those people whose rights have been violated or are currently in a difficult situation. Many movies are investigative trips where filmmakers risk their own lives, yet the idea to inform the world about injustice pushes them. You will probably be surprised to find out that powerful stories do not take place only abroad but it can be in your neighbour’s flat. The next festival will take place in early March 2013.

The Febiofest festival was originally an independent festival for fans and it has become a big international event during twenty years of its existence and directors like Roman Polanski or Tom Tykwer have had a chance to introduce their movies. The festival presents the best of international production, retrospectives and profiles of filmmakers and explores new territories as well as new filmmakers. However, organizers still focus on the original aim and profile of the festivals: everything for viewers. So come and see for yourself.

More information:

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