by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
Each year, FESTROIA shines its spotlight on a different film producing country. This year, it is the turn of the Czech Republic, which has been at the forefront of international filmmaking since its celebrated heyday in the 1960s. One of its best known films of that era, CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS by Jiri Menzel was screened here on Sunday evening, with the 76-year-old director in attendance. A gentle satire on Czech life du...
For cineastes and critics, the Berlin International Film Festival, or Berlinale, is a frequent target of criticism, since it is argued that the official competition has become subverted by commercialism, that politics drives the final selection in the official competition, or that Dieter Kosslick’s craving for media attention prevails. Thus the chorus of nay sayers grew more intense this year. After all, having the Rolling Stones, Madonna, and Sharukh Khan on the red carpet and bestowing the ...
Vaclav Havel presents his own prize to “Total Denial” at the One World Int’l Human Rights FestivalMilena Kaneva’s feature documentary, “Total Denial” has been awarded the Vaclav Havel humanitarian award in Prague, presented by the poet, playwright and former president of the Czech Republic himself. “Total Denial” tells the story of Ka Hsaw and his ongoing struggle to save the Karen tribes people of Burma. Great cultures have always been built on the backs of slaves. Unfortunatel...
From November 16 to 23 November, the 2nd edition of the ONE WORLD BERLIN Human Rights Media Festival will take place. ONE WORLD BERLIN is the partner festival of the One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival in Prague that took place for the 7th time under the auspices of Václav Havel. ONE WORLD BERLIN is organized by Haus der Demokratie und Menschenrechte and EYZ Kino.The Turkish film Oyun (The Play) by Pelin Esmer will open the festival on November 16 at Casino in Bethani...
"THE PEACEKEEPERS",WINNER OF THE VACLAV HAVEL SPECIAL AWARD,OPENED THE 7TH EDITION OF ONE WORLD The Opening Ceremony of the 7th Annual One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival took place on Wednesday, April 27th, 2005 in the large auditorium of Prague's Municipal Library. Within the framework of the opening evening, Paul Cowan´s documentary "The Peacekeepers" will be awarded with the Václav Havel Special Award. From the beginning of the One World festival, Václav Havel...
Some of KVIFF 04 A-list visitorsThis year was no exception and Karlovy Vary’s Grand Hotel welcomed again many film industry A-listers for the International Film Festival. Among them was Taxi Driver, Pulp Fiction and Thelma and Louise star Harvey Keitel, the world’s favourite little hobbit Elijah Wood, Monty Python’s most memorable, John Cleese and many others. Prominent Czech political figures visited the festival too such as president Vaclav KLAUS, and former president Vaclav Havel. Harv...
International PEN (London) and One World Human Rights Film Festival (Prague)Fourteen Nobel Literature Laureates are joining Vaclav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic and renowned playwright, and Jiri Grusa, acclaimed Czech writer and President of International PEN to urge Senior General Than Shwe of the Burmese Military Junta to immediately release Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other imprisoned Burmese writers. Burmese writers serving long sentences include 74-year-old...
