Plzeň announces prize-winners and promising projects

by Theodore Schwinke

26/04/2010 - Jan Hřebejk received his third Golden Kingfisher April 24, at the conclusion of the 23rd Finale festival of Czech film in Plzeň, where Kawasaki's Rose [trailer] was named Best Feature Film. The film, about a scientist who is accused of having collaborated with the secret police under communism, also received the Audience Award for Best Film.

Czech director Maria Procházková chaired the international feature jury of Alissa Simon (Palm Springs International Film Festival), Sasha Wieser (EastWest Film Distribution), Hungarian director Csaba Bollók and Romanian filmmaker Doru Nitescu.

Radim Špaček's film Walking Too Fast [trailer, film focus] received a Special Award for its depiction of Normalization Czechoslovakia. Ondřej Malý received the Audience Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of a character who personified the mindless brutality of the police state.

Among documentaries in competition, Pavel Kolaja's Land of Destiny received the Golden Kingfisher while Karel Žalud's Phantom of Liberty II received a Special Award.

The Association of Czech Film Clubs (ACFK) honored Marek Najbrt's Protektor with its award for Best Czech Feature. Lukáš Přibyl's Forgotten Transports to Poland received the ACFK award for Best Czech Documentary.

Also during the Plzeň festival, the Czech Film Center presented a new catalogue of upcoming films, several of which were introduced by the producers. Among projects in development are 1938½ by Petr Zelenka (The Karamazovs [trailer]), My Dog Killer by Mira Fornay (Foxes) and Leaving, Václav Havel's film debut.

In production are Jan Němec's Heart Beat, co-written with Havel; Alice Nellis' Lidice; and Ondřej Trojan's The ID. Tomáš Luňák's Alois Nebel, Jan Svěrák's Kooky and Jan Švankmajer's Surviving Life are all in post-production.