As a season of the Czech director’s remarkable Seven Up-style documentaries comes to a streaming channel, she talks about filming under communism, funding projects that take decades to complete and forging relationships with unruly protagonists
Over the course of a 40-year career making documentaries that shook the Czech Republic – but have gone largely unnoticed outside her native country – film-maker Helena Třeštíková has set one international record that is hard to dispute: she is likely to be the only director in world cinema who was robbed by her own protagonist.
In 1992, while working on one of her trademark long-term “time-lapse documentaries” about juvenile delinquent René Plášil, she had to travel to Germany for work and packed off her husband and their two children to the countryside for the weekend. René somehow got wind of the apartment being empty, broke down the triple-locked door and made off with all the electrical hardware,...
Over the course of a 40-year career making documentaries that shook the Czech Republic – but have gone largely unnoticed outside her native country – film-maker Helena Třeštíková has set one international record that is hard to dispute: she is likely to be the only director in world cinema who was robbed by her own protagonist.
In 1992, while working on one of her trademark long-term “time-lapse documentaries” about juvenile delinquent René Plášil, she had to travel to Germany for work and packed off her husband and their two children to the countryside for the weekend. René somehow got wind of the apartment being empty, broke down the triple-locked door and made off with all the electrical hardware,...
- 10/23/2023
- by Philip Oltermann
- The Guardian - Film News
Helena Třeštíková’s film is a strange sequel to her 2008 portrait of a Czech career felon and his popular notoriety that she helped create
Shot over the course of 20 years, Helena Třeštíková’s 2008 film René followed the near continuous prison stints of her charismatic subject; these happened in parallel with the colossal political changes that took place in the Czech Republic towards the end of the 20th century. Conceived as a sequel to this milestone work, René: The Prisoner of Freedom is another long-term project which charts not just the dehumanising cycle of incarceration, but also the trappings of accidental fame.
Beginning with scenes showing the jam-packed premiere of the earlier documentary, which turned René into an unlikely celebrity for Czech audiences, Třeštíková’s new film observes how notoriety does not always translate into economic stability. Struggling to make ends meet, René took on various odd jobs, including as a...
Shot over the course of 20 years, Helena Třeštíková’s 2008 film René followed the near continuous prison stints of her charismatic subject; these happened in parallel with the colossal political changes that took place in the Czech Republic towards the end of the 20th century. Conceived as a sequel to this milestone work, René: The Prisoner of Freedom is another long-term project which charts not just the dehumanising cycle of incarceration, but also the trappings of accidental fame.
Beginning with scenes showing the jam-packed premiere of the earlier documentary, which turned René into an unlikely celebrity for Czech audiences, Třeštíková’s new film observes how notoriety does not always translate into economic stability. Struggling to make ends meet, René took on various odd jobs, including as a...
- 10/16/2023
- by Phuong Le
- The Guardian - Film News
Ukrainian documentary “Dad’s Lullaby” and Romania’s “Between Revolutions” won the Docu Talent Awards, chosen from a field of nine documentary features from Central and Eastern Europe, at the Sarajevo Film Festival on Monday.
The Docu Talent Award for the most promising project went to “Dad’s Lullaby”, directed and produced by Lesia Diak. It tells the story of a Ukrainian veteran who returns home burnt out and traumatized from war but hoping to find peace for himself and his family. The jury described it as “a heartfelt depiction of a life under impossible circumstances,” adding: “Such a personal story is a valuable way to understand the scars of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.”
The DAFilms.com Distribution Award, which covers international VOD release for two years on DAFilms.com, went to “Between Revolutions”, which is directed by Vlad Petri and produced by Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan. The archive-constructed film tells...
The Docu Talent Award for the most promising project went to “Dad’s Lullaby”, directed and produced by Lesia Diak. It tells the story of a Ukrainian veteran who returns home burnt out and traumatized from war but hoping to find peace for himself and his family. The jury described it as “a heartfelt depiction of a life under impossible circumstances,” adding: “Such a personal story is a valuable way to understand the scars of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.”
The DAFilms.com Distribution Award, which covers international VOD release for two years on DAFilms.com, went to “Between Revolutions”, which is directed by Vlad Petri and produced by Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan. The archive-constructed film tells...
- 8/16/2022
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Most selections are North American, Us premieres.
Polish and Dutch Oscar submissions Corpus Christi and Instinct are among the international competition line-ups announced by the 55th Chicago International Film Festival on Monday (16).
Most of the films screening in the festival’s international sections are North American and Us premieres and have already been selected to represent their country in the Academy’s best international feature film race. They include Our Mothers (Belgium), and Spider (Chile).
Several of last year’s festival selections represent their countries this season, among them Aga (Bulgaria), Joy (Austria), Dear Son (Tunisia) and Wolkenbruch’s Wondrous...
Polish and Dutch Oscar submissions Corpus Christi and Instinct are among the international competition line-ups announced by the 55th Chicago International Film Festival on Monday (16).
Most of the films screening in the festival’s international sections are North American and Us premieres and have already been selected to represent their country in the Academy’s best international feature film race. They include Our Mothers (Belgium), and Spider (Chile).
Several of last year’s festival selections represent their countries this season, among them Aga (Bulgaria), Joy (Austria), Dear Son (Tunisia) and Wolkenbruch’s Wondrous...
- 9/16/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
★★★☆☆ Czech filmmaker Helena Trestíková is one of the leading exponents of what she refers to as "time collecting" cinema. It is the kind of thoughtful, ruminatory documentary that explores a story over a protracted period, its the non-fiction answer to Richard Linklater's Boyhood, made famous by Michael Apted's Up series and recently utilised to startling effect by Polish director Hanna Polak in her tale of a young girl growing up in a Russian rubbish dump, Something Better to Come.
- 6/27/2016
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
I love Paul Driessen. Very long ago (1977!) when I was head of acquisitions and international sales for the Santa Monica based short film distributor Pyramid Films, we had Paul Driessen's wonderful short animation, The Killing of an Egg (02'50 / Holland 1977). We sold it to businesses who were holding meetings for inspiring sales, bolstering morale, to schools and libraries. It became one of our best selling shorts. In 2000 he was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Short 3 Misses.
And now the Dragon of Dragons Award, the award for life achievement granted annually by the 53rd Krakow Film Festival to be held May 26 to June 2, 2013, goes to the Dutch-Canadian animator Paul Driessen.
The Krakow Film Festival is one of the oldest film events dedicated to documentary, animated and short fiction films in Europe. Among previous winners there are such well-known artists as Kazimierz Karabasz, Allan King, Albert Maysles, Werner Herzog, Stephen and Timothy Quay, Raoul Servais, Jerzy Kucia and Jonas Mekas. Last year, for the first time a woman - Helena Trestíková, the author of the famous documentary Rene, become a laureate.
Paul Driessen was born in 1940, in Nijmegen, in the Netherlands. He drew cartoons from an early age, in 1964 he graduated from the Art Academy in Utrecht and was offered a job as an animator at a commercial animation film & TV studio in Hilversum, near Amsterdam. In 1967 he was invited by George Dunning to work on his Beatles’ story “The Yellow Submarine”, which now is considered a forerunner for modern intertextual animations for adults like “Shrek”, “Futurama”, “South Park” or “The Simpsons”.
In 1970 Paul Driessen emigrated to Canada and started a freelance animation career, working mainly for the National Film Board of Canada. Since 1976 he also animated and directed many of his films for independent producers in The Netherlands. Driessen's unique style can be easily recognised by the incessantly wobbling lines and smooth movements of his characters. As a narrator he often uses split screen technique, while keeping the story integrated.
In the 1980s Driessen started teaching animation at the University of Kassel, Germany, after Jan Lenica. He continued till 2005 and under his guidance two of his student's films, "Balance" (1989) by Christoph and Wolfgang Lauenstein, and “Quest” (1996) by Tyron Montgomery and Thomas Stellmach, won Academy Awards.
Paul Driessen has won over 50 international awards for his work. He was honored with life achievement awards at the animated film festivals in Ottawa (1984) and Zagreb (2002), in 1987 Asifa Hollywood presented the Annie Award to him for "his distinguished contribution to the art of animation". In 2005 he was given the Special Golden Dinosaur Award at the Etiuda & Anima Film Festival in Krakow. In 2000 his short film, interlocking three tales of damsels in distress, “3 Misses” earned him an Oscar nomination.
Lately he wrote and illustrated a couple of books - “The Fiddle Fumble Stories” series, typical of the style which characterizes the rest of his work. Paul Driessen is currently working on a new animated short, a coproduction between Canada and The Netherlands.
Paul Driessen Website
Filmography:
“The Story of Little John Bailey” (6', The Netherlands 1970)
“Le Bleu Perdu” (7', Canada 1972)
“Air!” (02'00 / Canada 1972)
“Au bout du Fil” (“Cat's Cradle”) (10', Canada 1974)
“Une Vieille Boîte” (“An Old Box”) (9', Canada 1975)
“David” (7', The Netherlands 1977)
“The Killing of an Egg” (2', The Netherlands 1977)
“On Land, at Sea & in the Air” (10', The Netherlands 1980)
“Jeu de Coudes” (“Elbowing”) (6', Canada 1980)
“Home on the Rails” (“Treinhuisje”) (10', The Netherlands 1981)
“Une Histoire comme une Autre” (“The Same Old Story”) (3', Canada 1981)
“Oh what a Knight” (3', The Netherlands 1982
“Spotting a Cow” (“Het Scheppen van een Koe”) (6', The Netherlands 1983)
“Tip-Top” (7', Canada 1984)
“Sunny Side Up” (“Spiegeleiland”) (3', The Netherlands 1985)
“Traingang” (1'), “Getting There” (1') (Expo Vancouver, Canada 1986)
“The Writer” (“De Schrijver en de Dood”) (12', The Netherlands 1988)
“Uncles & Aunts #1” (2', The Netherlands 1989)
“The Water People” (24’ & 13', The Netherlands-Japan 1992)
“Uncles & Aunts #3” (3', The Netherlands 1992)
“The End of the World in 4 Seasons” (12', Canada 1995)
3 Misses (10', The Netherlands 2000)
“The Boy who saw the Iceberg” (12', Canada 2000)
“2D or not 2D” (17', Canada-The Netherlands 2004)
“2D or not 2D -The ShortCut” (12', Canada-The Netherlands 2004)
“Oedipus” (13', Canada-The Netherlands 2011)
Participation:
“The Yellow Submarine” (feature length / Tvc, UK 1969)
“Tiki-Tiki” (feature length / Potterton Productions, Canada 1970)
“The Happy Prince” (27', Potterton Productions, Canada 1974)
“Le Rejeton” (12', Onf, Canada 1977)
“Anijam” (15', International Rocketship, Canada 1985)
“Elephantrio” (9', Nfb, Src, Canada 1986)
“Candyjam” (6', J. Priestly, Canada 1988)
“Pink Komkommer” (11', International Rocketship, Canada 1991)
“Paul Driessen Inside-Out” (52', Documentary, The Netherlands 2002)
“The 7 Brothers” (12', Kaj & Paul Driessen / CinéTé, The Netherlands 2008)
Kff on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/krakowfilmfest
Kff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/krakowfilmfest
Kff on Blip: http://krakowfilmfestival.blip.pl/...
And now the Dragon of Dragons Award, the award for life achievement granted annually by the 53rd Krakow Film Festival to be held May 26 to June 2, 2013, goes to the Dutch-Canadian animator Paul Driessen.
The Krakow Film Festival is one of the oldest film events dedicated to documentary, animated and short fiction films in Europe. Among previous winners there are such well-known artists as Kazimierz Karabasz, Allan King, Albert Maysles, Werner Herzog, Stephen and Timothy Quay, Raoul Servais, Jerzy Kucia and Jonas Mekas. Last year, for the first time a woman - Helena Trestíková, the author of the famous documentary Rene, become a laureate.
Paul Driessen was born in 1940, in Nijmegen, in the Netherlands. He drew cartoons from an early age, in 1964 he graduated from the Art Academy in Utrecht and was offered a job as an animator at a commercial animation film & TV studio in Hilversum, near Amsterdam. In 1967 he was invited by George Dunning to work on his Beatles’ story “The Yellow Submarine”, which now is considered a forerunner for modern intertextual animations for adults like “Shrek”, “Futurama”, “South Park” or “The Simpsons”.
In 1970 Paul Driessen emigrated to Canada and started a freelance animation career, working mainly for the National Film Board of Canada. Since 1976 he also animated and directed many of his films for independent producers in The Netherlands. Driessen's unique style can be easily recognised by the incessantly wobbling lines and smooth movements of his characters. As a narrator he often uses split screen technique, while keeping the story integrated.
In the 1980s Driessen started teaching animation at the University of Kassel, Germany, after Jan Lenica. He continued till 2005 and under his guidance two of his student's films, "Balance" (1989) by Christoph and Wolfgang Lauenstein, and “Quest” (1996) by Tyron Montgomery and Thomas Stellmach, won Academy Awards.
Paul Driessen has won over 50 international awards for his work. He was honored with life achievement awards at the animated film festivals in Ottawa (1984) and Zagreb (2002), in 1987 Asifa Hollywood presented the Annie Award to him for "his distinguished contribution to the art of animation". In 2005 he was given the Special Golden Dinosaur Award at the Etiuda & Anima Film Festival in Krakow. In 2000 his short film, interlocking three tales of damsels in distress, “3 Misses” earned him an Oscar nomination.
Lately he wrote and illustrated a couple of books - “The Fiddle Fumble Stories” series, typical of the style which characterizes the rest of his work. Paul Driessen is currently working on a new animated short, a coproduction between Canada and The Netherlands.
Paul Driessen Website
Filmography:
“The Story of Little John Bailey” (6', The Netherlands 1970)
“Le Bleu Perdu” (7', Canada 1972)
“Air!” (02'00 / Canada 1972)
“Au bout du Fil” (“Cat's Cradle”) (10', Canada 1974)
“Une Vieille Boîte” (“An Old Box”) (9', Canada 1975)
“David” (7', The Netherlands 1977)
“The Killing of an Egg” (2', The Netherlands 1977)
“On Land, at Sea & in the Air” (10', The Netherlands 1980)
“Jeu de Coudes” (“Elbowing”) (6', Canada 1980)
“Home on the Rails” (“Treinhuisje”) (10', The Netherlands 1981)
“Une Histoire comme une Autre” (“The Same Old Story”) (3', Canada 1981)
“Oh what a Knight” (3', The Netherlands 1982
“Spotting a Cow” (“Het Scheppen van een Koe”) (6', The Netherlands 1983)
“Tip-Top” (7', Canada 1984)
“Sunny Side Up” (“Spiegeleiland”) (3', The Netherlands 1985)
“Traingang” (1'), “Getting There” (1') (Expo Vancouver, Canada 1986)
“The Writer” (“De Schrijver en de Dood”) (12', The Netherlands 1988)
“Uncles & Aunts #1” (2', The Netherlands 1989)
“The Water People” (24’ & 13', The Netherlands-Japan 1992)
“Uncles & Aunts #3” (3', The Netherlands 1992)
“The End of the World in 4 Seasons” (12', Canada 1995)
3 Misses (10', The Netherlands 2000)
“The Boy who saw the Iceberg” (12', Canada 2000)
“2D or not 2D” (17', Canada-The Netherlands 2004)
“2D or not 2D -The ShortCut” (12', Canada-The Netherlands 2004)
“Oedipus” (13', Canada-The Netherlands 2011)
Participation:
“The Yellow Submarine” (feature length / Tvc, UK 1969)
“Tiki-Tiki” (feature length / Potterton Productions, Canada 1970)
“The Happy Prince” (27', Potterton Productions, Canada 1974)
“Le Rejeton” (12', Onf, Canada 1977)
“Anijam” (15', International Rocketship, Canada 1985)
“Elephantrio” (9', Nfb, Src, Canada 1986)
“Candyjam” (6', J. Priestly, Canada 1988)
“Pink Komkommer” (11', International Rocketship, Canada 1991)
“Paul Driessen Inside-Out” (52', Documentary, The Netherlands 2002)
“The 7 Brothers” (12', Kaj & Paul Driessen / CinéTé, The Netherlands 2008)
Kff on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/krakowfilmfest
Kff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/krakowfilmfest
Kff on Blip: http://krakowfilmfestival.blip.pl/...
- 4/8/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
HeyUGuys brings you the latest in World Cinema film trailers in association with Film Dates UK.
Each week we’ll be showcasing some of most anticipated foreign releases as well as highlighting a few hidden gems which may have fallen off your radar. It’s no surprise that Hollywood has turned to World Cinema for inspiration in recent years with the number of remakes getting more and more popular.
Whilst it remains to be seen how many of these remakes go on to succeed or stay true to their original story counterparts, we decided it was high-time we turned the spotlight onto the next wave of foreign films to grace our screens.
This week we have 7 new trailers for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
Au Revoir Taipei (Yi ye Taibei) UK Cinema Release Date: Sunday 13th March 2011
Synopsis: A love story takes place over the course of one evening in Taipei.
Each week we’ll be showcasing some of most anticipated foreign releases as well as highlighting a few hidden gems which may have fallen off your radar. It’s no surprise that Hollywood has turned to World Cinema for inspiration in recent years with the number of remakes getting more and more popular.
Whilst it remains to be seen how many of these remakes go on to succeed or stay true to their original story counterparts, we decided it was high-time we turned the spotlight onto the next wave of foreign films to grace our screens.
This week we have 7 new trailers for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
Au Revoir Taipei (Yi ye Taibei) UK Cinema Release Date: Sunday 13th March 2011
Synopsis: A love story takes place over the course of one evening in Taipei.
- 3/8/2011
- by Andy Petrou
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
I'm glad that the organization, (now in year three I believe?) has a set in stone manner in which to evaluate the best of the best in doc films, something in which the Oscars have proved to be inadequate in acknowledging. - Having never asked any filmmaker the question of how the Cinema Eye Honors are perceived within the documentary filmmaker community, I'd be willing to bet that its quickly become a welcomed, annual celebration of the form. I'm glad that the organization, (now in year three I believe?) has a set in stone manner in which to evaluate the best of the best in doc films, something in which the Oscars have proved to be inadequate in acknowledging. The cut-off point appears to be before this year's Tiff, which means a doc like Chris Smith's Collapse, which only receives its theatrical release in November, won't make the cut until next year,...
- 12/13/2009
- by Ioncinema.com Staff
- IONCINEMA.com
The European Film Academy have announced the documentary film titles nominations and out of the ten mostly unknown titles we find a pair of exceptions in Burma VJ (which received some solid buzz at Sundance) and The Beaches of Agnes... - The European Film Academy have announced the documentary film titles nominations and out of the ten mostly unknown titles we find a pair of exceptions in Burma VJ (which received some solid buzz at Sundance) and The Beaches of Agnes (which received a film festival red carpet treatment and was shown at the Film Forum this summer). Previous winners of Prix Arte award include: last year's Helena Trestikova's Rene (read here) and 2007 the prize went to Rithy Panh's Paper cannot Wrap up Embers. The winner will be announced on the 12th of December. The Beaches Of Agnes - Agnès Varda, France Below Sea Level - Gianfranco Rosi,...
- 12/13/2009
- by Ioncinema.com Staff
- IONCINEMA.com
The European Film Academy has announced the nominations for the 2009 European Film Award “Prix Arte” for Best Documentary. A total of ten documentary films are nominated. This year’s documentary jury will now convene in the Vilnius, Lithuania to screen the nominated films and decide on the winner, which will be announced at the 22nd European Film Awards on December 12, 2009. Last year, Helena Trestikova’s “Rene” beat out James Marsh’s …...
- 10/8/2009
- Indiewire
A scene from Gomorrah
Photo: IFC Films I have yet to see the Italian Mafia feature Gomorrah, but since the film won the Grand Prix in Cannes it has been earning plenty of buzz on its way to the States and along with becoming the front runner in the Best Foreign Language Feature category it has also earned some recognition in other categories including Best Adapted Screenplay and things just improved for the feature, which will begin its Oscar-qualifying run this week in Los Angeles and then expand on December 19. Over the weekend Gomorrah took home five awards at the European Film Awards which were held in Copenhagen on Saturday. The film won for Picture, Director (Matteo Garrone), Actor (Toni Servillo), Screenplay (Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso, Roberto Saviano) and Cinematography (Marco Onorato), which is sure to open Academy voters' eyes. Kristin Scott Thomas...
Photo: IFC Films I have yet to see the Italian Mafia feature Gomorrah, but since the film won the Grand Prix in Cannes it has been earning plenty of buzz on its way to the States and along with becoming the front runner in the Best Foreign Language Feature category it has also earned some recognition in other categories including Best Adapted Screenplay and things just improved for the feature, which will begin its Oscar-qualifying run this week in Los Angeles and then expand on December 19. Over the weekend Gomorrah took home five awards at the European Film Awards which were held in Copenhagen on Saturday. The film won for Picture, Director (Matteo Garrone), Actor (Toni Servillo), Screenplay (Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso, Roberto Saviano) and Cinematography (Marco Onorato), which is sure to open Academy voters' eyes. Kristin Scott Thomas...
- 12/7/2008
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Cologne, Germany -- "Gomorra," Matteo Garrone's no-holds-barred look at the modern-day Italian mafia, whacked the competition at the 2008 European Film Awards, sweeping the top categories with five trophies including best European film and best European director.
Based on the nonfiction bestseller by Roberto Saviano, "Gomorra" shines a light on the dark underside of the Neapolitan mob. It debuted in Cannes, where it won the Grand Prix and is Italy's nominee for the 2009 foreign-language film Oscar.
Toni Servillo won best European actor for his portrayal of the dapper crime boss Franco, in charge of the lucrative business of disposing of toxic waste in picturesque farmland across the country.
Garrone and Saviano, along with a screenwriting team that included Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio and Massimo Gaudioso, won the Efa screenplay prize, and Marco Onorato took the best cinematographer nod.
Kristin Scott Thomas won best European actress for her...
Based on the nonfiction bestseller by Roberto Saviano, "Gomorra" shines a light on the dark underside of the Neapolitan mob. It debuted in Cannes, where it won the Grand Prix and is Italy's nominee for the 2009 foreign-language film Oscar.
Toni Servillo won best European actor for his portrayal of the dapper crime boss Franco, in charge of the lucrative business of disposing of toxic waste in picturesque farmland across the country.
Garrone and Saviano, along with a screenwriting team that included Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio and Massimo Gaudioso, won the Efa screenplay prize, and Marco Onorato took the best cinematographer nod.
Kristin Scott Thomas won best European actress for her...
- 12/7/2008
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- Gomorra put some lead into the competition at the 21st edition of the European Film Awards grabbing the event’s top prizes: Best European Film, Director, Actor, Screenwriter and Cinematographer of the year. Kristin Scott Thomas further confirmed that she’ll be an Oscar-nominated actress for her role in I've Loved You So Long. Here is the complete list of winners below. European Film 2008Gomorra (Gomorrah)directed by Matteo Garronewritten by Maurizio Bracci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone,Massimo Gaudioso & Roberto Savianoproduced by Fandango, Rai Cinema European Director 2008Matteo Garrone for Gomorra (Gomorrah) European Actor 2008Toni Servillo in Gomorra (Gomorrah) and Il Divo European Actress 2008Kristin Scott Thomas in Il Y A Longtemps Que Je T'aime (I've Loved You SoLong) European Screenwriter 2008Maurizio Braucci, Gianni di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, MassimoGaudioso & Roberto Saviano for Gomorra (Gomorrah) Carlo Di Palma European Cinematographer Award 2008Marco Onorato for Gomorra (Gomorrah) European
- 12/6/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
- Last week The European Film Academy announced the ten finalists for the category of european documentary film of the year (see complete list below) and today they've announced that the big winner is Helena Trestikova's RENÉ. The docu receives the 2008 Documentary Prix Arte award discerned by the Academy. The jury statement reads as follows: This is a film which tells a powerful story – filmed over 20 years – about an extraordinary character on the edge of society. It is a longitual documentary of outstanding quality. The jury found its examination of the relationship between subject and filmmakerfascinating and thought-provoking. Known for shooting her subjects for long periods of time, Trestikova began shooting her subject in 1989 at a youth correctional facility in Libkovice. René has been in prison since he was 16. While in custody, he and several others attempted a riot, which extended his sentence. History repeats itself in and out
- 10/21/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
Cologne, Germany -- Politics, big and small, are the themes running through this year's nominees for the Prix Arte -- the European Film Academy's best documentary award.
Political films of all stripes will be in the running for Europe's top docu prize, from resurgent Russian nationalism in Mikhail Morozov's "Durakovo -- Village of Fools" to African dictatorship in Klaarte Quirijns' "The Dictator Hunter"; from a private look at the former Czech president in Pavel Kotecky and Miroslav Janek's "Citizen Havel" to "Shadow of the Holy Book," Arto Halonen's comic criticism of crony capitalism.
Other nominees include "Children. As Times Flies," Thomas Heise's picture of social deprivation in eastern Germany; "Rene," a 20 years-in-the-making portrait of a petty criminal from Czech director Helena Trestikova; and "The Mother," Antoine Cattin and Pavel Kostomarov's look at a woman raising her family on a Russian farm away from her violent husband.
Political films of all stripes will be in the running for Europe's top docu prize, from resurgent Russian nationalism in Mikhail Morozov's "Durakovo -- Village of Fools" to African dictatorship in Klaarte Quirijns' "The Dictator Hunter"; from a private look at the former Czech president in Pavel Kotecky and Miroslav Janek's "Citizen Havel" to "Shadow of the Holy Book," Arto Halonen's comic criticism of crony capitalism.
Other nominees include "Children. As Times Flies," Thomas Heise's picture of social deprivation in eastern Germany; "Rene," a 20 years-in-the-making portrait of a petty criminal from Czech director Helena Trestikova; and "The Mother," Antoine Cattin and Pavel Kostomarov's look at a woman raising her family on a Russian farm away from her violent husband.
- 10/16/2008
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- The Czech Republic's new culture minister, Vaclav Jehlicka, is backing proposals to merge public service broadcasters Czech Television and Czech Radio.
Jehlicka said Sunday that a single organization will have greater power to negotiate rights to broadcast popular subjects such as sporting events.
A member of the right-of-center Christian Democrats, Jehlicka was appointed Saturday after the sudden resignation of documentary filmmaker Helena Trestikova, who had been in office just two weeks.
His comments on a Czech Television political show followed a suggestion made by Vitezslav Jandak of the opposition Social Democrat party.
Jandak -- a former culture minister who once headed the Zlin youth film festival -- said a merger will significantly cut the costs of the broadcasters, which are currently supported both by advertising and a license fee.
"It would at least reduce their spending on Czech post office services by half," Jandak said.
The new culture minister agreed, adding, "His arguments are similar to mine."
Czech Television and Czech Radio said the idea was not new and will need extensive consultations if it is to work.
Jehlicka said Sunday that a single organization will have greater power to negotiate rights to broadcast popular subjects such as sporting events.
A member of the right-of-center Christian Democrats, Jehlicka was appointed Saturday after the sudden resignation of documentary filmmaker Helena Trestikova, who had been in office just two weeks.
His comments on a Czech Television political show followed a suggestion made by Vitezslav Jandak of the opposition Social Democrat party.
Jandak -- a former culture minister who once headed the Zlin youth film festival -- said a merger will significantly cut the costs of the broadcasters, which are currently supported both by advertising and a license fee.
"It would at least reduce their spending on Czech post office services by half," Jandak said.
The new culture minister agreed, adding, "His arguments are similar to mine."
Czech Television and Czech Radio said the idea was not new and will need extensive consultations if it is to work.
- 1/29/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MOSCOW -- Filmmaker Helena Trestikova is poised to become the Czech Republic's new culture minister.
Trestikova, 57, will replace former culture chief Cyril Svoboda after center-right party the Christian Democrats proposed her as part of a last-minute political deal to create a new cabinet in premier Mirek Topolanek's government.
President Vaclav Klaus is expected to confirm the new 18-member cabinet next week following six months of political deadlock after June's hung parliamentary elections in the Central European country.
Trestikova, famed for her documentary films about the relationships of six married couples, which she began shooting in 1981, is politically independent and known as a strong film industry advocate.
A popular choice among filmmakers and producers, she is one of the three spokespersons of the new Czech Film Board that was established in November to unify different interest groups following the collapse of a long-fought-for film law in May.
The law -- which would have provided an annual injection of about $15 million for Czech filmmakers through a levy on television and film advertising, ticket sales and other sources -- was vetoed by President Klaus, who opposed what he saw as public subsidies for a private industry.
Trestikova, 57, will replace former culture chief Cyril Svoboda after center-right party the Christian Democrats proposed her as part of a last-minute political deal to create a new cabinet in premier Mirek Topolanek's government.
President Vaclav Klaus is expected to confirm the new 18-member cabinet next week following six months of political deadlock after June's hung parliamentary elections in the Central European country.
Trestikova, famed for her documentary films about the relationships of six married couples, which she began shooting in 1981, is politically independent and known as a strong film industry advocate.
A popular choice among filmmakers and producers, she is one of the three spokespersons of the new Czech Film Board that was established in November to unify different interest groups following the collapse of a long-fought-for film law in May.
The law -- which would have provided an annual injection of about $15 million for Czech filmmakers through a levy on television and film advertising, ticket sales and other sources -- was vetoed by President Klaus, who opposed what he saw as public subsidies for a private industry.
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