Czech Film Centre promotes Czech cinematography at Berlinale

The 54th Berlin International Film Festival, the Berlinale, is currently underway in the German capital. Dita Asiedu spoke to Jana Cernik from the Czech Film Centre early on Monday morning, to find out how the centre is promoting Czech cinematography at the festival this year:

Czech Film Centre promotes Czech cinematography at Berlinale

Faithless Games

"This year, we've programmed three events for Berlin. The first one took place on Friday, a panel discussion about Czech film today from the perspective of women directors, which was successful. Yesterday we gave an invitation for a glass of wine on the occasion of two screenings on the market. Today we have a welcoming of the Czech Film Centre and the Film Commission, which was newly established in January."

What Czech productions are actually being screened or introduced at the festival?

King of Thieves

"Unfortunately, we weren't very lucky this year. There is no Czech film in the programme - only one minor Czech-Polish co-production. But we have three screenings in the market. The first is Faithless Games by Michaela Pavlatova, which won a special mention at San Sebastian ..."

...it's her first feature film, isn't it?

"Yes exactly. The second film was the Czech 2003 box office Pupendo. Then there was a third screening, also a co-production, called the King of Thieves, which is the new film of Ivan Fila."

You've been surrounded by film professionals and have seen different countries being represented at the Berlinale. How significant, or how much of a role do you think will Czech filmmaking or cinematography play on the European film scene in the future?

Pupendo

"There is an image, which Czech film has but this image is still from the sixties. On the other hand, there is a huge potential. As we have seen, in the last ten years we enjoyed three Oscar nominations and one Oscar winner. However, at the same time, there is a paradox regarding production possibilities in the Czech Republic. So, if this won't change in the future, if Czech film won't have enough state support to produce films, then I think Czech film is really in danger."

I guess that is why the Czech Film Commission was set up, so let's hope it will be successful.

"Just to add one more interesting thing. There is a co-operation, which was set up by Zentropa, which is the production company of Lars von Trier, and ARTE, a German-French broadcaster. They are producing short films with the new [EU] member states. Of each country, there is one film director and from the Czech Republic, there will be Sasa Gedeon and I think this a very interesting and important project to spread the diversity of Czech filmmakers today."

And in the Arts next week, join Dita when she takes a closer look at the Film Commission that was recently established to help make the Czech Republic an attractive place for local and foreign filmmaking.