26-10-2015

Czech Television Docs Head to Cinemas

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    PRAGUE: Former Czechoslovak intelligence agent, foodblogger, refugees at the Macedonian border, revival bands, Generation Y, and children from educational institutions. These are just some of the protagonists of the forthcoming Czech Television documentaries which will be released in cinemas.

    "Documentary is at the moment one of the most progressive genres, which can much more quickly than other traditional formats respond to current changes in society, art, but also technology. I see it therefore as an essential part of production of Czech Television - currently the biggest producer and co-producer of documentaries in the Czech Republic. This year, twenty of Czech TV´s co-production documentaries will have a theatrical release," says Petr Dvorak, Managing Director of Czech Television, adding, "Upcoming films reflect various themes, from different perspectives in various forms. What they have in common is a commitment to quality and a desire to communicate something new. "

    One of the new formats is represented by international cross-media project Generation What?, from several European public service televisions associated with the EBU. This project, headed by Ivana Pauerová, combines extensive sociological research with a picture of young people belonging to the so-called Generation Y and maps the phenomenon across the European region.

    Reaching outside of the Czech Republic, several films respond to the latest challenges that currently make Europe move. Russian-Ukrainian conflict is reflected in Next Station Hope, the fate of Middle East refugees is the theme of Near Dusk and Refugees in Front of the Fortress Europe. An exceptional Czech-German-Russian co-production documentary In the Sunlight by Vitalij Manskij shows propaganda practices of the North Korean regime.

    Czech Television is also involved in documentaries which often reflect controversial or previously taboo topics. Rino by Jakub Wagner tells the story of a former agent of the Czechoslovak intelligence, the documentary Love Me by Dagmar Smržová opens the topic of sexual assistance and Virus by Eva Tomanová follows the fate of a successful woman who falls for a marriage swindler thirteen years younger and becomes infected with HIV.