Czech Film Center is heading to the Toronto International Film Festival 2019. We’ll be based at the EFP Europe! Umbrella No. 24 at TIFF Industry Centre at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

If you would like to meet with us and get some information about Czech film industry, please come and say hello during the working hours of the Czech Film Center at the EFP Europe! Umbrella stand:

SAT 09/07 | 15:00 - 17:00
SUN 09/08 | 11:00 - 13:00
MON 09/09 | 13:30 - 15:30

Looking forward to meeting you!

Czech films at Toronto IFF 2019

THE PAINTED BIRD

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Czech Republic, Ukraine, Slovakia 2019 / 169 min
Directed by: Václav Marhoul
Produced by: Václav Marhoul / Silver Screen (CZ)
Co-produced by: Directory Films (UA), PubRes (SK), Czech Television (CZ), Radio and Television Slovakia (SK), Jaroslav & Milada Kučerovi (CZ), Innogy (CZ), Richard Kaucký (CZ)
Cast: Petr Kotlár, Harvey Keitel, Stellan Skarsgaard, Udo Kier, Julian Sands, Barry Pepper, Jitka Čvančarová... (full list)

The film follows the journey of The Boy, entrusted by his persecuted parents to an elderly foster mother. The old woman soon dies and the Boy is on his own, wandering through the country-side, from village to farmhouse. As he struggles for survival, The Boy suffers through extraordinary brutality meted out by the ignorant, superstitious peasants and he witnesses the terrifying violence of the efficient, ruthless soldiers, both Russian and German.

When the war ends, The Boy has been changed, forever.

INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR
TRAILER

SCREENINGS (Press & Industry)
SUN 09/08 | 13:15 | Scotiabank Theatre
TUE 09/10 | 11:45 | Scotiabank Theatre

SCREENINGS
WED 09/11 | 21:30 | TIFF Bell Lightbox
FRI 09/13 | 17:00 | Scotiabank Theatre
SAT 09/14 | 21:00 | Scotiabank Theatre

DAUGHTER

SHORT CUTS
Czech Republic 2019 / 15 min
Directed by: Daria Kashcheeva
Produced by: Zuzana Roháčová / FAMU (CZ)
Co-produced by: MAUR film (CZ)
(full crew)

A girl was hurt as a child and keeps alive the memory of it. She lacked love and empathy from her father and now she is not able to share her feelings with him. She can’t get rid of the painful memories taking her back to when she brought home a little dead bird and her father didn’t support her. Sometimes it's too hard to open your feelings and share it with a close one. Sometimes it's too late. Let your painful memory fly away like a free little bird.

READ MORE ABOUT THE FILM
TRAILER

SCREENINGS (Press & Industry)
MON 09/09 | 09:15 | Scotiabank Theatre

SCREENINGS
SUN 09/08 | 18:30 | Scotiabank Theatre
SAT 09/14 | 18:30 | Scotiabank Theatr

SALES & FESTIVALS
Alexandra Hroncová / FAMU
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THE SLEEPERS

PRIMETIME

CZ 2019 / 120 min
Directed by: Ivan Zachariáš
Produced by: Tereza Polachová, Steve Matthews, Antony Root / HBO Europe

London, October 1989: Married couple Marie and Viktor, who defected from Czechoslovakia under dramatic circumstances 12 years ago, are on their way to Prague. Professional violinist Marie longs to see her family again, Viktor’s motives are less clear. But both anticipate that after the political turmoil in East Germany, Hungary and Poland the winds of change will soon  sweep across Czechoslovakia as well. It doesn’t take long for them to realize that the time hasn’t arrived yet. After an unexpected twist of events, Marie lies unconscious in a hospital, and Viktor has disappeared without a trace. Is he still alive, even? Marie, worried and distressed, ends up alone, in a country she doesn’t understand anymore, and which doesn’t understand her. Gradually she begins to discover that Viktor is still considered an enemy of the state by the communist regime and is caught between competing interests of not one, but several secret services.

TRAILER

SCREENING (Press & Industry)
THU 09/12 | 09:00 | Scotiabank Theatre

SCREENING
FRI 09/13 | 17:30 | TIFF Bell Lightbox

STATE FUNERAL

WAVELENGTHS

NL, LT, CZ 2019 / 135 min
Directed by: Sergei Loznitsa
Produced by: Sergei Loznitsa, Maria Baker-Choustova / Atoms & Void (NL)
Co-produced by: Studio Uljana Kim (LT), nutprodukce (CZ)

Unique, mostly unseen before, archive footage from March 1953, presents the funeral of Joseph Stalin as the culmination of the dictator’s personality cult. The news of Stalin’s death on March 5, 1953, shocked the entire Soviet Union. The burial ceremony was attended by tens of thousands of mourners. We observe every stage of the funeral spectacle, described by Pravda newspaper, as the Great Farewell, and receive an unprecedented access to the dramatic and absurd experience of life and death under Stalin’s reign. The film addresses the issue of Stalin’s personality cult as a form of terror-induced delusion. It gives an insight into the nature of the regime and its legacy, still haunting the contemporary world.

SCREENINGS (Press & Industry)
MON 09/09 | 14:45 | Scotiabank Theatre
FRI 09/13 | 15:00 | Scotiabank Theatre

SCREENINGS
FRI 09/13 | 18:15 | Jackman Hall (AGO)
SAT 09/14 | 12:00 | Jackman Hall (AGO)
SUN 09/15 | 17:30 | Jackman Hall (AGO)

Czechs also participated on another two film that will premiere at TIFF 2019.

Taika Watiti's anti-war satire Jojo Rabbit (World Premiere in Special Presentations), starring Scarlett Johansson and Acadamey Award winner Sam Rockwell, was shot in the Czech Republic in 2018 and was backed by the production incentives programme of the Czech Film Fund with EUR 1,370,498.

In addition, Mahnaz Mohammadi's Iranian drama Son-Mother (World Premiere inDiscovery) was post-produced in the Czech Republic.

CZECH FILM / Fall 2019

In the fall issue of CZECH FILM, we speak with director, scriptwriter and producer Václav Marhoul about his long-awaited feature, The Painted Bird, selected for the main competition of the Venice FF. We also focus on other Czech films in Venice's Official Selection: SH_T HAPPENS and Extase. Then we introduce Petr Zelenka’s new film, a contemporary drama The Pilot, which is currently in production. And we also look at the world-wide success of animated short Daughter.

Czech Film Center operates as a division of the Czech Film Fund

It is obvious what Baltic Wave audiences love best

Now we know what Baltic Wave audiences love best

Baltic Wave audiences have decided on their favorites

Baltic Wave audience made their favorites clear

The traditional international Baltic Wave film festival in Neringa dedicated to promotion of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian films ended on Thursday.

For a second summer in the row, the audiences were invited to vote for the films they liked best. This year documentary Acid Forest (dir. Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė) received the most votes and received Vėtrungė (eng. weathervane) prize founded by Neringa Municipality Council. In the centre of director’s attention – an observation area in Juodkrantė for the breeding grounds of cormorants, to which people flood to observe the dead forest. In the meantime, the people are observed by thousands of birds. The film premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival, and the creator was awarded First Feature Swatch Art Peace Hotel Award. At the Zinebi International Festival of Documentary and Short Film in Spain, the film received the main prize for a full-length debut. Acid Forest was shown at the international film festivals in Italy, Iceland, Greece, Czech Republic, Latvia, Georgia, Germany, Finland, Estonia, various states in the USA, Australia, etc.

Two Lithuanian Filmmakers Union diplomas and prizes will be awarded to another two films that gathered many votes from the audiences  - feature film Summer Survivors directed by Marija Kavtaradzė and a new documentary Animus animalis (A Story about People, Animals and Things) directed by Aistė Žegulytė which will begin its journey in cinemas from 13^th September this year.

The directors will receive their prizes in Vilnius, at the opening of the Lithuanian Filmmakers Union Film Club, in the middle of September at the beginning of the film cycle Echoes of the Baltic Wave. The cycle will be begun by a poetic documentary programme Tiny Masterpieces which garnered much interest and compliments in this year’s festival.

From 25^th to 29^th August, 26 documentary and feature films of varying lengths from all three Baltic states were shown at the Baltic Wave festival; two short films Two of Us dir. Elena Kairytė and Last Day of School dir. Gabrielė Urbonaitė premiered at the festival.

For a decade the festival took place in Nida, but this year due to closing down of the “Agila” centre building, for the first time it took place in Juodkrantė, a couple of sessions took place at Nida community house.

“The atmosphere of Juodkrantė perfecly matched the spirit of our festival. We rejoice, that we were welcomed here, we could share information about new projects with our festival guests from Latvia, Estonia, as well as our impressions about are collaborative creative projects, the number of which is increasing. We hope to continue the Baltic Wave film festival traditions in Nida and in Juodkrantė in the future“, - spoke the director of the Lithuanian Filmmakers union, producer Ieva Norvilienė.

The organisers of the festival - Lithuanian Filmmakers union, Nida culture and tourism centre Agila, the main sponsors of the festival – Lithuanian Film Centre, Lithuanian Council for Culture, Neriga Municipality Council, Liudvikas Rėza Culture Centre, Švyturys, Rokiškio sūris, “Ąžuolynas“ holiday home.

Lithuanian filmmakers return to Venice: after a long break, Lithuanian titles and names will be heard at the main program of the film festival. Two feature films celebrating authors and talents are featured at the festival’s program this week.

It’s an important milestone to Lithuania, as the last time a Lithuanian feature made it to Venice Film Festival was 17 years ago when Kristijonas Vildžiūnas had a premiere of his film The Lease (lit. Nuomos sutartis). Also, Šarūnas Bartas’ Freedom (lit. Laisvė) was premiered in 2000.

While Lithuania was waiting for a new feature film to make it to the festival’s main program, films of other genres promoted Lithuanian cinematography. Last year a VR animation by Kristina Buožytė Trail of Angels (lit. Angelų takais) was met with an ovation by the audience and in 2017 Laurynas Bareiša had a premiere of his short film By the Pool (lit. Pirtis).

This year “Parthenon” (lit. Partenonas) by Mantas Kvedaravičius will be competing at the Film Critics’ Week. The film belongs to a hybrid genre of fiction and documentary and is a co-production between Lithuania (Studio Uljana Kim, Extimacy Films), Ukraine (Esse Production House) and France (Rouge International). The premiere is planned on 5^th of September.

Non-professional actors of “Parthenon” recall real-life situations and stories that they have lived through. The separation between documentary and fiction is blurry; the plot develops in real-life interiors as well as in a movie set. In a cheap brothel at the foothills of an Athenian fortress, a man recounts the magnificent events of his life. His search for love and glory is retold and relived by many. In one of the stories, the man finds a fortune, in another he becomes a vagabond prophet, in yet another he returns home. His memory betrays him, but he knows for sure that in one of these lives, he will be killed.

The film production and screening at the Venice Film Festival was supported by the Lithuanian Film Centre. The film will have its Lithuanian premiere this September.

Also, more Lithuanian names can be encountered in the festival’s program. On 6^th of September Ukrainian film maker’s Sergei Loznitsa’s documentary “State Funeral” will be screened in the Out of Competition section. Lithuanian Danielius Kokanauskis is an editor of the film, video footage was restored by Jonas Zagorskas and sound editor is Vladimir Golovnitsk, who lives and works in Lithuania.

“State Funeral” is a co-production between Atoms&Void (the Netherlands) and Studio Uljana Kim (Lithuania), with the support of Lithuanian Film Centre and Current Time TV (USA). The 25th film by Sergei Loznitsa is a documentary, based on the archive footage shot in the USSR on March 5 - 9, 1953, when the country mourned and buried Joseph Stalin.

Production of both films were supported by the Lithuanian Film Centre.

The Other Neighbors

A documentary film by Nika Tsiklauri
2019

The city you live in is not yours alone. You don’t really notice the non-human neighbors butThe city you live in is not yours alone. You don’t really notice the non-human neighbors butthey are almost everywhere as the urban landscape is full of wildlife. The city grows biggerand every day there is less and less space left for the animals, but they are still there. TheOther Neighbors is a story of a kestrel, fox, otter, eagle and several other, striving to survivein the concrete jungle on the modern capital city.

The Other Neighbors is a 32’ documentary film filmed in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. It isan observational documentary without any narration. It gives the viewer an opportunity tostop for a minute, look around and have a view of the other life that is out there.

The Other Neighbors is produced by EcoFilms Ltd, commissioned by The German Societyfor International Cooperation (GIZ) for non-commercial use. It will serve the environmentalawareness rising purpose and after a festival life will be available on the Internet.

EcoFilms is an independent film-making company based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Since 2012 weEcoFilms is an independent film-making company based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Since 2012 wedo documentaries mainly focusing on nature and human relationship. Our last documentary Jara won the number of awards at international and local festivals including the Deauville Green Awards of France. None of our films are commercial as we always try to speak upabout the issues we are concerned about. The Other Neighbors is no exception. This artisticdocumentary with its insight is unique project not only in our country but in whole Caucasusregion. Please, have a look at the trailer. The Georgian premiere of the movie is planned inmid-autumn.

BIAFF Film Festival Announces International Jury Line-up

BIAFF film festival will be during  15-22 September. BIAFF festival organizers – Batumi Art-house ARGANI and official partner – Batumi city hall. 

BIAFF 2019 international jury list is finalized, which includes:

BIAFF INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILMS COMPETITION 

1. Alexander Mindadze, Russia – Head of Jury
2. Tatiana Detlofson , USA
3. Martin Blaney, UK
4. Carmen Grey, UK
5. Rusudan Glurjidze, Georgia  

BIAFF INTERNATIONAL DOC FILMS COMPETITION

1. Krzystof Gierat, Poland – Head of Jury
2. Ghasideh Golmakani, Iran
3. Karen Avetysian, Armenia
4. Oles Yanchuk, Ukraine
5. Vakhtang Kuntsev-Gabashvili, Georgia 

BIAFF  SHORT FILM COMPETITION SECTION 

1. Otar Shamatava, Georgia – Head of Jury
2. Paul Thiltges , Luxemburg
3. David Lorenz, Germany

BIAFF – Georgian Film Critics Jury

1. Lela Ochiauri – Head of Jury
2. Nino Mkheidze
3. Salome Kikaleishvili 

Festival Supporters– Ministry of Culture of Georgia,  Georgian National Film Center, Ministry of Cultura of Ajara AR, Tourism Department of Ajara AR, National Tourism Agency of Georgia, Batumi Drama Theatre, British Council, Goethe Institute Georgia, Embassy of Italy 

Festival Sponsors – Hotel Wyndham Batumi, Cinema APOLLO, Hotel “Holland Hoek”, Hotel “Mardi Plaza”, HQ propaganda,  Tour Company “Wonderland”, Cafe “Gardens”, Restaurant ECLIPSE, Batumi Auto transport, “Legal Consulting Center” LLC

Festival Media Partners – Georgian Public Broadcaster, Radio Fortuna/Fortuna+, Adjara TV, Batumi TV, Publicity Group (www.publicity.ge), www.newswire.ge, Film New Europe (www.filmneweurope.com), INDIGO Magazine, Cinemania, Cineuropa.org, AT.GE, Newspaper BATUMELEBI, netgazeti.ge

• Tallinn projects land at TIFF
• TV Beats first speakers and topics announced
• Project submission deadlines reminder
• Get your accreditation

TIFF PICKS TWO TALLINN PROJECTS

We are happy extremely to share the news that last year's Baltic Event 2018 Works In Progress entry Maria's Paradise, directed by Zaida Bergroth and co-produced by Evelin Penttilä (Stellar, Estonia) will screen in Toronto, having also secured an international distribution company LevelK.

Also screening at TIFF's Contemporary Cinema programme is another 2018 Works In Progress and another Finnish production Dogs Don't Wear Pants (already screened at Quinzaine des Realisateurs and Karlovy Vary).

Reminder: our Works In Progress submission deadline is 15 September, 2019.

SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT HERE

TV BEATS FORUM

As one of the newest additions in the Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event programme, TV Beats Forum has an objective to facilitate the entry of regional producers and service providers into the international series co-production industry, focusing on collaboration between the Baltic Sea countries - Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden - with the addition of Iceland, Norway and Ukraine. 

The TV Beats team is excited to announce the first set of topics and speakers for 2019:

• Chernobyl case study, including Lineta Miseikyte (Lithuania) from UAB Baltic Film Services who will be sharing the Lithuanian perspective on the international co-production of the top-rated drama series that was shot in Lithuania;
• All the Sins case study - Mika Ronkainen (Finland), Ilkka Matila (Finland) and Kris Taska (Estonia) discuss the Finnish-Estonian co-produced crime series made for the Elisa VOD platform.

MORE ON TV BEATS FORUM

THE PLOT?

We'd like like to remind you that submissions are open for several of our industry initiatives. And we only used the name of the renowned literary classic as a cheap pun to get your attention. Sorry, Charles!

Film and series scripts:
Script Pool Tallinn - 2 September. Submit HERE!

Film projects:
Baltic Event Co-Production Market - 2 September. Submit HERE!

Script development:
POWR Baltic Stories Exchange - 2 September. Submit HERE!

Get the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event accreditation at a discount price - 125 EUR - before the 16th of September!

The Festival + Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event accreditation is reserved exclusively for film industry professionals and is valid for the festival period, from the 15th of November until the 1st of December, 2019. It allows you to get the most out of Tallinn - take part of all the open lectures, pitchings, the audiovisual conference European Film Forum Tallinn, workshops and events of Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event and to see up to 40 films in the programme of Black Nights.

Also, an accreditation only for Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event, without the film programme of Black Nights is available.

READ MORE AND APPLY HERE