Last year the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival initiated a long-term project to digitally restore major works of Czechoslovak cinematography. The Ministry of Culture and the National Film Archive are also involved in the project. The common aim is the gradual digitisation of titles from the Czech film industry's gold collection, to preserve them and to make them accessible to future generations of viewers who would perhaps otherwise never have the chance to see them.

The first film on the list, whose digitally restored copy was screened in its gala premiere at last year's Karlovy Vary IFF, was František Vláčil's Marketa Lazarová.

This year the 47th Karlovy Vary IFF will be hosting the world premiere of the digitally restored copy of Miloš Forman's film The Firemen's Ball (Hoří, má panenko). On the occasion of the director's landmark birthday, which he celebrated in February, this film will be screened on Saturday 30 June 2012 in the Grand Hall of the Thermal hotel. The film became one of the vintage symbols of the Czech New Wave and, in fact, closed Forman's promising career in his native country; his endeavours thereafter continued overseas. Apart from the cinematic invention of Miloš Forman and his colleague and friend of many years, cinematographer Miroslav Ondříček, The Firemen's Ball also acknowledges other major names in 1960s Czech film, such as Jaroslav Papoušek and Ivan Passer, who co-wrote the screenplay.

TRIBUTE TO JOSEF SOMR

The 47th Karlovy Vary IFF will also be paying tribute to an exceptional actor of Czech film, television and theatre - Josef Somr.

As part of this tribute the festival will present the film The Joke (Žert) on Friday 6 July 2012 at the Karlovy Vary Municipal Theatre. Director Jaromil Jireš based his 1968 film on the famous novel by Milan Kundera; like a number of other works of Czech cinematography, The Joke suffered at the hands of totalitarian censorship.

Josef Somr is one of the leading names in Czech theatre and film. A graduate of the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno (JAMU), he was a member of the Drama Club (Činoherní klub) in Prague for many years and was subsequently a mainstay of the drama company at Prague's National Theatre. He has created dozens of roles in television productions and series. His role as train dispatcher Hubička in Jiří Menzel's Oscar-winning Closely Observed Trains (1966) has become the stuff of legend. He has been a regular face in Czech film since the 1980s. He appeared most recently in a main role in Vladimír Michálek's intimate tale Of Parents and Children, which was screened at the Karlovy Vary IFF in 2008 in the competition section East of the West.

Organizational matters of the 47th Karlovy Vary IFF

PARTNER FOUNDATION

The presentation of selected nonprofit organisations has become a traditional part of the Karlovy Vary IFF. The 47th edition of KVIFF will this year be hosting the Jedlička Institute Foundation (Nadace JÚ). From as early as 1913 the Jedlička Institute has been providing educational facilities and social services for young people with physical disabilities during their school attendance and preparation for their professional careers. The Institute's founder, Dr Rudolf Jedlička, was considered one of the most daring surgeons of his day and, from the very start, he was able to ensure the swift and laudable development of a new educational, healthcare and social institution. The Institute has undergone various stages of development over the course of its history under various funding and organisational bodies and, despite some difficult periods, it has continued to evolve and maintain its high standards. Prague City Council has been the key funding body of the Jedlička Institute and Schools (JÚŠ) for the last fifteen years.

On Tuesday 3 July 2012 the festival will be organising a Concert for the Jedlička Institute Foundation at Poštovní dvůr featuring a music ensemble which is an integral part of the Jedlička Institute. The band known as The Tap Tap was established in 1998 by Šimon Ornest, who also heads it to this day. The ensemble comprises mainly disabled students and graduates of the Jedlička Institute in Prague. They work with leading Czech musicians, appear at numerous music events and festivals, and have already released three CDs.

On 4 July 2012 from 2pm to 6pm visitors are invited to an Afternoon of Music and Entertainment with the Jedlička Institute which will take place in front of Mlýnská kolonáda.

ENERGY FEST

For the fourth year running, the ČEZ group has put together a one-day music festival Energy Fest for all visitors to the film festival with accreditation or festival passes. For all holders of festival passes or festival accreditation ENTRY IS FREE!! Come to the Energy Fest at Poštovní dvůr on Saturday 30 June 2012, from 1pm onwards, and you'll see and hear the best that the Czech music scene has to offer.

Digitisation of the thermal hotel's screening halls

After all the modifications occurring in the Thermal hotel's Grand Hall and Small Hall in recent years, which were primarily focused on improving audience comfort (new seating), this year, in close collaboration with the Thermal hotel, the festival was able to begin the process of the permanent digitisation of the five screening halls in this festival centre using the latest 4K resolution digital technology. The Small Hall will also have the option of screening films in 3D. Without the modernisation of these screening halls, festival operations in the Thermal would be significantly restricted in the coming years.

outdoor cinema (Letní kino)

Since it reopened for film screenings, the outdoor cinema is gradually becoming one of the festival's traditional venues. This year's Karlovy Vary IFF will also be including this open-air venue in its programme of festival screenings and accompanying events.

CAMPSITE IN A NEW LOCATION

Upon agreement with Karlovy Vary Town Council, this year we have moved the festival campsite from its original location at AC Start stadium to its new site - the reconstructed grounds of the Rolava outdoor swimming pool, where visitors to the festival can expect all the services which have been provided to date - showers, reception, refreshments, car park, bike hire, free bus transfer to the festival centre and so on. The cost per night per person also remains the same, 80 CZK. Apply for registration via email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

CHILDREN'S CENTRE AND THE PROJECT "LOOK OUT!"

The Children's Centre next to the Thermal hotel will again be open to young visitors during the 47th KVIFF; the Centre is run by Mateřské centrum Karlovy Vary, o.s. This is the third year running that children at the Children's Centre will be able to take part in the Kolečko foundation's project Look Out!. The aim of the project is to educate children in road safety and thus significantly reduce the number of children involved in road accidents. The main partner of the project is EUROVIA CS Construction Group, leader in the field of road engineering and construction in the Czech Republic. The Children's Centre is also supported by the company Touax s.r.o. and the Thermal hotel.

OFFICIAL FESTIVAL BIKE

In addition to its official festival car, this year the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will once again have its official bike which will be available chiefly for use by members of the public.

Specialized is the name behind the "Official Bike" for the 47th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. As part of this unique collaboration, Specialized will be providing their "Expedition" town bikes for festival visitors to help them get from one screening hall to another as swiftly as possible. These bikes will be available at three docking stations: the Thermal hotel, the Pupp hotel, and the campsite. The Specialized bike hire service is available each day during the festival from 8am to 11pm at all three docking stations. For more information, see www.specialized.com

industry department NEWS 2012

This year films from Central and Eastern Europe will be introduced once again at the festival event Works in Progress. During the Karlovy Vary IFF these films will have reached their post-production stage or will be nearing completion; at this point they have no international representation, and the Karlovy Vary festival provides filmmakers with their first opportunity to present themselves to buyers, international distributors and international festival programmers. In previous festival editions, films represented at Works in Progress had their official premiere a few months or so after the Karlovy Vary festival, and then went on to enjoy success in international distribution or at important festivals.

Various projects proved highly successful amid foreign competition after their presentation at last year's Works in Progress, in particular, the Greek film L, which was selected for competition at Sundance 2012.

We should also mention the Czech-Slovene coproduction film A Night Too Long by Slovene graduate of Prague's FAMU, Olmo Omerzu; after presentation at Karlovy Vary's Works in Progress, it was the only Czech film to be selected for the Berlinale 2012 (Forum section).

Film professionals will this year have the chance not only to take part in the event Works in Progress, but also the Hollywood Panel, which offers filmmakers and producers a unique opportunity to meet prominent representatives of the American film industry. One of the guests on this year's Panel will be a representative of the dynamic company Film Nation, which recently shared in the production and foreign distribution of the Oscar-winning The King's Speech and new films by the likes of Pedro Almodóvar, Terrence Malick and Steven Soderbergh.

We'll be keeping you up to date with more Industry news as it comes in.

prices for tickets and festival passes

The 47th Karlovy Vary IFF will not be raising its prices, which remain as they have done for the last 12 years! While a number of cultural events regularly increase their admission fees to reflect higher VAT, the cost of the Karlovy Vary IFF Festival Pass remains the same this year as well, namely 1.000 CZK for the duration of the festival (including discounts and option of purchasing passes for shorter periods). The cost of the Festival Pass for students remains at 700 CZK.

After surveys conducted with festival visitors, KVIFF will this year be seeking to offer preferential treatment to visitors who purchase Festival Passes for the whole time.

Festival Pass

By purchasing a Festival Pass you'll be able to pick up as many as 3 free tickets to 3 different screenings each day. Comparing the cost of a Festival Pass with the cost of individual tickets, the price per ticket for Festival Pass holders comes out 50% cheaper

Festival Pass allows to its holder free access:

- to screening halls without a ticket if the hall is not fully occupied before the start of screenings (the supervisor will allow entry to a certain number of persons with accreditation or the Festival Pass, at his discretion)

- to press conferences (at the entrance to the Thermal hotel reception) if the hall is not fully occupied by accredited journalists. The press conference schedule is published on the information boards and at the entrance to the press conference hall

FILM INDUSTRY AND PRESS ACCREDITATION

Industry accreditation is reserved for film industry professionals only.

Industry accreditation gives access to:

- Film Industry office services

- four free tickets to four different screenings per day

- Press & Industry screenings

- other festival venues marked with the appropriate accreditation color (meeting point, video room, etc.)

- screenings without a ticket (if the screening is not sold out)

- press conferences (if not fully occupied by press accreditation holders)

The applications for the Industry accreditation will be accepted since April 16 till June 6, 2012.

Press Accreditation gives access to:

- Services for journalists including the press center, video room, and festival film equipment

- 4 free tickets for 4 different screenings each day

- Special ticket offices

- Free entrance to press conferences and Press and Industry screenings and all festival

- Press venues

The applications for the Press accreditation will be accepted since April 16 till June 6, 2012.

TICKETS

* Discounts are available for students, senior citizens, physically disabled persons, who submit confirmation, ID, documents etc.

Advance sales and ticket issue begins July 28, 2012.

During the festival are tickets sold and issued for the given day and the day after.

Festival Pass and accreditation costs

* Discounted Festival Pass is available to Students of secondary schools and universities, physically disabled cardholders, Senior Citizen.

ACCOMMODATION

Tribute to Reha Erdem

As part of its 47th edition, the Karlovy Vary IFF will focus on one of the most outstanding contemporary Turkish directors, Reha Erdem, as well as on a key figure of postwar French cinema, Jean-Pierre Melville. The festival will also honor the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Michelangelo Antonioni with a complete presentation of his documentary work.

Following up last year's successful retrospective of Canadian director Denis Villeneuve, the KVIFF will present another filmmaker whose renown spread beyond the borders of his native country long ago. Reha Erdem (b. 1960, Istanbul) will personally introduce all six of his movies produced thus far. This highly-regarded director belongs to Turkey's outstanding contemporary generation, a group that includes Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Zeki Demirkubuz, and Semih Kaplanoglu. After studying in Istanbul and Paris, his debut film A Ay (Oh Moon, 1989) gained instant cult status and helped revitalize a domestic film industry. His breakthrough film Beş vakit (Times and Winds, 2006), which achieved marked international success, employs experimental narrative approaches to explore the director's harrowing poetic vision of life in the Turkish countryside. Erdem continued to jettison classic narrative schemes in favor of hypnotic film visuals in the pictures Hayat var (My Only Sunshine, 2008) and Kosmos (2010), both of which were successfully presented at the Berlinale.

Tribute to Jean-Pierre Melville

As part of its 47th edition, the Karlovy Vary IFF will focus on one of the most outstanding contemporary Turkish directors, Reha Erdem, as well as on a key figure of postwar French cinema, Jean-Pierre Melville. The festival will also honor the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Michelangelo Antonioni with a complete presentation of his documentary work.

Although he himself vehemently rejected the appellation, many consider Jean-Pierre Melville (né J.-P. Grumbach, 1917-1973) the "godfather of the French new wave" thanks primarily to Bob le flambeur, his cult tale of an aging gambler from Montmartre. Yet as the first and still greatest cineaste among film directors, he always consciously avoided to belong to any movement of French postwar film. Well-regarded gangster movies from the 1960s (Le doulos, Le deuxième souffle, Le Samouraï, Le cercle rouge), literary adaptations (Le Silence de la mer, Les enfants terribles), and dramas set during the Second World War (Léon Morin, Priest; Army of Shadows) thematically and stylistically revealed Melville's obsession with classic Hollywood movies and his defining life experiences as a member of the French army and, subsequently, of the resistance. Filmmakers the likes of Quentin Tarantino, John Woo, Michael Mann, and Martin Scorsese consider the charismatic loner, who revisited the rules of the crime genre, to have been a key influence on their work. Foremost film columnist and critic Rui Nogueira, author of the acclaimed collection of interviews Le cinéma selon Melville, will be on hand at the 47th KVIFF to introduce nine of the director's pictures in the Melville tribute.

Michelangelo Antonioni Documentary Retrospective

As part of its 47th edition, the Karlovy Vary IFF will focus on one of the most outstanding contemporary Turkish directors, Reha Erdem, as well as on a key figure of postwar French cinema, Jean-Pierre Melville. The festival will also honor the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Michelangelo Antonioni with a complete presentation of his documentary work.

This September marks 100 years since the birth of Italian film master Michelangelo Antonioni (1912-2007), and the 47th KVIFF will note the occasion with a complete retrospective of the 16 documentaries he made throughout his long and illustrious career. Viewers will thus have the rare opportunity of enjoying such celebrated documentaries as People of the Po Valley (Gente del Po, 1943/47) and Sanitation Department (Nettezza urbana, 1948), as well as other examples of the filmmaker's short works, including the staged documentary Lies of Love (L'amorosa menzogna, 1949). In addition to many other short films, the festival will screen the two-part, feature-length documentary Chung Kuo China, shot in China in 1972 with the permission of the Communist authorities. The overview of the creator's documentary work will be rounded out by Michelangelo Eye to Eye (Lo sguardo di Michelangelo) from 2004.