Festival of new Czech films features Texas Premiere of HAVEL biopic at Studio Movie Grill – Spring Valley
HAVEL – Friday April 16: The three-day event kicks off with the Texas premiere of acclaimed biopic and top grossing Czech film of 2020 on Václav Havel’s metamorphosis from celebrated playwright to banned and jailed human rights activist to the president of Czechoslovakia. Directed by Slávek Horák, the film received 14 Czech Oscar nominations.
CHARLATAN – Saturday April 17: Short-listed for the Academy Award for Best International Film and winner of five Czech Oscars in 2021, including Best Film, Director, Actor, Cinematography and Sound. Inspired by the true story of herbalist Jan Mikolasek, who dedicated his life to caring for the sick in spite of the immense obstacles he faced in his private and public life. Born at the turn of the 20th century, Mikolasek wins fame and fortune using unorthodox treatment methods to cure a wide range of diseases. But with every regime change the costs to maintain this status rise as the tide turns. **World Premiere – Berlinale 2020. Variety here
**Director Agnieszka Holland was nominated for the 2012 Academy Award for In Darkness and has directed well-known American series such as The Wire, House of Cards, and Treme, among others.
ALCHEMICAL FURNANCE – Sunday, April 18: This documentary film features legendary surrealist stop motion animation filmmaker Jan Švankmajer who, at 85 years of age, is one of the most prominent artists of European cinema. His work has inspired and guided generations of directors such as Terry Gilliam and the Brothers’ Quay, and represents a sharp and merciless exploration of human nature which is entirely unique. Films such as Alice, Faust, and Little Otik changed forever the image of stop-motion and opened a world of possibilities in terms of the representation of the inner self.. Shot on various film formats over three years by directors Adam Oľha and Jan Daňhel, using found footage and with a touch of Czech humor, Alchemical Furnace is an ode to creation and to companionship.
ABOUT: Presented by Big Day Pictures , Václav Havel Czech School of Dallas and Sokol Dallas. Czech That Film Texas annually brings the best of Czech contemporary cinema to Texas. The festival is committed to exhibiting films that not only expose viewers to Czech culture, but also enlighten audiences, bring people together, and present inspired entertainment for all. Normally traveling to 20 cities in the USA and Canada over the last decade, Dallas (and Austin) will be the only cities presenting in-person screenings in 2021!
Learn more at www.czechthatfilmtexas.com
