Martin Polák

A look at the life, work and importance of Czech filmmaker Karel Zeman (1910-89), a genius of world cinema, a wizard of special effects, revealing his sources of inspiration and his revolutionary filming techniques.

A portrait of the German-language Czech writer Franz Kafka (1883-1924), a mysterious, strange and solitary individual, but also a visionary creator.

The brilliant Czech writer Milan Kundera has not given an interview in thirty years; nor does he appear in public. How did he become a legendary author? What is so unique about his books?

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Czech painter and illustrator Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) ranks among the pioneers of the Art Nouveau movement at the end of the 19th century. Virtually overnight, he becomes famous in Paris thanks to the posters that he designs to announce actress Sarah Bernhardt’s plays. But at the height of his fame, Mucha decides to leave Paris to realize his lifetime project.

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Singer and actress Monika Načeva presents a musical project called Zdivočelí koně (Wild Horses), which takes you on a journey into the arid steppes of the past in her own unique way. Monika, accompanied by drummer Markéta Pták from the band LO/VE and keyboardist David Kabzan from Rány těla, has set out to set the poems of banned artists from the 1960s to 1980s (Pavel Zajíček, Ivan Martin Jirous, Vladimíra Čerepková, Václav Hrabě, and others) to music.

Documentary about western popular music concerts as bearer tendencies of democracy and freedom in the Czechoslovak area in period 1965 - 1990. Unique and comprehensive view of the cultural and political significance visits of western popular and alternative culture personalities who were brought democratic idea to the former socialist Czechoslovakia.

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What has shaped the appearance of Brno and the lives of its inhabitants over the last two centuries? What do architectural monuments and cultural and social traditions refer to?

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Petr Nikl is a founding member of the Tvrdohlaví (Hard Headed) art group. He is an intermedia artist with classical roots who freely and convincingly expresses himself through traditional art techniques and original books, interactive projects, and improvisational events based on performance, theatre, and music. He won the Jindřich Chalupecký Award in 1995, is a multiple winner of the Best Book Award, and received the Golden Angel Award in the Alternative Music category in 2005. Petr Nikl looks back on his life and his career and gives an imaginary vision of where his path will lead in the future.

A sensitive portrait of grandfather Miroslav Benda, a tried and true Sokol member and an ordinary man with extraordinary vigor and ideals, revealing a story of human resilience and optimism through nostalgia and situational comedy. The film is a kind of observational documentary - it includes family videos and archival film material. We’re drawn into the microcosm of the village of Křenovice u Slavkova by two Japanese women who have decided to visit Benda, thanks to his long friendship with a university professor from Tokyo. Together with Benda, the audience travels to the only Japanese gas station in Europe, to Prague’s Strahov Stadium, and to New York to visit American Sokol members.

A feature-length documentary about the Prague band Tata Bojs. Called tata_bojs.doc, it looks at the history of the group, which celebrated 35 years last year.

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No description available.

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A concert by the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, whose name is linked to the historical event of the same name, with a program created by Leoš Janáček during his time at the Besední dům. Alongside the orchestra, the authentic ensemble Horňácká muzika Petra Mičky will also perform. This unique musical experience is part of the festival celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the Besední dům in Brno.