Throughout its eight years, the Czech That Film festival has become a tradition on Los Angeles’ cultural calendar. This year, the Czech Republic commemorates 30 years since the Velvet Revolution in 1989, which restored democracy in the country. In order to celebrate this anniversary, Czech That Film includes a prominent biopic about Jan Palach (screening April 6, 7:30 p.m.), who set himself on fire in January 1969 in Prague’s Wenceslas Square to protest the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. 

Banned for 20 years by the Communist government, the archival masterpiece, The Ear (1970), directed by Karel Kachyňa, will highlight the celebration of 30 years of freedom in the Czech Republic (screening April 6, 9:45 p.m.). Ever since its foundation, Czech That Film has been committed to exhibiting films that expose audiences to Czech culture, enlighten audiences, and bring people together. Czech That Film presents an opportunity for audiences to become acquainted with established and new talents of Czech cinema, not only on the movie screen, but in person. The Czech That Film audience in Los Angeles will have an opportunity to hear Radim Špaček, director of Golden Sting (2018) which opens the festival on April 5.

The Czech Oscar entry for the Best Foreign Language Film this year, Winter Flies (2018), will be screened on Thursday, April 11 at 7 p.m. at Laemmle’s Monica Film Center. The film received the Best Director award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

The program will conclude on Friday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Billy Wilder Theater with Dukla 61 (2018). This family drama, based on one of the greatest mining tragedies, is from David Ondříček (In the Shadow), who was selected by Variety magazine as a “Director to Watch.”

For films screening at the Billy Wilder Theater: Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 each.

All films will screen with English subtitles:

April 5, 7:30 p.m. ˗ Golden Sting

As the opening night, includes a post-screening conversation and Q&A

April 6, 7:30 p.m. ˗ Jan Palach / The Ear,

April 11, 7 p.m. ˗ Winter Flies  Off-site at Laemmle Monica Film Center

April 13, 7:30 p.m. ˗ Dukla 61
 

For full program and more information about Czech That Film, please visit the Archive website: www.cinema.ucla.edu or www.czechthatfilm.com.

VENUES

Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024

Laemmle’s Monica Film Center, 1332 2^nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
 

THANK YOU:
2019 Czech That Film would like to thank the invaluable contributions of all partners involved. The festival is sponsored by  ELMA, Milk and Honey Pictures, Prague Studios, Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles, Czech Centers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Solo Film Company and Mr. Fabio Banegas.

Special thanks go to Aneta Campbell from the Czech Consulate, Juraj Vojnik,  K.J. Relth, Jan-Christopher Horak, and Paul Malcom from UCLA Film & Television Archive, who made the Los Angeles leg of the festival possible.