SUMMER, 2013 VOL. # 11 CZECH THE NEWS - LA. Czech That Film Festival Great Success!

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1 SUMMER, 2013 VOL. # 11 CZECH THE NEWS - LA Czech That Film Festival Great Success! After a successful inaugural year of the Czech film festival in Los Angeles in 2012, its second annual event surpassed our expectations. The exciting touring program of recent Czech films under the festival s new name Czech That Film presented by Staropramen this past spring and drew large audiences to check out recent Czech cinema all over the United States. The series traveled through ten major U.S. cities with significant Czech communities such as New York City, Chicago, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The festival offered a diverse sampling of the best of recent Czech cinema. The audience was invited to experience popular Czech comedies as well as social dramas, and had the chance to meet renowned Czech directors David Ondříček (In the Shadow) and Zdeněk Jiráský (Flower Buds). In Los Angeles, the festival officially kicked-off on Friday May 10, 2013 at the Billy Wilder Theater with Award-winning drama Flower Buds (Poupata). More than 250 film enthusiasts came to the Opening Night to check out the best Czech film of 2011 and the winner of 4 Czech Lions. Flower Bud s director Zdeněk Jiráský participated in Q&A s which lasted more than half an hour, while a pre-opening VIP reception and after-party at the Italian Cultural Institute were also big hit and were attended by Hollywood professionals and many other guests. INDEX Czech That Film Great Success...1,2 Dear Friends in Southland...1,3 Jiří Menzel - Living Legend of Czech Cinema in LA..4 European Jazz at UCLA with Emil Viklický...4 The Mutual Inspirations 2013 devoted to Václav Havel...5 Another Semester of Czech Schools Is Approaching...5 Jaroslav Mařík, renowned doctor celebrated his 80th Birthday...6 Nicky s Family The Incredible Story of Britain s Schindler...7 Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic in Seattle...8 Financial Grants for Milouš Pelc Czech Compatriot Passed Away...8 Upcoming Cultural Events...10 Dear Friends in Southland Let me first thank you for all the support and best wishes we got from you in connection with the recent floods in the Czech Republic. The Consulate received numerous phone calls from Americans and members of local Czech community who were concerned with situation in Prague, Ústí and other Czech cities hit hard with the floods. We also, of course, follow closely current political events back home following the resignation of the Prime Minister. However, here at the Consulate, we will continue with our service and assistance to Czech citizens in need. To subscribe for our newsletter and upcoming cultural Czech events, please contact us at: losangeles@embassy.mzv.cz Cont d on page 3 Page 1

2 Czech That Film Festival Great Success!!! Cont d from page 1 A Slovak Night within the Czech That Film festival took place on Saturday, May 11, 2013 with screenings of Czech and Slovak coproductions Gypsy (Cikán), directed by Martin Šulík, and Made in Ash (Až do města Aš), written and directed by Iveta Grófová. Both films were Slovak selections for the Best Foreign Language Film competition in 2011 and A raffle for DVD s of the opening night movie Flower Buds, a winner of 4 Czech Lions, signed by the director Zdeněk Jiráský was held prior to the screening. Consul General Michal Sedláček with the director Zdeněk Jiráský and Jan-Christopher Horak, Director of UCLA Film & Television Archive Czech director Ivan Fíla with actress Eva Jeníčková at the Pre-screening reception at the residence of the Consul General Director David Ondříček with Shannon Kelley from UCLA Film & Television Archive The Czech That Film festival continued with a Comedy Night on Thursday, May 16, with a double feature of two unrivaled comedies Polski Film (directed by Marek Najbrt) and Signal (directed by Tomáš Řehořek). Not only had the audience enjoyed the unique Czech sense of humor but also had a chance to witness great performances by well-known Czech actors. On Monday, May 20, the movie The House (directed by Zuzana Liová) was screened. This contemporary drama deals with the generational conflict in the Slovak province and James Ragan, the film s script consultant, participated in the Q&A session after the screening. The Closing Night held on Monday, June 3 also attracted a large audience. Prior to the screening, the VIP Closing Night reception took place at the residence of the Consul General. The well-attended reception was enriched by traditional Czech refreshments (including goulash and the popular Czech beer Staropramen). Czech That Film concluded with packed screening of neo-noir police thriller In the Shadow which was submitted to the Academy as the Czech entry for 2012 Best Foreign Language Oscar. Its director David Ondříček recently listed by Variety magazine as one of the top 10 Directors to Watch, was also present on hand to answer questions after the screening of his latest feature. The audience composed mostly from fans of international cinema and Czech compatriots showed a great satisfaction with the quality of showcased pictures and the festival as a whole. The success of the second annual Czech That Film festival brought us proud moments and inspiration for the next year. The festival, complete with a range of screenings and discussions with directors was organized jointly by the Czech Center in New York, the Consulates General of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles and Chicago and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C. The festival in Los Angeles was curated and organized by UCLA Film & Television Archive in cooperation with the Czech Consulate in LA. CZECH THAT FILM 2013 would like to thank the invaluable contributions of all partners involved. The festival was sponsored entirely by Staropramen, with contributions from Milk & Honey Films, ELMA (European Language and Movies in America), Prague Studios, Czech shipping company Shipito.com, and Czech Tourism, with local contributions from the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU) in Los Angeles. We are looking forward to see what the Czech film industry will bring us in 2014! Page 2

3 Cont d from page 1 Dear Friends in Southland For example, we ve just had an exciting film festival here in Los Angeles! It is hard to believe, how many of you came out to watch newest Czech films all over the Western United States. More than 250 film enthusiasts attended the Opening Night Party and screening of Flower Buds at the beautiful Billy Wilder Theater in Westwood and almost 180 fans of Czech cinema showed up at the Closing Night Gala which featured the best Czech film of 2012 In The Shadow. I am sure that the audience appreciated the Q&A sessions following screenings with renowned Czech directors Zdeněk Jiráský and David Ondříček, recently named among the Top Ten Directors to Watch by Variety. The cooperation with the UCLA Film and Television Archives brought great results and the attendance numbers were terrific. I hope that we can continue with the festival next year and I would like to thank at this occasion all the sponsors and partners for their generous support, especially Staropramen, Czech Tourism, Milk n Honey, Shipito, Elma and SVU LA. Believe me, without them, the Czech That Film festival would not have happened. I am already looking forward to the next great film event in September of this year when the famous Czech film director Jiří Menzel will come to Los Angeles to present his newest film Don Juans together with older films such as Oscar winner Closely Watched Trains at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica. The evening organized by American Cinematheque will take place on Sunday, September 22, In addition, the American Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences plans to host an evening with Jiří Menzel to celebrate his 75th birthday. I am also happy that the second edition of our popular Petrof Concert Series had such a fantastic spring this year when famous Czech violinist Jaroslav Svěcený came all the way from Prague with his talented daughter Julia and brought the audience to its feet. Exceptional Czech singer Jana Fabianová returned to my residence with a fantastic concert full of the best Czech and Slovak chansons, and well-regarded Czech organist Pavel Kohout performed with talented American soprano Jennifer Paulino at the end April. I can also confirm that the renowned Czech jazz pianist Emil Viklický will come to Los Angeles to be part of the EU jazz festival in October. Consul General Michal Sedláček The annual Mutual Inspiration festival will be devoted to the late Václav Havel this year. The official kick-off in Los Angeles will take place on Sunday, September 15, 2013 at the Wende Museum in Culver City which is, how fittingly, devoted to history of art under Communist dictatorships. Besides a small reception, we will be screening Havel s Leaving, his first and only film as a movie director. Besides this event, there will be several screenings of documentaries about Havel, an exhibit of Havel s works at UCLA and a theater performance composed of several his plays on September 29, We will also commemorate a sad 45th anniversary on August 21st when we will remember the day Russian tanks came to crush the Prague spring in 1968 with an Exhibition of photographs by Paul Goldstein who was taking pictures on that tragic day in Prague. The Opening Night of the exhibit will remain at the Front Gallery of the Consulate for about a month and will conclude with screening of the famous film based on Kundera s novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being. I am also excited that Czech schools in Los Angeles and in Orange County as well as in San Diego will successfully continue into a fall semester of Please, appreciate the efforts of the school organizers all over California that teach children Czech, such a difficult language and organize activities outside regular classes such as International Children s Day. To get more information about our events, please visit our website and Facebook page. Michal Sedláček, Consul General Page 3

4 Jiří Menzel - Living Legend of Czech Cinema in Los Angeles European Jazz at UCLA with Emil Viklický Academy award winner Jiří Menzel will in person introduce the latest addition of his long list of successful films Don Juans (Donšajni, 2013) in Los Angeles. Don Juans is a new film combining comedy and drama with the world of opera, passion and most of all, about the people caught in between. Starring in this comedy drama are popular Czech actors Libuše Šafránková and Jan Hartl. In addition, Menzel s first feature Closely Watched Trains (Ostře sledované vlaky), recipient of the Academy Award Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1967, will be shown to an audience in Los Angeles on the same night. In the story, based on Bohumil Hrabal's novel of the same name, Václav Neckář plays the role of a Czech railroad worker during the Nazi occupation. He undergoes several philosophical changes as he becomes attracted to the Czech underground. This double feature screening will take place on September 22, 2013 in prestigious art cinema Aero (1328 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403) and is organized on the occasion of Jiří Menzel s 75th birthday. The exact time of screening will be announced. Do not miss this unique opportunity to meet face to face with a legendary Czech director, who is an important member of the Czechoslovak New Wave of 1960 s, and to see his first and latest film. Emil Viklický A number of European Consulates in Los Angeles and UCLA are organizing a joint celebration of jazz music this fall. The project will offer the best of current European jazz music such as Jazzindeed with Micahel Schiefel and North Atlantic Jazz Alliance from Germany. The Czech Republic will be represented by the most renowned jazz pianist the Czech jazz scene can offer Emil Viklický. Emil Viklický s performance is scheduled on the opening night, October 10, All concerts will take place in Schoenberg Hall from October 10-13, The event will also offer a chance to meet the musicians and round table discussions about jazz, workshops, an exhibition of paintings by a Croatian artist inspired by jazz, and possible jam sessions. The event will also be an opportunity to welcome Croatia as the newest EU member. Emil Viklický will further perform within the Petrof Concert Series with American saxophonist Benny Golbin. Their concert will be held on October 11, 2013 at the Residence of Consul General Michal Sedláček. Closely Watched Trains Page 4

5 The Mutual Inspirations 2013 devoted to Václav Havel The Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles is proud to announce that the 2013 Mutual Inspirations Festival will honor legendary dissident, successful playwright and first president of the Czech Republic the late Václav Havel. From September to the end of October, various events will be dedicated to the memory of the extraordinary personality and accomplishments of Václav Havel. The annual initiative focuses on the mutual inspirations between Czech and American cultures and will officially kick-off in Los Angeles with festive screening of Václav Havel s directorial debut Leaving (Odcházení, 2011). The showing will take place at Wende Museum (5741 Buckingham Pkwy, Culver City, CA 90230) on September 15, 2013 at 4:00 p.m followed by a reception. The Mutual Inspirations Festival in Los Angeles will continue on September 29, 2013 from 4 p.m. at the residence of Consul General Mr. Michal Sedláček with a theater performance comprised of a series of monologues from various plays by Václav Havel, interspersed with commentary on Havel and his works. In addition, the UCLA plans to open an exhibition accompanied with lecture dedicated to Havel.The exhibit will be open throughout the fall quarter, September 26 to December 6, 2013 in Powell Rotunda. Exposition will be organized around the following themes: Havel as a playwright, as a dissident, as a politician and head of state, and Havel s connection with UCLA. The date of the lecture will be announced in July. The Consulate here in Los Angeles will also present films documenting Havel s life and his achievements. The documentary titled Václav Havel, Prague Castle (Václav Havel, Praha - Hrad), directed by Petr Jančárek will be screened at the premises of the Czech Consulate in Los Angeles on October 16 from 7:00 p.m. Another documentary called Citizen Václav Havel Rolling (Občan Havel přikuluje, 2009) will follow on October 23, at 7:00 p.m. also at the Czech Consulate. All screenings will be presented in Czech with English subtitles. Another Semester of Czech Schools Is Approaching The Consulate General of the Czech Republic is proud to announce that the fall semester of Czech School in Los Angeles will begin on Saturday August 24, 2013, while classes of Czech School West Coast in Orange County (CSWC) will kick-off on Wednesday, September 18, CSWC is offering several programs including classes for adults and even a Saturday kids club that is being held from 9:00 am 12:00 p.m. Children from 3 years of age are more than welcome to join both schools. Meanwhile, Children s Day events took place on Saturday, June 1, At the Czech Consulate in Los Angeles Czech fairy tales about Krteček (Little Mole), the most beloved Czech cartoon character, were screened, the exhibition of illustrations of Krteček was opened. In addition, a picnic in the park provided a play date luncheon full of fun and games. A similar celebration for Children s Day took place in Orange Country and the Kid s Day was also full of games, prizes and food for all. The Consulate General of the Czech Republic would like to further inform the community that a meeting of Czech Schools in the United States was held in Chicago from Friday, June 14 until Sunday June 16, Representatives of Czech Schools across the United States met in order to exchange their experiences with teaching Czech language abroad. The Czech Ambassador Petr Gandalovič attended the meeting and appreciated the effort of Czech schools to keep Czech language and traditions alive. The Czech School in Los Angeles was also present at the meeting and will do its best to incorporate ideas and suggestions from the meeting into the next semester that starts on Saturday, August 24, For enrollment form and more information about Czech School in Los Angeles call at: (310) ; ext. 224 or at aneta_campbell@mzv.cz If you wish to enroll for classes in Czech School West Coast please visit for more information and enrolment form. Page 5

6 Jaroslav Mařík, distinguished doctor, celebrated his 80th Birthday On Saturday, May 4, 2013 Jaroslav Mařík celebrated his 80th birthday. Over one hundred guests attended his fantastic Birthday party, including famous Czech celebrities such as Jan Tříska, Pavlína Moskalyková, Jiří Planner and Jiří Passer. Doctor Mařík was born and raised in Plzeň, Czechoslovakia to a local butcher on April 27, After his graduation from Charles University in the late 1950s he realized that he could not find work in the medical field in communist Czechoslovakia and felt that his dream of helping people in medicine was slipping away. In 1964, Mr. Mařík and his wife Jiřina decided to leave the country. We had a last minute chance to buy a cruise vacation that helped us to cross the border without being arrested. Once we anchored in Italy, we spent four months in a refugee camp, patiently waiting for a chance for a ship to America. In Treso, we were separated; I lived on the men s and my wife on the women s side. We saw each other during a breakfast but we were not allowed to talk to each other, Mr. Mařík describes his past experience. Upon arriving to the United States, he met his father in Chicago who emigrated when Mařík was only fifteen years old. He found his calling at the University of Chicago where he started to work in Obstetrics and Gynecology area. My early days were very harsh but I was happy I was in America. After finishing his medical residency, he and his wife moved once again, this time to California. They fell in love with California in the summer of 1968 when they were returning from the Olympic Games in Mexico. The sight of sandy beaches, palm trees, and ocean was the turning point in their life. He devoted his practice to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) at the clinic and helped thousands of women to conceive and start a family. Mr. Mařík is one of only a few doctors who performed gender pre-selection procedures that increase parent s odds of choosing their child s gender in order to reduce the risk of their children having gender-specific genetic diseases. The head of my laboratory proved that an immaculate conception is possible. Mařík jokingly stated. So in fifty years, women will be able to conceive without men, he added smiling. After Mr. Mařík spent 46 years of his life devoted to treat infertility, he is living at the age of 80, with his wife of 50 years, Jiřina, in Brentwood, CA. We wish them a happy anniversary and wonderful retirement. Jaroslav Mařík His confidence and experience from Chicago helped him to get job in the Center City of Hope in Buffalo, CA where he specialized in cancer treatments. When Dr. Edward Tyler approached him few months later and asked him to join his clinic in Beverly Hills, he didn t hesitate. Dr. Mařík accepted his offer and began a storied career to become one of the most recognized gynecologist in the U.S. In one year, Dr. E. Tyler introduced him to experts on infertility from all around the world. After Dr. Tyler s passing in 1975, Mr. Mařík continued his medical practice at the Tyler Medical Clinic for another thirty years. Jaroslav Mařík s Celebration of 80 th Birthday Page 6

7 Nicky s Family The Incredible Story of Britain s Schindler Screening of NICKY S FAMILY, the award-winning Czech documentary film directed by Matěj Mináč opens in theaters in Los Angeles and New York on July 19, This acclaimed documentary tells a story of Sir Nicholas Winton, an Englishman, who rescued 669 Czech and Slovak children from occupied Czechoslovakia just before the outbreak of World War II. He was a big part of what we now know as the Kindertransport. Winton did not speak about these events with anyone for more than half a century. His exploits would have probably been forgotten hadn t his wife, fifty years later, found a suitcase full of documents and transport plans. The story of this rescue is now known all over the world. He was knighted by Queen Elisabeth II. This hero is still alive and in May celebrated his 104th birthday. In Los Angeles the screening will take place at the Laemmle Royal (Santa Monica), Laemmle's Town Center 5 (Encino) and Playhouse 7 (Pasadena) on July 19, For more information please visit Page 7

8 Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic in Seattle On June 28, 2013, Czech Republic will inaugurate its Honorary Consulate in Seattle. The consular jurisdiction of the newest Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic will cover the entire State of Washington. The consular post will be headed by Wayne Jehlik, founder and director of the Center for Czech Education and Culture based in Seattle. Important Information For Czech Compatriot Organizations: Financial Grants for 2014 In 2014, financial grants for projects of Czech compatriot organizations will continue to be provided. Czech compatriot groups, associations, societies of friends of the Czech Republic and similar organizations can apply for financial grants intended for a) cultural projects, or b) maintenance and repairs of foreign Czech schools and other properties. The Czech Honorary Consulate in Seattle will generate support for economic and commercial relations, increase cultural inspiration, promote exchange education and tourism, play unifying and supportive role in compatriot relations, and provide services in consular matters. Its presence will help improve the accessibility of consular services to the Czech nationals in the region and at the same time, promote the Czech Republic and bring it closer to local communities and general public. The Honorary Consulate in Seattle is the twentieth commissioned Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic in the United States, not including three Consulates General and the Embassy. The deadline for submission of applications for a financial grants for the year 2014 is August 1, Each project has to be submitted on online application form. The form must be printed afterwards and mailed to the address of the Czech Consulate in Los Angeles. A copy of a non-profit registration and bylaws/articles of incorporation needs to be attached to the application. Each application form should include detailed description of the project and timetable and preliminary budget of the project. Please, send the application to the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles, Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA 90024, and addressed to the attention of Ms. Aneta Campbell In the second quarter of 2014, the Consulate will notify the organizations whether the financial grants for 2014 were granted by the Czech government. If the organizations received grant this year, it is obliged to provide the Consulate with a final report and a statement of account by January 31, The online application and other details are available at: ora/penezni_dary_do_zahranici/zadost_o_penezni_dar_1.htm l Milouš Pelc Czech Compatriot Passed Away Mr. Milouš Pelc passed away suddenly on May 31, He was born in Mýto, Czech Republic, in After WWII, he studied at Charles University in Prague to follow his passion for music and the arts. When the communists arrived in 1948, after persecution, he escaped to Austria where he stayed for three years until he could emigrate to the U.S. He arrived in Michigan and met the love of his life, Libuše (Libby). They had two daughters, Helen (Phillips) and Maria (Ellis). Milouš and Libby moved to California in the late 1950 s. He was employed in the entertainment industry for 30 years in a variety of capacities in the editing and music departments. Milouš was also the personal representative to composer Rudolf Friml. Milouš was instrumental in the formation of the Burbank Philharmonic and served on its board for over 25 years. In addition, he was also one of the first members and served on the board of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts & Sciences. He was one of the founding members of the Czech Catholic Mission and devoted several years to the production of an album of devotional music to Mary. He will forever be missed. Page 8

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10 Summer, 2013 VOL. # 11 Upcoming Cultural Events June, July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 June 26, 2013, 7:00 p.m. Screening of the Czech film Vrásky z lásky (Oldies but Goldies) at the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles (In Czech only, without subtitles) June 28, 2013 Opening Ceremony of the new Honorary Consulate in Seattle July 17, 2013, 7:00 p.m. Screening of the Czech film Perfect Days at the Consulate General of the Czech Republic Aug. 7, 2013, 7:00 p.m. Screening of a documentary about famous Czech compatriots in US at the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles Aug. 21, 2013 Opening of Exhibition of photographs taken in Prague in August of 1968 with a screening of The Unbearable Lightness of Being at the Consulate General in Los Angeles Sep. 12, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. Hollywood Bowl, Czech Mates Jakub Hrůša, conductor - Smetana s tone poem Šárka and Dvořák s Sixth Symphony For tickets and more information visit: Sep. 15, Screening of Leaving (Odcházení, 2011). Showing will take place at Wende Museum (5741 Buckingham Pkwy, Culver City, CA Sep. 22, 2013 Aero Theater Screening of Don Juans and Closely Watched Trains (Double Feature) with a presence of Jiří Menzel July 19, 2013 Screening of the film Nicky s Family, a documentary about Nicholas Winton at Playhouse 7 (Pasadena), Laemmle Royal (Santa Monica), Laemmle's Town Center 5 (Encino) For more info: Sep. 29, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. - theater performance constituted from a series of monologues from various Václav Havel s plays at the residence of Consul General (upon invitation only) Consulate General of the Czech Republic Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1100 Los Angeles, CA