The Made in Prague Festival Returns to London | 31 October – 30 November 2024
Skwigly
31 October – 30 November 2024
Film venues: ICA, Regent Street Cinema, The Garden Cinema, The Gate, and the Czech Embassy cinema at the Czech Centre.
The Made in Prague Festival returns to the UK capital with the best of contemporary Czech cinema screened at central London venues throughout November. Audiences can look forward to true story dramas, sharp comedies, exciting family films and an exclusive new documentary about the last few years of the life of the playwright, dissident and later President Václav Havel.
MADE IN PRAGUE FESTIVAL TOP PICK
As Czechs celebrate 35 years this November since the Velvet Revolution that ousted the Communist regime and brought on democracy, the Made in Prague Festival honours the leading figure of the revolution, the playwright and dissident turn President Václav Havel with the UK premiere of Petr Jančárek’s documentary Havel Speaking, Can You Hear Me? On Havel’s invitation, the filmmaker was granted unlimited access and creative freedom to capture the last few years of his life. The result is an extraordinary time-lapse documentary reflecting on Havel’s political legacy and universal human issues with absolute openness through previously unseen footage. Screens at ICA on Thursday 14 November, followed by Q&A with director Petr Jančárek.
PROGRAMME
The 28th Made in Prague festival brings to the London audiences a vibrant and versatile cultural programme with Czech contemporary cinema at its core, featuring a series of award winning films, including the feature documentary about former President Václav Havel, as well as enticing discussions with a number of fantastic filmmakers.”
Přemysl Pela, Director of the Czech Centre
Contemporary Cinema
The festival’s cinematic programme opens on Saturday 2 November with a gripping true-life drama Brothers, the Czech Republic’s entry for the 2023 Academy Awards. It tells the story of Czech brothers Josef and Ctirad Mašín as they take up arms against the oppressive communist state to fight their way to the West, causing the biggest manhunt in Cold War history. An emotional story about courage, family bonds, and the cost of freedom that still divides Czech society today.
On Tuesday 5 November, The Garden Cinema will host the UK premiere of Our Lovely Pig Slaughter, a comedy debut by director Adam Martinec and winner of A Special Award at Karlovy Vary International Festival 2024. Inspired by Miloš Forman films, the director blends tragic and comic undertones and uses mostly non-actors to amplify the rural atmosphere and inter-generational conflicts in this humorous yet melancholic feature centered around the acient Czech ritual of a day-long pig butchering. Followed by Q&A with director Adam Martinec.
Continuing on the comedy note will be She Came at Night by directors Jan Vejnar and Tomáš Pavlíček screening at Regent Street Cinema on Friday 8 November.
Highly acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, this hilarious comedy with a hint of horror about a mother-from-hell moving in with her son and his girlfriend, explores the invasion of privacy and the clash of familial bonds with an emotional punch.
On Tuesday 12 November Regent Street Cinema will also host the UK premiere of Waltzing Matilda, a tragicomic story about a successful debt collector whose orderly world is upended when his ageing, free-spirited mother moves in. Named after Tom Waits’ song celebrating resilience in the face of life’s obstacles and full of sharp humour and outstanding performances, this is a highly relatable story about family wounds, kindness, and hope. Followed by Q&A with lead actor Karel Roden and film director Petr Slavík.
Thursday 14 November will see the screening of Petr Jančárek’s documentary Havel Speaking, Can You Hear Me? at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, followed by Q&A with director Petr Jančárek (please see Top Pick for more details).
On Friday 15 November, audiences will travel back in time into the 1960s with the very first Czechoslovak film musical The Hop-Pickers, programmed for the festival to celebrate the Year of Czech Music. An instant sensation upon its release, the film continues to charm generations with its vibrant portrayal of youthful rebellion, blossoming romance and irresistibly catchy songs. This special screening at The Garden Cinema coincides with the UK Blu-ray release from Second Run and will be introduced by Mehelli Modi, founder of Second Run DVD.
On Saturday 23 November the festival returns to its usual hub, the newly refurbished Gate cinema in Notting Hill with Matěj Chlupáček’s sensitive period drama We Have Never Been Modern. Set on the brink of WWII and dealing with a once-taboo subject of intersex biology, the film explores topical themes of privilege, prejudice, women’s liberation and gender identity, resonating with audiences around the globe. Followed by Q&A with director Matěj Chlupáček, lead actress Eliška Křenková and producer Mája Hamplová.
Family film
During the 28 years of its existence, the Made in Prague festival has traditionally programmed a family film. This year our youngest audiences can look forward to not one but two excellent films (and workshops). Karel Zeman’s 1955 Journey to the Beginning of Time, rated one of the best children’s adventure films of all time, will screen at The Garden Cinema on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November, and is guaranteed to have everyone’s eyes riveted to the screen.
Rounding up the family screenings will be Filip Pošívač’s Tony, Shelly and the Magic Light, winner of the Contrechamps Jury Award at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Inspired by another titan of Czech animation and puppetry Jiří Trnka, this is a heart-warming story of friendship and imagination full of charming metaphors. Screens at the Czech Embassy cinema on Sunday 24 November.
BFI Player
For audiences unable to join the silver screen experience, the Made in Prague festival has teamed up with the BFI Player to introduce three Czech classics as part of the 3 You Must See programme. Featuring Otakar Vávra‘s iconic Witchhammer (1969) which uses the notorious 17th century witch trials to draw a powerful allegory of life under a totalitarian rule; Miloš Forman’s 1963 debut Audition, considered the first film of the Czech New Wave, and Oldřich Lipský’s hilarious, energetic musical parody Lemonade Joe (aka Horse Opera). To highlight the Year of Czech Music celebrations, all three films have a strong musical aspect and will please admirers of 20th century cinema and music alike. Available to watch for free between 1-30 November as part of BFI Player subscription free trial.
Full festival programme: https://bit.ly/28thMadeInPragueFestival