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1-50 of 2,237
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jan Tríska was born on 4 November 1936 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Ronin (1998), Apt Pupil (1998) and The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996). He was married to Karla Chadimová. He died on 25 September 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Kveta Fialová was born on 1 September 1929 in Vel'ké Dravce, Czechoslovakia [now Slovak Republic]. She was an actress, known for Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet (1978), Closely Watched Trains (1966) and Slamený klobouk (1972). She was married to Pavel Hása and Jirí Joska. She died on 26 September 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Libuse Safránková was born on 7 June 1953 in Brno, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Kolya (1996), Bájecná léta pod psa (1997) and Three Wishes for Cinderella (1973). She was married to Josef Abrhám. She died on 9 June 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Director
- Writer
- Actress
Vera Chytilová was born on February 2, 1929, in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic). She studied philosophy and architecture in Brno for two years, then worked as a technical draftsman, a designer, a fashion model, a photo re-toucher, then worked as a clapper girl for Barrandov Film Studios in Prague. There she continued as a writer, actress, and assistant director.
She was denied a scholarship, or even a recommendation from Barrandov, but she took the admissions tests at FAMU and was accepted. From 1957-1962 she studied film directing under Otakar Vávra, who also taught Jirí Menzel, Milos Forman, Jan Nemec, and Ivan Passer. In 1962 she graduated as director from Film Academy (FAMU) in Prague. Her graduation film 'Strop' (Ceiling 1962) and the following film 'Pytel blech' (A Bagful of Fleas 1963) were "staged" improvisations with non-actors. In 1966 Chytilova and her husband, 'Jaroslav Kucera', made a witty surrealist comedy Daisies (1966), which was immediately banned, but then was released in 1967, and won the Grand Prix at the Bergamo Film Festival. She remained in Czechoslovakia after the events of 1968, when her colleagues Milos Forman, Jan Nemec, and Ivan Passer emigrated. Her films were often "shelved" for reasons of political censorship. For six years Chytilova was banned from making films. In 1976 she wrote a letter of complaint to President Gustav Husak, describing her artistic position. After some behind-the-scenes influence by her supporters, Chytilova was allowed to make a low-budget Hra o jablko (1977), which won a Silver Hugo at Chicago Film Festival.
Chytilova belongs among the foremost directors of the 1960's Czech New Wave, which was influenced by both the French New Wave and Italian Neo-Realism. Her films were acclaimed for visual experimentation and for bold unmasking of the moral problems of contemporary society. Her art belongs to what Sergei Eisenstein described as "intellectual cinema", that embraces the mix of "avant-garde", "cinema verite", "formalism", "feminism", or "happening" and, with a good deal of humor, it spreads beyond definitions. Chytilova's films often present a multi-layered plethora of visual associations that encourages the viewer to make active interpretations. She survived through the political turbulences in Czechoslovakia and has been a highly original and uncompromising filmmaker.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Jirí Menzel was born on 23 February 1938 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor and director, known for Closely Watched Trains (1966), I Served the King of England (2006) and Larks on a String (1969). He was married to Olga Menzelová-Kelymanová. He died on 5 September 2020 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Bohus Záhorský was born on 5 February 1906 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Lemonade Joe (1964), Paleta lásky (1976) and Medved (1961). He died on 22 September 1980 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic].
- Writer
- Director
- Animation Department
Karel Zeman was a Czech film director, screenwriter, and animator. He is primarily remembered for creating fantasy and science fiction films which combined live-action and animation.
In 1910, Zeman was born in the village of Ostromer in Austria-Hungary. The village is located near the town of Nova Paka, whose main tourist attraction is an abandoned monastery of Minims.
Zeman originally pursued a business education in the town of Kolin. In the 1920s, he studied advertising in France. He remained in France until 1936, working at an advertising studio in Marseilles. His first experience with animation was creating an animated advertisement for soap.
In the late 1930s, Zeman returned to Czechoslovakia, where he continued working in advertising. He created advertisements for companies such as Bata and Tatra. In 1939, Zeman attempted to migrate to Casablanca to avoid the poor living conditions in the German-occupied Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. He was soon barred from migrating.
During World War II, Zeman became the advertising head of advertisement at Dum Sluzeb in the city of Brno. He participated in a window-dressing competition there, which his won. Film director Elmar Klos (1910-1993) filmed a newsreel about the competition and became acquainted with Zeman. Klos offered Zeman work at an animation studio located in Zlin. Zeman accepted the business proposal in 1943.
Zeman started working as an assistant animator under veteran animator Hermina Tyrlova (1900-1993), who would eventually be nicknamed "the mother of Czech animation". In 1945, Zeman became the head of the animation's studio, stop-motion animation production group. He started work on his first short film "A Christmas Dream", which combined live-action with puppet animation. The plot involved a dream about toys coming to life.
In 1946, Zeman introduced a series of short films featuring a puppet called Mr. Prokouk. The series gained a fan following. In 1948, Zeman completed the short film "Inspiration", as an experiment in using glass in animation productions. In 1950, Zeman completed a half-hour film called "Kral Lavra" (King Lavra), an adaptation of a satirical poem by Karel Havlicek Borovsky (1821-1856), The film depicted the legend of Labraid Loingsech, High King of Ireland and was met with critical success. Zeman won a National Award with this film.
In 1952, Zeman created his first feature film "The Treasure of Bird Island", adapting a Persian fairy tale. He used several experimental techniques in animation. His next film was "Journey to the Beginning of Time" (1955), in which he animated many prehistoric animals. It was his first film to have an international release. Zeman worked on 8 other feature films between 1958 and 1980, as well as a large number of short films. He was one of Czechoslovakia's most famed animators.
Zeman retired in 1980, at the age of 70. He had been working as a director for 34 years at that point. He died of natural causes in April 1989, about 7 months before the Velvet Revolution and the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia. He was 78-years-old.
Zeman has been called as one of the 20th century's most innovative and influential animators. He has been cited as an influence by (among others) Wes Anderson, Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, and Jan Svankmajer.- Eduard Cupák was born on 10 March 1932 in Brno, Czechoslovakia. He was an actor, known for Mladá léta (1953), Paleta lásky (1976) and Náhrdelník (1992). He died on 23 June 1996 in Prague, Czech Republic.
- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Juraj Herz was born on 4 September 1934 in Kezmarok, Czechoslovakia [now Slovakia]. He was a director and actor, known for Habermann (2010), The Cremator (1969) and Beauty and the Beast (1978). He was married to Therese Herz. He died on 8 April 2018 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Josef Bláha was born on 8 June 1924 in Novo Mesto, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes [now Slovenia]. He was an actor, known for Prague Nights (1969), Paleta lásky (1976) and I Killed Einstein, Gentlemen (1970). He was married to Bohumila Bláhová. He died on 6 December 1994 in Prague, Czech Republic.
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Rudolf Hrusínský was born on 17 October 1920 in Nový Etynk-Vcelnice, Czechoslovakia [now Nová Vcelnice, Czech Republic]. He was an actor and director, known for The Cremator (1969), The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians (1981) and Pancho se zení (1946). He died on 13 April 1994 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Antonin Dvorak was a son of butcher, but he did not follow his father's trade. While assisting his father part-time, he studied music, and graduated from the Prague Organ School in 1859. He also was an accomplished violinist and violist, and joined the Bohemian Theatre Orchestra, which was under the baton of Bedrich Smetana in 1860s. For financial reasons he quit the orchestra and focused on composing and teaching. He fell in love with one of his students, but she married another guy. Her sister was available, so Dvorak married the sister, Anna, in 1873, and they had nine children.
Dvorak's early compositions were influenced by Richard Wagner and Johannes Brahms, and with their promotion his music became performed in European capitals and received international acclaim. His performances in 1880s of Slavonic Dances, the Sixth Symphony and the Stabat Mater were a success in England, and Dvorak received an honorary doctorate from Cambridge. He made a successful concert tour in Russia in 1890, and became a professor at the Prauge Conservatory. In 1892 he received an invitation to America from Jeaunnette Thurber, the founder of he National Conservatory of Music in New York City. Dvorak was the Director of the National Conservatory in New York for three years (1892-95), where he also taught composition and carried on his cross-cultural studies.
Dvorak broadened his experiences through studying the music of the Native Americans and African Americans, many of whom became his students and friends. Dvorak was inspired by the originality of indigenous American music and culture, as well as by the spirituals and by the singing of his African American students. Dvorac incorporated his new ideas, blended with his Bohemian roots, into his well-known Symphony No.9 in E minor "From the New World". He worked on this symphony for most of the spring and summer of 1893, and made it's glorious premiere in Carnegie Hall in December, 1893. In America he also wrote the remarkable Cello Concerto and two string quartets, including the Quartet in F ("The American"). Dvorak was doing very well in New York financially, but his heart was in Prague and he left America for his Czech Motherland. He had a big family with his wife and nine children in Prague. He became the Director of the Prague Conservatory in 1901 and kept the position until his death in 1904.- Reinhard Heydrich began his career as an officer in the post-World War I German navy. He was dishonorably discharged after becoming involved in an illicit love affair. The young woman became pregnant, but instead of marrying her, Heydrich met and soon got engaged to Lina von Osten. In 1930 Heydrich, now unemployed, was persuaded by his wife to join Adolf Hitler's National Socialist (Nazi) party, which he did the next year; he also became a member of the SS at that same time. As one of its first officers, Heydrich was tasked by Heinrich Himmler to expand the small organization into an internal security force to monitor the Nazi party. The result was the creation of the SD (Sicherheistdienst [Security Service]), which was combined, in 1934, with the Gestapo (Gestaatspolizei, or state secret police) to form the much feared SS Security Police, which Heydrich--now an SS Brigadier General--commanded. He played a major role in the destruction of the SA, known as the "storm troopers", which was an internal security service set up by Hitler but which he now suspected of plotting against him; the organization was destroyed and many of its officers, including its leader, Ernst Röhm, were murdered in June of 1934. For his services Heydrich was made a Lieutenant-General in the SS.
At the start of World War II Heydrich became commander of the consolidated Reich security forces, which he formed into the Reich Security Central Office of the SS. Also, by this time, Heydrich had become a major figure in the rounding up and planned extermination of Europe's Jews. On his orders, the SS-Einsatzgruppen--Special Groups--were created for the purpose of hunting down, rounding up and exterminating Jews in Poland and Russia. Three years later, in 1942, he chaired the infamous Wannsee Conference, where the decision was made to exterminate all the Jews of Europe. Promoted to SS-General (Obergruppenfuhrer), Heydrich was made the Reich Governor of Czechoslovakia at the start of 1942. Aware of how powerful, cunning and dangerous Heydrich was, British intelligence agents put together an operation designed to kill him, and trained and dispatched three Czech exiles to Prague. The assassination was carried out in May of 1942. Heydrich died a short while later, on June 4th, the same day of the historic Battle of Midway in the Pacific.
If ever a truly monstrous and evil man existed, it was Reinhard Heydrich, one of the masterminds of the Holocaust. In a horrific act of revenge, called "Operation Reinhard," Hitler had the entire village of Lidice, Czechoslovakia--near where Heydrich was killed--exterminated. All male inhabitants above the age of 15 were shot; all other residents were sent to concentration camps, and the village itself was physically wiped off the face of the earth. Heydrich was buried with full honors. His grave on the Invalidenfriedhof in Berlin is now anonymous in order to prevent any form of remembrance. - Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Ossi Oswalda was born Oswalda Staglich on February 2, 1899 in Berlin, Germany. She trained to be a ballerina and worked in chorus lines when she was a teenager. Director Ernst Lubitsch discovered her and cast her in his 1916 film The Shoe Palace. Over the next five years she appeared in many of Lubitsch's comedies including The Doll, The Oyster Princess, and I Don't Want To Be A Man. She usually played spoiled, child-like characters and even appeared in drag. Ossi became one of Europe's most bankable stars earning her the nickname "The German Mary Pickford". She and Ernst Lubitsch became very close friends but their relationship was never romantic. In 1919 she married Hungarian Baron Gustav Von Koczian. Ossi and her husband started their own production company but they only made five films together.
Their marriage ended in 1925 and Ossi began a high profile romance with Crown Prince Willhelm. She signed a contract with an American producer in 1926 and tried to change her image by playing more glamorous characters. Unfortunately her career suffered with the arrival of sound films. Her last role was in the 1933 drama The Star Of Valencia. Ossi continued to work on the stage appearing in operettas in Germany and Vienna. Eventually she moved to Czechoslovakia with her boyfriend Julius Aussenberg, a former producer. In 1943 she wrote the story for the film Fourteen At The Table. Sadly by the Spring of 1947 Ossi was bankrupt and suffering from numerous health problems. She died on July 17, 1947 in Prague. Ossi was only forty-eight years old. She is buried in Olsany Cemetery in in the Czech Republic.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Václav Krska was born on 7 October 1900 in Pisek, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]. He was a director and writer, known for Z mého zivota (1955), Kde reky mají slunce (1961) and Dalibor (1956). He died on 17 November 1969 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic].- Director
- Writer
- Editor
Gene Deitch was an animator at UPA. He later joined Terrytoons in 1955. He created characters like "John Doormat", "Clint Clobber", "Gaston Le Crayon", "Sidney", and "Foofle". In early 1958, his theatrical cartoon Sidney's Family Tree (1958) was nominated for Academy Award. In August, 1958, he was fired from Terrytoons, and in 1960, he moved to Prague, Czechoslovakia to work with William L. Snyder, and directed approximately a dozen Tom and Jerry cartoons for MGM, and also "Krazy Kat" and "Popeye" for King Features, and also a Oscar Winning Munro (1961). He later created "Nudnik", a character based on "Foofle", which he created, while at Terrytoons. He lived in Prague, with his wife, Zdenka, until the time of his death on April 16th, 2020.- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Harry O'Connor was born on 28 August 1957 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. He is known for The Perfect Storm (2000), Charlie's Angels (2000) and Air Force One (1997). He died on 4 April 2002 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Miroslav Ondrícek was born on 4 November 1934 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was a cinematographer, known for Amadeus (1984), Hair (1979) and A League of Their Own (1992). He was married to Eva. He died on 28 March 2015 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Actor
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Jan Werich was born on 26 February 1905 in Prague, Austria-Hungary. He was an actor and writer, known for The Emperor and the Golem (1952), Workers, Let's Go (1934) and Král a zena (1967). He died on 31 October 1980 in Prague, Czechoslovakia.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Karel Kachyna was born on 1 May 1924 in Vyskov, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was a director and writer, known for The Ear (1970), Nadeje (1964) and The High Wall (1964). He was married to Alena Mihulová. He died on 12 March 2004 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Frantisek Vlácil was born on 19 February 1924 in Cesky Tesin, Moravian-Silesian, Czech Republic. He was a director and writer, known for Marketa Lazarová (1967), The Valley of the Bees (1968) and Adelheid (1969). He died on 28 January 1999 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Jaromil Jires was born on 10 December 1935 in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia [now Slovak Republic]. He was a director and writer, known for The Joke (1969), Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970) and ...a pozdravuji vlastovky (1972). He died on 26 October 2001 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Writer
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jindrich Polák was born on 5 May 1925 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was a writer and director, known for The Sky Riders (1968), Death of Hitch-Hikers (1979) and The Visitors (1983). He died on 22 August 2003 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Václav Postránecký was born on 8 September 1943 in Prague, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor and director, known for Muz v pozadí (1995), Arrowsmith (1997) and Cukrárna (2010). He was married to Helena Postránecká. He died on 7 May 2019 in Rícany, Prague-East District, Czech Republic.- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Oldrich Lipský was born on 4 July 1924 in Pelhrimov, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was a writer and director, known for The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians (1981), Lemonade Joe (1964) and I Killed Einstein, Gentlemen (1970). He died on 19 October 1986 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic].- Actress
- Soundtrack
Slávka Budínová was born on 21 April 1924 in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for The Evidence Given by Dead Eyes (1971), Léto s kovbojem (1976) and The Death of Tarzan (1963). She was married to Ivo Toman. She died on 31 July 2002 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Irena Kacírková was born on 24 March 1925 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Starci na chmelu (1964), Maskaráda (1963) and Voyage to the End of the Universe (1963). She died on 26 October 1985 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic].- Actor
- Soundtrack
Ladislav Potmesil was born on 2 September 1945 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Ordinace v ruzové zahrade (2005), Ordinace v ruzové zahrade 2 (2008) and Ulice (2005). He was married to Jaroslava Brousková. He died on 12 July 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Make-Up Department
- Actress
Eva Slosarova was born on 21 October 1953 in Nové Mésto na Moravé, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Lady Macbeth von Mzensk (1992), Cabriolet (2001) and Rychlé pohyby ocí (1998). She died on 6 May 2014 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Miroslav Hornícek was born on 10 November 1918 in Pilsen, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Plzen, Czech Republic]. He was an actor and writer, known for When the Woman Butts In (1960), Táto, sezen stene (1964) and Ohne Paß in fremden Betten (1965). He died on 15 February 2003 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Pavel Landovský was born on 11 September 1936 in Havlíckuv Brod, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), Kopfstand (1981) and Cerní baroni (1992). He was married to Helena Albertová. He died on 10 October 2014 in Prague, Czech Republic.
- Director
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Václav Vorlícek, director and scenarist, was born in Prague on June 3, 1930. He studied directing at the Prague Film Schol in 1951-56. His dissertation was the short film "Directive". He took a post at the Barrandov Film Studios, where he worked as assistant director with several directors. He finally became director with "Prípad Lupinek".- Actress
- Soundtrack
Iveta Bartosová was born on 8 April 1966 in Celadná, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for A Killer in Prague (2012), The Vampire Wedding (1993) and Iveta Bartosová: Já se vrátím (1993). She was married to Josef Rychtár and Jirí Pomeje. She died on 29 April 2014 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Actress
- Additional Crew
Karolína Slunécková was born on 8 April 1934 in Kladno, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Noc na Karlstejne (1974), Lekce (1972) and Bylo ctvrt a bude pul (1968). She died on 11 June 1983 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic].- Actress
- Soundtrack
Stella Zázvorková was born on 14 April 1922 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Kolya (1996), Babí léto (2001) and Medved (1961). She was married to Milos Kopecký. She died on 18 May 2005 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Karel Effa was born on 23 May 1922 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Amadeus (1984), 'Ctyri vrazdy stací, drahousku' (1971) and I Killed Einstein, Gentlemen (1970). He died on 11 June 1993 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Juraj Jakubisko was born on 30 April 1938 in Kojsov, Czechoslovakia [now Slovakia]. He was a director and writer, known for Bathory: Countess of Blood (2008), Kristove roky (1967) and Perinbaba (1985). He was married to Deana Horváthová. He died on 24 February 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Actress
- Additional Crew
Gabriela Vránová was born on 27 July 1939 in Nové mesto nad Váhom, Slovakia [now Slovak Republic]. She was an actress, known for Spring Waters (1968), The Great Movie Robbery (1986) and Poklad byzantského kupce (1967). She was married to Jirí Kepka. She died on 16 June 2018 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Jan Nemec was born on 12 July 1936 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was a director and writer, known for Toyen (2005), Diamonds of the Night (1964) and Mucedníci lásky (1967). He was married to Iva Ruszeláková, Veronica Baumann, Marta Kubisová and Ester Krumbachová. He died on 18 March 2016 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Writer
- Actor
- Script and Continuity Department
Zdenek Mahler was born on 7 December 1928 in Batelov by Jihlava, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was a writer and actor, known for Amadeus (1984), The Butcher of Prague (2011) and Svatba jako remen (1967). He died on 17 March 2018 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Karel Fiala was born on 3 August 1925 in Hrusov, Ostrava, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Amadeus (1984), Lemonade Joe (1964) and The Secret of Steel City (1979). He died on 3 October 2020 in Prague, Czech Republic.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Nada Urbánková was born on 30 June 1939 in Nová Paka, Czechoslovakia. She was an actress, known for Closely Watched Trains (1966), Larks on a String (1969) and Kdyby tisíc klarinetu (1965). She was married to Josef Havlík, Karel Urbánek and Jan Nemejovský. She died on 3 February 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Vladimír Dlouhý was born on 10 June 1958 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Kajínek (2010), Hlidac c.47 (2008) and Arabela (1980). He was married to Gabriela Svárovská and Petra Jungmannová. He died on 20 June 2010 in Prague, Czech Republic.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
A musical prodigy, Smetana was encouraged and trained by his father. His move to Prague in 1843 was disheartening when he was unable to generate interest in his abilities; however, he did form a friendship with Liszt, and dedicated several of his works to him. He opened a music school and performed privately for deposed Emperor Ferdinand, and by 1849 he had made enough money to enable him to marry Katerina Kolárová, a former student. Bohemia was torn by revolution, and, beset by financial difficulties, Smetana and his family lived hand-to-mouth for a number of years. Three of his four daughters died between 1854 and 1856, and his wife developed the tuberculosis that would kill her in 1859.
Eventually, in 1856, he went to Sweden to work as a conductor and achieved some success. He returned to Prague in 1861 and helped found a national opera house. Fired with patriotism for his native land, Smetana worked on a number of Bohemian-themed operas and also concentrated on learning the Czech language. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated rapidly in his later years; he became deaf as syphilis ravaged his body. He was confined to a mental asylum where he died in 1888, and is buried in Prague.- Writer
- Director
- Additional Crew
Otakar Vávra was born on 28 February 1911 in Hradec Kralove, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]. He was a writer and director, known for Witchhammer (1970), Romance pro kridlovku (1967) and Dny zrady (1973). He died on 15 September 2011 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Writer
- Director
- Art Director
A graduate of Prague's School of Arts and Crafts, in 1936 he created a puppet theater, which was disbanded after the outbreak of WWII. During the war he designed stage sets and illustrated children's books. In 1945 he set up an animation unit with several collaborators at the Prague film studio; they called the unit "Trick Brothers." Trnka specialized in puppet animation, a traditional Czech art form, of which he became the undisputed master. He also created animated cartoons, but it was his puppet animation that made him an internationally recognized artist and the winner of film festival awards at Venice and elsewhere. He wrote the scripts for most of his own films.- Producer
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Director Ben Barenholtz has been a key presence in the independent film scene - as an exhibitor, distributor, and producer.
In 1968 he opened the Elgin Cinema. The theater became the world's most innovative specialty and revival house, relaunching the films of Buster Keaton among others and screening cult, underground, and experimental films for the emerging counter-cultural audience.
Barenholtz also developed new ways of screening movies. Most notably, he originated the Midnight Movie concept in 1970 with Jodorowsky's El Topo. and followed by John Waters' Pink Flamingos and Perry Henzell's The Harder They Come.
Barenholtz formed Libra Films in 1972. The first film Libra distributed was a revival of Jean-Pierre Melville's Les Enfants Terrible, followed by Tacchella's Cousin, Cousine, which became one of the largest grossing foreign films in the US and was nominated for 3 Academy Awards. Libra also launched and distributed, among others, George Romero's Martin, John Sayles' first feature Return of the Secaucus Seven, and David Lynch's first feature Eraserhead.
In 1984 he joined with Ted and Jim Pedas to form Circle Releasing. Among the films released by Circle were Yoshimitsu Morita's The Family Game, Guy Maddin's first feature Tales From the Gimli Hospital, Vincent Ward's The Navigator, John Woo's The Killer, Catherine Breillat's 36 Fillette, Alain Cavalier's Therese, and Blood Simple, the first film by Joel and Ethan Coen. He continued working with the Coens on the production of Raising Arizona, Miller's Crossing and Barton Fink, which won the Palme d'Or at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, as well as awards for Best Director and Best Actor. This was the first and last time the three top honors have all gone to the same film at Cannes.
Barenholtz went on to produce George Romero's Bruiser, J Todd Anderson's The Naked Man, executive-produced the only film Gregory Hines ever directed, Bleeding Hearts, and Ulu Grossbard's Georgia. He served as co-executive producer of Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream. Barenholtz directed his first feature, Music Inn, a documentary about the famed fifties jazz venue. His second documentary, Wakaliwood, was shot entirely in the slums of Kampala, Uganda.
In 2016, he received the Berlinale Camera award from the Berlinale Film Festival to honor his contributions to the independent film scene.
He has directed his first fiction film, Alina, starring Darya Ekamasova, which will release in Fall 2017. He is developing an autobiographical film, Aaron, and the sequel to Alina.
But his real claim to fame is a five second appearance in George Romero's original Dawn of the Dead.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Martin Fric was born on 29 March 1902 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]. He was a director and writer, known for Workers, Let's Go (1934), Capek's Tales (1947) and Tajemství krve (1953). He was married to Suzanne Marwille. He died on 26 August 1968 in Prague, Czechoslovakia.- Jaroslava Tichá was born on 30 September 1929 in Lubná, Czeskoslovensko. She was an actress, known for Bubny (1965), Pavlínka (1974) and Smutecní slavnost (1969). She died on 21 April 2015 in Prague, Czech Republic.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Otto Simánek was born on 28 April 1925 in Trest', Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Pan Tau (1970), Roky prelomu (1989) and Nena: Du bist überall (1990). He was married to Ludmila Muchová-Simánková and Hermina Jaresová-Simánková. He died on 8 May 1992 in Prague, Czech Republic.