SECTION: SPOTLIGHT ČESKO

Films from Czechoslovakia and today's Czech Republic have proven hits amongst festival audiences since the FilmFestival Cottbus was founded; these number the laconic comedies from award-winning Petr Zelenka in the 1990s and the multifaceted mentality study NATIONAL STREET, which was in fact shown on German cinema screens this summer. Ever since the international success of the “New Wave” at the end of the 1960s a sensitive, subtly ironic look at social absurdities, political power relations and personal sensitivities have all numbered amongst the stand-out features of Czechoslovak and Czech cinema. Television has also become an important player on the production landscape. Spotlight Česko features a selection of current Czech films; from the enigmatic historical biopic HAVEL via the tongue-in-cheek documentary comedy LOST COAST to the highly emotional father-daughter animated drama DAUGHTER. BB

Spotlight Česko is presented in cooperation with Finále Plzeň Festival and is generously supported by the Czech-German Fund for the Future.