Cinema of Czech Republic
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Czech cinema is the name for cinematography of
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
, as well as the Czech cinematography while it was a part of other countries. '' The Fabulous World of Jules Verne'' is considered the most internationally successful Czech film ever made; soon after its release it was distributed to 72 countries and received widespread attention. Domestically, the most viewed Czech film ever is '' The Proud Princess'' from 1952, which was seen by 8,222,695 people. ''
Marketa Lazarová ''Marketa Lazarová'' is a 1967 Czechoslovak Epic film, epic period drama directed by František Vláčil. It is an adaptation of the novel ''Marketa Lazarová (novel), Marketa Lazarová'' (1931) by Vladislav Vančura. The film takes place in the ...
'' was voted the all-time best Czech movie in a prestigious 1998 poll of Czech film critics and publicists.


History

The first Czech film director and cinematographer was Jan Kříženecký, who started filming short documentaries in
Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and List of cities in the Czech Republic, largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 milli ...
in the second half of 1898. The first permanent cinema house was founded by Viktor Ponrepo in 1907 in Prague.


Interwar period

Among the most prominent directors were
Karel Lamač Karel Lamač (27 January 1897 – 2 August 1952) was a Czech film director, actor, screenwriter, producer and singer. He directed more than 100 films in Czechoslovakia, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Life Lam ...
,
Karl Anton Karl Anton or Karel Anton (25 October 1898 12 April 1979) was a Bohemian-born German film director, screenwriter and film producer. Biography He was born in Prague on 25 October 1898. His father Wilhelm Anton (1861–1918) was a physician. An ...
,
Svatopluk Innemann Svatopluk Innemann (18 February 1896 – 30 October 1945) was a Czech film director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor and actor. He was one of the pioneers of Czech cinema. Biography and works Innemann, was a son of the Czech director R ...
,
Přemysl Pražský Přemysl Pražský was an early Czech film director, film actor, screenwriter and radio producer. He directed and appeared in a number of films in Czechoslovakia in the 1920s and 1930s, directing comedy films such as '' Two Mothers'' (1921), '' T ...
,
Martin Frič Martin Frič (29 March 1902 – 26 August 1968) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He had more than 100 directing credits between 1929 and 1968, including feature films, shorts and documentary films. Throughout his life, F ...
and
Gustav Machatý Gustav Machatý (9 May 1901 – 13 December 1963) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He directed films in Czechoslovakia, USA and Germany including ''Erotikon (1929 film), Erotikon'' and ''Ecstasy (film), Ecstasy''. Life He ...
. The first Czechoslovak film fully made with synchronized sound is considered to be
Když struny lkají ''Když struny lkají'' ( en, When the Strings Wailed) is a 1930 Czechoslovak drama film directed by Friedrich Fehér. It is considered the first Czechoslovak film fully made with synchronized sound. Cast * Václav Vydra as Farmer Michovsk ...
, released in September 1930. Earlier film, ''
Tonka of the Gallows ''Tonka of the Gallows'' (Czech: ''Tonka Šibenice'', French: ''Tonischka'', German: ''Die Galgentoni'') is a 1930 Czech drama film directed by Karl Anton and starring Ita Rina, Vera Baranovskaya and Josef Rovenský. It is an adaptation of the ...
'', released in February 1930 was shot as a silent film and the sound was added in France.
Barrandov Studios Barrandov Studios is a set of film studios in Prague, Czech Republic. It is the largest film studio in the country and one of the largest in Europe. Several major Hollywood productions have been made here, including '' Mission Impossible'', ' ...
was launched by
Miloš Havel Miloš Havel (3 November 1899 – 25 February 1968) was a Czech film producer and studio executive. Havel was a director of the film production company Lucernafilm, which was founded by his father in 1912. He was also a chairman of the film studio ...
in 1933, which started a Czech film industry film boom. It is the largest film studio in the country and one of the largest in Europe.


WW2

During WW2, many major pre-war film directors continued to make films, including
Otakar Vávra Otakar Vávra (28 February 1911 – 15 September 2011) was a Czechs, Czech film director, screenwriter and Pedagogy, pedagogue. He was born in Hradec Králové, Austria-Hungary, now part of the Czech Republic. Biography and career Vávra atten ...
,
Martin Frič Martin Frič (29 March 1902 – 26 August 1968) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He had more than 100 directing credits between 1929 and 1968, including feature films, shorts and documentary films. Throughout his life, F ...
,
Miroslav Cikán Miroslav Cikán (11 February 1896 – 1 February 1962 in Prague) was a Czechoslovak film director. He frequently worked with actors such as Hugo Haas, Jan Werich, and Vlasta Burian. Filmography *''The Mystery of the Blue Room'' (1933) *''Dum na ...
,
Jan Sviták Jan Sviták (23 December 1898 – 11 May 1945) was a Czech actor and film director. He was an important exponent of Czechoslovak film in the interwar period and during World War II. Sviták was murdered shortly after the liberation of Prague in 1 ...
(who was murdered at the end of the war by an anti-fascist mob),
Vladimír Slavínský Vladimír Slavínský (26 September 1890 16 August 1949) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. Life Vladimír Slavínský was born Otakar Vladimír Pitrman in Dolní Štěpánice, on September 26, 1890. Since his youth he acted in ...
,
František Čáp František Čáp (7 December 1913 – 12 January 1972), also known as Franz Cap in Germany, was a Czech and later a Yugoslav film director and screenwriter. He directed 32 films between 1939 and 1970. Having created Slovene film classics such ...
, Zdeněk Gina Hašler (who emigrated to the USA after the war) and Václav Binovec. Vladimír Čech started his career during the WW2, as well as
Václav Krška Václav Krška (7 October 1900 – 17 November 1969) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and writer. Life Krška was born in Písek on 7 October 1900 as the only child. His father was a butcher and innkeeper, but died soon after his bir ...
. Scenario writer
Karel Steklý Karel Steklý (9 October 1903 – 5 July 1987) was a Czech film director. He is most famous for his film '' Siréna'' (1947) for which he won the Golden Lion, and '' The Good Soldier Schweik'' (1957). Filmography *'' Prosťáček'' (1945) ...
turned to film directing at the end of the war and maintained both careers until his death. Well-known actor
Rudolf Hrušínský Rudolf Hrušínský (17 October 1920 – 13 April 1994) was a Czech actor. He was one of the most popular Czech actors. Many of his movies such as ''The Good Soldier Švejk'', ''The Cremator'' or '' Capricious Summer'' are considered classics of ...
(born 1920) also tried himself as a director during this period.


After World War II

Many prominent people of Czech cinema left the country before World War II including directors
Karel Lamač Karel Lamač (27 January 1897 – 2 August 1952) was a Czech film director, actor, screenwriter, producer and singer. He directed more than 100 films in Czechoslovakia, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Life Lam ...
and
Gustav Machatý Gustav Machatý (9 May 1901 – 13 December 1963) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He directed films in Czechoslovakia, USA and Germany including ''Erotikon (1929 film), Erotikon'' and ''Ecstasy (film), Ecstasy''. Life He ...
, cinematographer
Otto Heller Otto Heller, B.S.C. (8 March 1896 – 19 February 1970) was a Czech cinematographer long resident in the United Kingdom. He worked on more than 250 films, including '' Richard III'' (1955), '' The Ladykillers'' (1955) and ''Peeping Tom'' (1960 ...
, actors
Hugo Haas Hugo Haas (19 February 1901 – 1 December 1968) was a Czech film actor, director and writer. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1926 and 1962, as well as directing 20 films between 1933 and 1962. Life and career Haas was born in B ...
and
Jiří Voskovec Jiří Voskovec (), born Jiří Wachsmann and known in the United States as George Voskovec (June 19, 1905 – July 1, 1981) was a Czech actor, writer, dramatist, and director who became an American citizen in 1955. Throughout much of his career ...
and producer Josef Auerbach. Director
Vladislav Vančura Vladislav Vančura () (23 June 1891 in Háj ve Slezsku – 1 June 1942 in Prague) was an important Czech writer active in the 20th century, who was murdered by the Nazis. He was also active as a film director, playwright and screenwriter. Early ...
was murdered by Nazis as were a popular actor and signer
Karel Hašler Karel Hašler (31 October 1879 in Prague – 22 December 1941 in Mauthausen) was a Czech songwriter, actor, lyricist, film and theatre director, composer, writer, dramatist, screenwriter and cabaretier. He was murdered in the Mauthausen concent ...
, actress Anna Letenská and writer Karel Poláček. Studio owner
Miloš Havel Miloš Havel (3 November 1899 – 25 February 1968) was a Czech film producer and studio executive. Havel was a director of the film production company Lucernafilm, which was founded by his father in 1912. He was also a chairman of the film studio ...
and actresses Lída Baarová and
Adina Mandlová Adina Mandlová (28 January 1910 – 16 June 1991) was a Czech stage and film actress. She was one of the leading stars of 1930s and 1940s Czech cinema. She was involved in a number of scandals and love affairs. Life and career Early days Sh ...
went into exile in Germany or Austria after they were accused of collaborating with Nazis during the war. In 1943
Czech Film Archive The National Film Archive (, abb. NFA) is a film archive located in Prague, Czech Republic. It was established in 1943 (From 1943 to 1945 known as Filmový archiv, from 1945 to 1989 Československý filmový ústav, then from 1990 to 1992 Český f ...
(NFA) was established in Prague. In 1945 the Czechoslovak film industry was nationalized. The most viewed Czech film ever, '' The Proud Princess'', was released during this period, in 1952. It was seen by 8,222,695 people. The film also won a prize for a child film at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Famous movies of the 50s include: '' Journey to the Beginning of Time'', ''
The Good Soldier Švejk ''The Good Soldier Švejk'' () is an unfinished satirical dark comedy novel by Czech writer Jaroslav Hašek, published in 1921–1923, about a good-humored, simple-minded, middle-aged man who pretends to be enthusiastic to serve Austria-Hungar ...
'', '' The Emperor and the Golem'', '' The Princess with the Golden Star'', '' The Fabulous World of Jules Verne'', '' Proud Princess'' (the most viewed Czech film ever) and '' Once Upon a Time, There Was a King...''.


New Wave

The
Czechoslovak New Wave The Czechoslovak New Wave (also Czech New Wave) is a term used for the Czechoslovak filmmakers who started making movies in the 1960s. The directors commonly included are Miloš Forman, Věra Chytilová, Ivan Passer, Pavel Juráček, Jiří Me ...
is most frequently associated with the early works of directors such as Miloš Forman,
Věra Chytilová Věra Chytilová (2 February 1929 – 12 March 2014) was an avant-garde Czech film director and pioneer of Czech cinema. Banned by the Czechoslovak government in the 1960s, she is best known for her Czech New Wave film, ''Sedmikrásky'' ('' D ...
, Jiří Menzel and others, although works by older, more established Czechoslovak directors such as Karel Kachyňa and
Vojtěch Jasný Vojtěch Jasný (30 November 1925 – 15 November 2019) was a Czech director, screenwriter and professor who has written and directed over 50 films. Jasný made feature and documentary films in Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria, USA & Canada, and ...
are also placed in this category. Encompassing a broad range of works in the early to mid-1960s, the Czechoslovak New Wave cannot be pinned down to any one style or approach to filmmaking. Examples range from highly stylised, even avant-garde, literary adaptions using historical themes (e.g. Jan Němec's '' Diamonds of the Night (Démanty noci)'') to semi-improvised comedies with contemporary subjects and amateur actors (e.g., Miloš Forman's ''
The Firemen's Ball ''The Firemen's Ball'' (or ''The Fireman's Ball''; cs, Hoří, má panenko - "Fire, my lady") is a 1967 comedy film directed by Miloš Forman. It is set at the annual ball of a small town's volunteer fire department, and the plot portrays a se ...
(Hoří, má panenko)''). However, a frequent feature of films from this period were their absurd, black humour and an interest in the concerns of ordinary people, particularly when faced with larger historical or political changes. The
acid western Acid Western is a subgenre of the Western film that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s that combines the metaphorical ambitions of critically acclaimed Westerns, such as ''Shane'' and ''The Searchers'', with the excesses of the Spaghetti Westerns and ...
comedy film ''
Lemonade Joe ''Lemonade Joe, or the Horse Opera'' ( cs, Limonádový Joe aneb Koňská opera) is a 1964 Czechoslovak musical comedy film, directed by Oldřich Lipský and written by Jiří Brdečka, based on his novel and stage play. A parody of the American ...
'' was a famous parody of old-time westerns. Cinematic influences included
Italian neorealism Italian neorealism ( it, Neorealismo), also known as the Golden Age, is a national film movement characterized by stories set amongst the poor and the working class. They are filmed on location, frequently with non-professional actors. They pri ...
and the French New Wave, although the Czechoslovak New Wave also builds organically on developments in Czechoslovak cinema in the late 1950s when the influence of Stalinism in the film industry declined.


1970s to 1989

Many of the directors active in the previous periods continued to work in this period, including
Otakar Vávra Otakar Vávra (28 February 1911 – 15 September 2011) was a Czechs, Czech film director, screenwriter and Pedagogy, pedagogue. He was born in Hradec Králové, Austria-Hungary, now part of the Czech Republic. Biography and career Vávra atten ...
and Jiří Menzel. During the period of normalization, only the movies that Czech authorities considered harmless were made. Therefore the most successful movies from this era are comedies, sci-fi and family movies, like in the previous periods. A fairy-tale film from 1973, '' Three Nuts for Cinderella'' has become a holiday classic in Czechoslovakia and several European countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden and Norway.


1990s and beyond

Among the most successful Czech films made after the
Velvet Revolution The Velvet Revolution ( cs, Sametová revoluce) or Gentle Revolution ( sk, Nežná revolúcia) was a non-violent transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia, occurring from 17 November to 28 November 1989. Popular demonstrations agains ...
are: ''
Kolya ''Kolya'' ( cs, Kolja) is a 1996 Czech drama film about a man whose life is reshaped in an unexpected way. The film was directed by Jan Svěrák and stars his father, Zdeněk Svěrák, who also wrote the script from a story by Pavel Taussig. ''Ko ...
'', '' Divided We Fall'', '' Cosy Dens'' and '' Walking Too Fast''.


Czech films

:
List of Czechoslovak films A list of films produced in the historical country of Czechoslovakia. As yet only work has been completed on 1898–1935. For films of the Czech Republic from 1991 onwards please see List of Czech Republic films. 1898–1918 (as part of Austria ...
1898–1990 :
List of Czech films The list of Czech films is a list of films made in the Czech lands from 1898 to the present. After 1930 some were with Czech sound, and after 1947 some were in colour. The list is ordered by year of release. 1898–1919 *List of Czech films bef ...
(List of Czech Republic films) 1990–today :
List of Czech animated films This is a list of Czech animated films made in the Czech lands from 1927 to the present. After 1930, many Czech animated films were produced with sound, and after 1947 most were produced in color. The list is ordered by year of release. Referen ...
: List of Czech films considered the best : List of most expensive Czech films : List of highest-grossing Czech films


List of notable Czech directors

*
Karl Anton Karl Anton or Karel Anton (25 October 1898 12 April 1979) was a Bohemian-born German film director, screenwriter and film producer. Biography He was born in Prague on 25 October 1898. His father Wilhelm Anton (1861–1918) was a physician. An ...
*
Jiří Barta Jiří Barta (born 26 November 1948) is a Czech stop-motion animation director. Many of his films use wood as a medium for animation. Among his notable films are the 1986 film ''The Pied Piper''. In 2007 he released his first computer-animated ...
a stop-motion animation
director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...
*
Hynek Bočan Hynek Bočan (Born 29 April 1938) is a Czechs, Czech film director and screenwriter. He started his studies at Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague when he was 18 years old. He started as an assistant director on movies ...
*
František Čáp František Čáp (7 December 1913 – 12 January 1972), also known as Franz Cap in Germany, was a Czech and later a Yugoslav film director and screenwriter. He directed 32 films between 1939 and 1970. Having created Slovene film classics such ...
*
Věra Chytilová Věra Chytilová (2 February 1929 – 12 March 2014) was an avant-garde Czech film director and pioneer of Czech cinema. Banned by the Czechoslovak government in the 1960s, she is best known for her Czech New Wave film, ''Sedmikrásky'' ('' D ...
*
Miroslav Cikán Miroslav Cikán (11 February 1896 – 1 February 1962 in Prague) was a Czechoslovak film director. He frequently worked with actors such as Hugo Haas, Jan Werich, and Vlasta Burian. Filmography *''The Mystery of the Blue Room'' (1933) *''Dum na ...
*
František Čáp František Čáp (7 December 1913 – 12 January 1972), also known as Franz Cap in Germany, was a Czech and later a Yugoslav film director and screenwriter. He directed 32 films between 1939 and 1970. Having created Slovene film classics such ...
* Vladimír Čech *
Frank Daniel František "Frank" Daniel (April 14, 1926 – March 29, 1996) was a Czech- American screenwriter, film director and teacher. He is known for developing the sequence paradigm of screenwriting, in which a classically constructed movie can be b ...
* Miloš Forman, twice won the Academy Award *
Martin Frič Martin Frič (29 March 1902 – 26 August 1968) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He had more than 100 directing credits between 1929 and 1968, including feature films, shorts and documentary films. Throughout his life, F ...
* Saša Gedeon *
Hugo Haas Hugo Haas (19 February 1901 – 1 December 1968) was a Czech film actor, director and writer. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1926 and 1962, as well as directing 20 films between 1933 and 1962. Life and career Haas was born in B ...
* Ladislav Helge *
Juraj Herz Juraj Herz (4 September 1934 – 8 April 2018) was a Czechoslovak film director, actor, and scene designer, associated with the Czechoslovak New Wave movement of the 1960s. He is best known for his 1969 horror/black comedy '' The Cremator'', of ...
* Jan Hřebejk *
Svatopluk Innemann Svatopluk Innemann (18 February 1896 – 30 October 1945) was a Czech film director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor and actor. He was one of the pioneers of Czech cinema. Biography and works Innemann, was a son of the Czech director R ...
*
Vojtěch Jasný Vojtěch Jasný (30 November 1925 – 15 November 2019) was a Czech director, screenwriter and professor who has written and directed over 50 films. Jasný made feature and documentary films in Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria, USA & Canada, and ...
*
Jaromil Jireš Jaromil Jireš (10 December 1935 – 24 October 2001) was a director associated with the Czechoslovak New Wave movement. His 1963 film '' The Cry'' was entered into the 1964 Cannes Film Festival. It is often described as the first film of the Cze ...
*
Pavel Juráček Pavel Juráček (; 2 August 1935 – 20 May 1989) was a Czech screenwriter and film director who studied at FAMU. Juráček started as a screenwriter for many Czech New Wave movies until he became a director. He worked in Prague at the Ba ...
* Karel Kachyňa * Jan S. Kolár *
Jiří Krejčík Jiří Krejčík (; 26 June 1918 – 8 August 2013) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. Born in 1918 in Prague, he began his film career as an extra for Barrandov Studios, during World War II. He then began creating short films an ...
*
Václav Krška Václav Krška (7 October 1900 – 17 November 1969) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and writer. Life Krška was born in Písek on 7 October 1900 as the only child. His father was a butcher and innkeeper, but died soon after his bir ...
*
Karel Lamač Karel Lamač (27 January 1897 – 2 August 1952) was a Czech film director, actor, screenwriter, producer and singer. He directed more than 100 films in Czechoslovakia, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Life Lam ...
*
Oldřich Lipský Oldřich Lipský (4 July 1924 – 19 October 1986) was a Czechs, Czech film director and screenwriter, brother of actor Lubomír Lipský. All his films were comedies, frequently employing themes of Dadaism, farce and magical realism. He was a fr ...
*
Gustav Machatý Gustav Machatý (9 May 1901 – 13 December 1963) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He directed films in Czechoslovakia, USA and Germany including ''Erotikon (1929 film), Erotikon'' and ''Ecstasy (film), Ecstasy''. Life He ...
* Jiří Menzel, won the Academy Award * Jan Němec *
Ivan Passer Ivan Passer (10 July 1933 – 9 January 2020) was a Czech film director and screenwriter, best known for his involvement in the Czechoslovak New Wave and for directing American films such as ''Born to Win'' (1971), '' Cutter's Way'' (1981) and ...
*
Břetislav Pojar Břetislav Pojar (7 October 192312 October 2012) was a Czech puppeteer, animator and director of short and feature films. Born in Sušice, Czechoslovakia, Pojar started his career in the late 1940s with his work on ''The Story of the Bass Cello'' ...
*
Jindřich Polák Jindřich Polák (5 May 1925 – 22 August 2003) was a Czech film and television director. He is known for his science fiction productions, but worked in many different genres. Filmography Television series References External links * ...
*
Přemysl Pražský Přemysl Pražský was an early Czech film director, film actor, screenwriter and radio producer. He directed and appeared in a number of films in Czechoslovakia in the 1920s and 1930s, directing comedy films such as '' Two Mothers'' (1921), '' T ...
* Alfred Radok *
Karel Reisz Karel Reisz (21 July 1926 – 25 November 2002) was a Czech-born British filmmaker, one of the pioneers of the new realist strain in British cinema during the 1950s and 1960s. Two of the best-known films he directed are '' Saturday Night and S ...
, Czech-born British director * Josef Rovenský *
Evald Schorm Evald Schorm (15 December 1931 – 14 December 1988) was a Czech film and stage director, screenwriter and actor. He directed 26 films between 1959 and 1988. Schorm was a notable exponent of the Czech Film New Wave. Biography Schorm was bo ...
* Bohdan Sláma *
Karel Steklý Karel Steklý (9 October 1903 – 5 July 1987) was a Czech film director. He is most famous for his film '' Siréna'' (1947) for which he won the Golden Lion, and '' The Good Soldier Schweik'' (1957). Filmography *'' Prosťáček'' (1945) ...
*
Jan Sviták Jan Sviták (23 December 1898 – 11 May 1945) was a Czech actor and film director. He was an important exponent of Czechoslovak film in the interwar period and during World War II. Sviták was murdered shortly after the liberation of Prague in 1 ...
*
Jan Švankmajer Jan Švankmajer (; born 4 September 1934) is a Czech filmmaker and artist whose work spans several media. He is a self-labeled surrealist known for his stop-motion animations and features, which have greatly influenced other artists such as Ter ...
*
Jan Svěrák Jan Svěrák () (born 6 February 1965 in Žatec) is a Czech film director. He is the son of screenwriter and actor Zdeněk Svěrák. He studied documentary filmmaking at the FAMU. He and his films have received awards including the Academy Award ...
, twice won the Academy Award *
Jiří Trnka Jiří Trnka (; 24 February 1912 – 30 December 1969) was a Czech puppet-maker, illustrator, motion-picture animator and film director. In addition to his extensive career as an illustrator, especially of children's books, he is best kn ...
, puppet motion-picture animator *
Hermína Týrlová Hermína Týrlová (11 December 1900 in Příbram, Březové Hory – 3 May 1993 in Zlín) was a prominent Czech people, Czech animator, screen writer, and film director. She was often called ''the mother of Czech animation''. Over the course of he ...
*
Otakar Vávra Otakar Vávra (28 February 1911 – 15 September 2011) was a Czechs, Czech film director, screenwriter and Pedagogy, pedagogue. He was born in Hradec Králové, Austria-Hungary, now part of the Czech Republic. Biography and career Vávra atten ...
* František Vláčil, his
Marketa Lazarová ''Marketa Lazarová'' is a 1967 Czechoslovak Epic film, epic period drama directed by František Vláčil. It is an adaptation of the novel ''Marketa Lazarová (novel), Marketa Lazarová'' (1931) by Vladislav Vančura. The film takes place in the ...
was voted the all-time best Czech movie * Václav Vorlíček * Jiří Weiss * Petr Zelenka *
Karel Zeman Karel Zeman (3 November 1910 – 5 April 1989) was a Czech film director, artist, production designer and animator, best known for directing fantasy films combining live-action footage with animation. Because of his creative use of special effec ...


Nominations and Awards


Nominations for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film

*1965 - ''
The Shop on Main Street ''The Shop on Main Street'' ( Czech/ Slovak: ''Obchod na korze''; in the UK ''The Shop on the High Street'') is a 1965 Czechoslovakian film about the Aryanization program during World War II in the Slovak State. The film was written by Ladislav G ...
'' by
Ján Kadár Ján Kadár (1 April 1918 – 1 June 1979) was a Hungarian-born Slovak film writer and director of Jewish heritage. As a filmmaker, he worked in Czechoslovakia, the United States, and Canada. Most of his films were directed in tandem with Elm ...
and
Elmar Klos Elmar Klos (26 January 1910 – 19 July 1993) was a Czech film director who collaborated for 17 years with his Slovak colleague Ján Kadár and with him won the 1965 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of award ...
- Won Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film *1966 - '' Loves of a Blonde'' by Miloš Forman *1967 - ''
Closely Watched Trains ''Closely Watched Trains'' ( cs, Ostře sledované vlaky) is a 1966 Czechoslovak film directed by Jiří Menzel and is one of the best-known products of the Czechoslovak New Wave. It was released in the United Kingdom as ''Closely Observed Trains ...
'' by Jiří Menzel - Won Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film *1968 - ''
The Firemen's Ball ''The Firemen's Ball'' (or ''The Fireman's Ball''; cs, Hoří, má panenko - "Fire, my lady") is a 1967 comedy film directed by Miloš Forman. It is set at the annual ball of a small town's volunteer fire department, and the plot portrays a se ...
'' by Miloš Forman *1986 - ''
My Sweet Little Village ''My Sweet Little Village'' ( cs, Vesničko má středisková) is a 1985 Czechoslovak film directed by Jiří Menzel. In 1987 it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Plot The film's main storyline follows the lif ...
'' by Jiří Menzel *1991 - '' The Elementary School'' by
Jan Svěrák Jan Svěrák () (born 6 February 1965 in Žatec) is a Czech film director. He is the son of screenwriter and actor Zdeněk Svěrák. He studied documentary filmmaking at the FAMU. He and his films have received awards including the Academy Award ...
*1996 - ''
Kolya ''Kolya'' ( cs, Kolja) is a 1996 Czech drama film about a man whose life is reshaped in an unexpected way. The film was directed by Jan Svěrák and stars his father, Zdeněk Svěrák, who also wrote the script from a story by Pavel Taussig. ''Ko ...
'' by
Jan Svěrák Jan Svěrák () (born 6 February 1965 in Žatec) is a Czech film director. He is the son of screenwriter and actor Zdeněk Svěrák. He studied documentary filmmaking at the FAMU. He and his films have received awards including the Academy Award ...
- Won Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film *2000 - '' Divided We Fall'' *2003 - '' Želary'' by
Ondřej Trojan Ondřej Trojan () (born 31 December 1959) is a Czech film producer, actor and film director. Two of the films he produced were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film : '' Divided We Fall'' (2000) and '' Želary'' (2003), ...


Contenders at Cannes Film Festival

*1946 - ''
Men Without Wings ''Men Without Wings'' ( cs, Muži bez křídel) is a 1946 Czech drama film directed by František Čáp. It was entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival, where it was one of the winners of the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film, late ...
'' by
František Čáp František Čáp (7 December 1913 – 12 January 1972), also known as Franz Cap in Germany, was a Czech and later a Yugoslav film director and screenwriter. He directed 32 films between 1939 and 1970. Having created Slovene film classics such ...
- Won Palm d'Or *1946 - '' Vánoční sen'' by
Karel Zeman Karel Zeman (3 November 1910 – 5 April 1989) was a Czech film director, artist, production designer and animator, best known for directing fantasy films combining live-action footage with animation. Because of his creative use of special effec ...
- Won Grand Prix International for best short fiction film *1946 - '' Springman and the SS'' by
Jiří Trnka Jiří Trnka (; 24 February 1912 – 30 December 1969) was a Czech puppet-maker, illustrator, motion-picture animator and film director. In addition to his extensive career as an illustrator, especially of children's books, he is best kn ...
*1951 - '' The Trap'' by
Martin Frič Martin Frič (29 March 1902 – 26 August 1968) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He had more than 100 directing credits between 1929 and 1968, including feature films, shorts and documentary films. Throughout his life, F ...
*1954 - '' A Drop Too Much'' by
Břetislav Pojar Břetislav Pojar (7 October 192312 October 2012) was a Czech puppeteer, animator and director of short and feature films. Born in Sušice, Czechoslovakia, Pojar started his career in the late 1940s with his work on ''The Story of the Bass Cello'' ...
- Won Best Puppet Film *1955 - ''
Dog's Heads ''Dog's Heads'' ( cs, Psohlavci) is a 1955 Czech drama film directed by Martin Frič, based on the novel of the same name by Alois Jirásek. It was entered into the 1955 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Vladimír Ráž - Jan Sladký-Kozina * Jan ...
'' by
Martin Frič Martin Frič (29 March 1902 – 26 August 1968) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He had more than 100 directing credits between 1929 and 1968, including feature films, shorts and documentary films. Throughout his life, F ...
*1955 - ''
The Good Soldier Schweik ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
'' by
Jiří Trnka Jiří Trnka (; 24 February 1912 – 30 December 1969) was a Czech puppet-maker, illustrator, motion-picture animator and film director. In addition to his extensive career as an illustrator, especially of children's books, he is best kn ...
*1956 - '' Dalibor'' by
Václav Krška Václav Krška (7 October 1900 – 17 November 1969) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and writer. Life Krška was born in Písek on 7 October 1900 as the only child. His father was a butcher and innkeeper, but died soon after his bir ...
*1956 - '' The Dolls of Jiří Trnka'' by Bruno Šefranka - Won Special Mention - Short Film *1957 - '' Lost Children'' by Miloš Makovec *1958 - '' Suburban Romance'' by
Zbyněk Brynych Zbyněk Brynych (13 June 1927 – 24 August 1995) was a Czech film director and screenwriter. He directed 30 films between 1951 and 1985. Selected filmography Czechoslovakia * '' Suburban Romance'' (1958) * ''Five in a Million'' (1959) * ...
*1958 - '' Než nám narostla křídla'' by Jiří Brdečka - Won Special Prize for Short Film *1959 - '' Desire'' by
Vojtěch Jasný Vojtěch Jasný (30 November 1925 – 15 November 2019) was a Czech director, screenwriter and professor who has written and directed over 50 films. Jasný made feature and documentary films in Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria, USA & Canada, and ...
*1959 - ''
Butterflies Don't Live Here Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The group comprises t ...
'' by
Miro Bernat Miro or Miró may refer to: Companies * Miro Company, a French game manufacturer * Miro Technologies, a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) software supplier from California * Pinnacle Systems, Miro Video series of the video capture cards * ...
- Won Palme d'Or for Best Short Film *1960 - '' When the Woman Butts In'' by Zdeněk Podskalský *1960 - '' Pozor'' by Jiří Brdečka *1961 - '' Fantazie pro levou ruku a lidské svědomí'' by Pavel Hobl *1962 - '' Man in Outer Space'' by
Oldřich Lipský Oldřich Lipský (4 July 1924 – 19 October 1986) was a Czechs, Czech film director and screenwriter, brother of actor Lubomír Lipský. All his films were comedies, frequently employing themes of Dadaism, farce and magical realism. He was a fr ...
*1962 - '' Člověk pod vodou'' by Jiří Brdečka *1963 - '' The Cassandra Cat'' by
Vojtěch Jasný Vojtěch Jasný (30 November 1925 – 15 November 2019) was a Czech director, screenwriter and professor who has written and directed over 50 films. Jasný made feature and documentary films in Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria, USA & Canada, and ...
- Won Special Jury Prize *1963 - '' Železničáři'' by
Evald Schorm Evald Schorm (15 December 1931 – 14 December 1988) was a Czech film and stage director, screenwriter and actor. He directed 26 films between 1959 and 1988. Schorm was a notable exponent of the Czech Film New Wave. Biography Schorm was bo ...
*1964 - '' The Cry'' by
Jaromil Jireš Jaromil Jireš (10 December 1935 – 24 October 2001) was a director associated with the Czechoslovak New Wave movement. His 1963 film '' The Cry'' was entered into the 1964 Cannes Film Festival. It is often described as the first film of the Cze ...
*1964 - '' Flora nese smrt'' by Jiří Papoušek *1965 - ''
The Shop on Main Street ''The Shop on Main Street'' ( Czech/ Slovak: ''Obchod na korze''; in the UK ''The Shop on the High Street'') is a 1965 Czechoslovakian film about the Aryanization program during World War II in the Slovak State. The film was written by Ladislav G ...
'' by
Ján Kadár Ján Kadár (1 April 1918 – 1 June 1979) was a Hungarian-born Slovak film writer and director of Jewish heritage. As a filmmaker, he worked in Czechoslovakia, the United States, and Canada. Most of his films were directed in tandem with Elm ...
and
Elmar Klos Elmar Klos (26 January 1910 – 19 July 1993) was a Czech film director who collaborated for 17 years with his Slovak colleague Ján Kadár and with him won the 1965 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of award ...
- Won Special Mention for actors *1965 - '' Johann Sebastian Bach: Fantasy in G minor'' by
Jan Švankmajer Jan Švankmajer (; born 4 September 1934) is a Czech filmmaker and artist whose work spans several media. He is a self-labeled surrealist known for his stop-motion animations and features, which have greatly influenced other artists such as Ter ...
- Won Prix du Jury for Short Film *1966 - '' The Pipes'' by
Vojtěch Jasný Vojtěch Jasný (30 November 1925 – 15 November 2019) was a Czech director, screenwriter and professor who has written and directed over 50 films. Jasný made feature and documentary films in Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria, USA & Canada, and ...
*1966 - '' Číslice'' by Pavel Procházka *1967 - ''
Hotel for Strangers ''Hotel for Strangers'' ( cs, Hotel pro cizince) is a 1967 Czechoslovak comedy film directed by Antonín Máša. It was entered into the 1967 Cannes Film Festival. The film reconstructs the last days of murdered young poet Petr Hudec ( Petr Če ...
'' by
Antonín Máša Antonín Máša (22 July 1935 – 4 October 2001) was a Czech film director and screenwriter. His movie ''Hotel for Strangers'' competed in Cannes Film Festival. Life Máša was born in Višňová on 22 July 1935. He was a childhood friend ...
*1968 - ''
A Report on the Party and the Guests ''A Report on the Party and Guests'' ( cs, O slavnosti a hostech, also known in English as ''The Party and the Guests'') is a 1966 Czechoslovakian political satire film directed by Jan Němec. It was banned in Czechoslovakia from 1966 to 1968 f ...
'' by Jan Němec *1968 - ''
The Firemen's Ball ''The Firemen's Ball'' (or ''The Fireman's Ball''; cs, Hoří, má panenko - "Fire, my lady") is a 1967 comedy film directed by Miloš Forman. It is set at the annual ball of a small town's volunteer fire department, and the plot portrays a se ...
'' by Miloš Forman *1969 - '' End of a Priest'' by
Evald Schorm Evald Schorm (15 December 1931 – 14 December 1988) was a Czech film and stage director, screenwriter and actor. He directed 26 films between 1959 and 1988. Schorm was a notable exponent of the Czech Film New Wave. Biography Schorm was bo ...
*1969 - ''
All My Compatriots ''All My Compatriots'', also known as ''All My Countrymen'' ( cs, Všichni dobří rodáci), is a 1968 Czechoslovak film directed by Vojtěch Jasný. Considered the "most Czech" of his contemporary filmmakers, Jasný's style was primarily lyrici ...
'' by
Vojtěch Jasný Vojtěch Jasný (30 November 1925 – 15 November 2019) was a Czech director, screenwriter and professor who has written and directed over 50 films. Jasný made feature and documentary films in Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria, USA & Canada, and ...
- Won Best Director *1969 - '' Moc osudu '' by Jiří Brdečka *1970 - '' Fruit of Paradise'' by
Věra Chytilová Věra Chytilová (2 February 1929 – 12 March 2014) was an avant-garde Czech film director and pioneer of Czech cinema. Banned by the Czechoslovak government in the 1960s, she is best known for her Czech New Wave film, ''Sedmikrásky'' ('' D ...
*1972 - '' Hvězda Betlémská'' by
Hermína Týrlová Hermína Týrlová (11 December 1900 in Příbram, Březové Hory – 3 May 1993 in Zlín) was a prominent Czech people, Czech animator, screen writer, and film director. She was often called ''the mother of Czech animation''. Over the course of he ...
*1974 - '' Leonarduv deník'' by
Jan Švankmajer Jan Švankmajer (; born 4 September 1934) is a Czech filmmaker and artist whose work spans several media. He is a self-labeled surrealist known for his stop-motion animations and features, which have greatly influenced other artists such as Ter ...
*1980 - '' Krychle'' by Zdeněk Smetana - Won Jury Prize for Short Film *1981 - '' Diskžokej'' by
Jiří Barta Jiří Barta (born 26 November 1948) is a Czech stop-motion animation director. Many of his films use wood as a medium for animation. Among his notable films are the 1986 film ''The Pied Piper''. In 2007 he released his first computer-animated ...
*1981 - '' Král a skřítek'' by
Lubomír Beneš Lubomír Beneš (7 November 1935, Prague – 12 September 1995, Roztoky) was a Czech animator, director, and author, best known as the co-creator of ''Pat & Mat'', an animated series about two highly inventive, yet incredibly clumsy handymen neigh ...
*1989 - '' Manly Games'' by
Jan Švankmajer Jan Švankmajer (; born 4 September 1934) is a Czech filmmaker and artist whose work spans several media. He is a self-labeled surrealist known for his stop-motion animations and features, which have greatly influenced other artists such as Ter ...
*1990 - '' The Ear'' by Karel Kachyňa *1990 - '' Portrét'' by Pavel Koutský *1990 - '' Time of the Servants'' by Irena Pavlásková - Caméra d'Or - Special Mention


Contenders at Venice Film Festival

*1934 - '' Ecstasy'' by
Gustav Machatý Gustav Machatý (9 May 1901 – 13 December 1963) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He directed films in Czechoslovakia, USA and Germany including ''Erotikon (1929 film), Erotikon'' and ''Ecstasy (film), Ecstasy''. Life He ...
- Won Best Director *1934 - '' The River'' by Josef Rovenský - Won Best Director *1934 - '' Bouře nad Tatrami'' by Tomáš Trnka - Won Best Director *1934 - '' Maryša'' by Josef Rovenský - Won Special Recommendation *1937 - '' Batalion'' by
Miroslav Cikán Miroslav Cikán (11 February 1896 – 1 February 1962 in Prague) was a Czechoslovak film director. He frequently worked with actors such as Hugo Haas, Jan Werich, and Vlasta Burian. Filmography *''The Mystery of the Blue Room'' (1933) *''Dum na ...
- Won Special Recommendation *1939 - ''
Humoreska ''Humoreska'' is a 1939 Czechoslovak drama film directed by Otakar Vávra. Cast * Rudolf Hrušínský as Young Josef Hupka * Vladimír Salač as Teenage Hynek * Jaroslav Průcha Jaroslav Průcha (24 April 1898 – 25 April 1963) was a C ...
'' by
Otakar Vávra Otakar Vávra (28 February 1911 – 15 September 2011) was a Czechs, Czech film director, screenwriter and Pedagogy, pedagogue. He was born in Hradec Králové, Austria-Hungary, now part of the Czech Republic. Biography and career Vávra atten ...
*1939 - '' Macoun the Tramp'' by Ladislav Brom *1939 - '' Sklenice i chléb'' by Jaroslav Tuzar *1940 - '' Muž z neznáma'' by
Martin Frič Martin Frič (29 March 1902 – 26 August 1968) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He had more than 100 directing credits between 1929 and 1968, including feature films, shorts and documentary films. Throughout his life, F ...
*1941 - '' Nocturnal Butterfly'' by
František Čáp František Čáp (7 December 1913 – 12 January 1972), also known as Franz Cap in Germany, was a Czech and later a Yugoslav film director and screenwriter. He directed 32 films between 1939 and 1970. Having created Slovene film classics such ...
- Won Targa di segnalazione *1947 - '' Capek's Tales'' by
Martin Frič Martin Frič (29 March 1902 – 26 August 1968) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He had more than 100 directing credits between 1929 and 1968, including feature films, shorts and documentary films. Throughout his life, F ...
*1947 - '' The Czech Year'' by
Jiří Trnka Jiří Trnka (; 24 February 1912 – 30 December 1969) was a Czech puppet-maker, illustrator, motion-picture animator and film director. In addition to his extensive career as an illustrator, especially of children's books, he is best kn ...
*1947 - ''
The Strike ''The Strike'' (also known as ''Strike!'', although this is more properly the title of the fictitious Hollywood movie featured in the episode) is one of the short comedy films – written by Peter Richardson and Pete Richens, and directed by Ric ...
'' by
Karel Steklý Karel Steklý (9 October 1903 – 5 July 1987) was a Czech film director. He is most famous for his film '' Siréna'' (1947) for which he won the Golden Lion, and '' The Good Soldier Schweik'' (1957). Filmography *'' Prosťáček'' (1945) ...
- Won Golden Lion *1955 - '' From My Life'' by
Václav Krška Václav Krška (7 October 1900 – 17 November 1969) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and writer. Life Krška was born in Písek on 7 October 1900 as the only child. His father was a butcher and innkeeper, but died soon after his bir ...
*1958 - '' The Wolf Trap'' by Jiří Weiss - Won New Cinema Award and FIPRESCI Prize *1963 - '' The Golden Fern'' by Jiří Weiss *1963 - '' Mud Covered City'' by Václav Táborský - Won Lion of San Marco for Best Documentary *1965 - '' Loves of a Blonde'' by Miloš Forman *1965 - '' Útěk do větru'' by Václav Táborský - Won Lion of San Marco *1966 - '' Ptáci koháci'' by Jiří Torman - Won Plate *1966 - '' Krtek a raketa'' by
Zdeněk Miler Zdeněk Miler (; 21 February 1921 – 30 November 2011) was a Czech animator and illustrator best known for his ''Mole'' (''Krtek'' or ''Krteček'' in original) character and its adventures. Early years Miler was born in Kladno just west o ...
- Won Recreative Children's Film *1969 - '' Čest a sláva'' by
Hynek Bočan Hynek Bočan (Born 29 April 1938) is a Czechs, Czech film director and screenwriter. He started his studies at Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague when he was 18 years old. He started as an assistant director on movies ...
- Won Best Foreign Film *1981 - ''
Cutting It Short ''Cutting It Short'' (also released as ''Shortcuts'') ( cs, Postřižiny) is a 1980 Czechoslovak comedy film directed by Jiří Menzel. It is based on the novel ''Postřižiny'' by Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal. The story is set in a brewery in a ...
'' by Jiří Menzel *1990 - '' Martha and I'' by Jiří Weiss *2019 - '' The Painted Bird'' by Václav Marhoul


Contenders at Moscow Film Festival

*1935 - '' Workers, Let's Go'' by
Martin Frič Martin Frič (29 March 1902 – 26 August 1968) was a Czech film director, screenwriter and actor. He had more than 100 directing credits between 1929 and 1968, including feature films, shorts and documentary films. Throughout his life, F ...
- Special jury prize for actors
Jiří Voskovec Jiří Voskovec (), born Jiří Wachsmann and known in the United States as George Voskovec (June 19, 1905 – July 1, 1981) was a Czech actor, writer, dramatist, and director who became an American citizen in 1955. Throughout much of his career ...
and
Jan Werich Jan Werich (; 6 February 1905 – 31 October 1980) was a Czech actor, playwright and writer. Early life Between 1916 and 1924, Werich attended "reálné gymnasium" (equivalent to high school) in Křemencova Street in Prague (where his future b ...
*1959 - '' Escape from the Shadows'' by
Jiří Sequens Jiří Sequens (23 April 1922 – 21 January 2008) was a Czech film director. Life Sequens was born in Brno. After the Second World War, he went to Moscow where he studied film techniques. When he returned to Czechoslovakia he worked for Cz ...
- Golden Medal *1961 - ''
Fetters Legcuffs are physical restraints used on the ankles of a person to allow walking only with a restricted stride and to prevent running and effective physical resistance. Frequently used alternative terms are leg cuffs, (leg/ankle) shackles, foot ...
'' by Karel Kachyňa *1963 - ''
Death Is Called Engelchen ''Death Is Called Engelchen'' ( sk, Smrt sa volá Engelchen) is a 1963 Czechoslovak war film directed by Ján Kadár and Elmar Klos. It was entered into the 3rd Moscow International Film Festival where it won a Golden Prize. Plot At the end of ...
'' by
Ján Kadár Ján Kadár (1 April 1918 – 1 June 1979) was a Hungarian-born Slovak film writer and director of Jewish heritage. As a filmmaker, he worked in Czechoslovakia, the United States, and Canada. Most of his films were directed in tandem with Elm ...
and
Elmar Klos Elmar Klos (26 January 1910 – 19 July 1993) was a Czech film director who collaborated for 17 years with his Slovak colleague Ján Kadár and with him won the 1965 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of award ...
- Golden Prize


See also

* Czech Lion - Annual awards of Czech Film and Television Academy *
Barrandov Studios Barrandov Studios is a set of film studios in Prague, Czech Republic. It is the largest film studio in the country and one of the largest in Europe. Several major Hollywood productions have been made here, including '' Mission Impossible'', ' ...
- Prague's film studios * Karlovy Vary International Film Festival * Finále Plzeň Film Festival - Film Festival of Czech and Slovak films * Film Festival Zlín - International Film Festival for Children and Youth * Ateliery Bonton Zlín - Animation Film Production Company *
Czechoslovak New Wave The Czechoslovak New Wave (also Czech New Wave) is a term used for the Czechoslovak filmmakers who started making movies in the 1960s. The directors commonly included are Miloš Forman, Věra Chytilová, Ivan Passer, Pavel Juráček, Jiří Me ...
* List of films Czech films considered the best *
List of Czech Academy Award winners and nominees This is a list of Czech Academy Award winners and nominees. This list details the performances of Czech actors, actresses, and films that have either been submitted or nominated for, or have won, an Academy Award. Best International Feature Film ...
*
Cinema of the world This is a list of cinema of the world by continent and country. By continent * Cinema of Africa *Cinema of Asia **South Asian cinema **Southeast Asian cinema * Cinema of North America * Cinema of Latin America *Cinema of Europe * Cinema of Oceani ...


Further reading

*


References


External links


GreenCine primer on Czech and Slovak CinemaHistory of Czech cinematographyAn article on places from Czech movies
{{Europe in topic, Cinema of