As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, the Zlin Film Festival in eastern Czech Republic is mounting a photo exhibition of top Czech and Slovak directors. Yesterday afternoon, the photo exhibition was unveiled at the new University Centre, a strikingly modern building that is now a huge addition to the Zlin skyline. The photographs are thework of famed advertising and commercial photographer Karel Česal, wth a theme of highlighting the best film directing talents in both...

  by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor Each year, FESTROIA shines its spotlight on a different film producing country. This year, it is the turn of the Czech Republic, which has been at the forefront of international filmmaking since its celebrated heyday in the 1960s. One of its best known films of that era, CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS by Jiri Menzel was screened here on Sunday evening, with the 76-year-old director in attendance. A gentle satire on Czech life du...

  by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor VACLAV, an award-winning Czech drama, will open the 25th edition of FESTROIA: Troia International Film Festival on Friday evening, September 4. The film, winner of several Czech Lions (the Czech Oscar) and awards at the Shanghai Film Festival, is part of a tribute to recent Czech cinema that will present over a dozen films. The Festival, situated in the beautiful coastal resort of Setubal, less than one hour south of Lisbon, is the ...