By Ryan Keating-Lambert
This weekend sees the 12th glorious year of the Prague Short Film Festival hosted by the organisers of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (let’s just call it KVIFF). The bulk of the festival will be in Kino Svetozor from 18/01 – 22/01 which will have a seemingly endless selection of short films from around the world, and of course, the Czech Republic.
For your viewing pleasure, the programme has been split into sections – from this year’s BAFTA nominees to Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories. Check out some of the festival recommendations below. All films are English friendly.
International Short Film Competitions
The main part of the festival consists of four major blocks showing the best short films from all over the world. 18 countries will be represented in total… For those who don’t have a lot of knowledge or experience with short films, this is where I’d start. Go get a proper taste for what’s out there.
Check out the programme for specific times and details.
Check the Czechs
Appropriately named, check out the best Czech short films of the year from the best of the best of film schools, the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, (let’s just call it FAMU).
There will also be an extended version of the section called Check the Czechs XXL with extra content and some juicy short films from the Czech Film Center. On top of that, a wicked party in the venue Kino Pilotu after the screening.
Screenings:
Check the Czechs XXL – Friday 20/01, from 19.00 – Kino Pilotu
Check the Czechs – Sunday 22/01, from 15.30 – Kino Svetozor
Brutal Relax Show
Zombies, bizarre medical procedures, bears, and terrible diets. The Brutal Relax Show sucks you into the world of the wonderfully grotesque with a wide variety of unique films from all over the world and will be presented and moderated by regular guest Simona Babčáková.
Screenings:
Moderated show – Saturday 21/01, from 21.00 – Kino Svetozor
Screening only – Sunday 22/01, from 21.30 – Kino Pilotu
Neil Gaiman’s ‘Likely Stories’
Renowned British author of the dark and devious Neil Gaiman has had four of his short stories made into a project by directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (of Nick Cave: 20 000 Days on Earth documentary fame). Experience the signature surrealism of Neil Gaiman in this series of short films set in and around London.
Screenings:
Thursday 19/01, from 18.00 – Kino Svetozor
Sunday 22/01, from 14.30 – Kino Svetozor
The festival also boasts some notable and nominated films for this years BAFTAs, a Pragueshorts for Kids section and so much more.
Tickets can be purchased in festival venues Kino Svetozor, Kino Pilotu, Kino Aero and Bio OKO. For more information, visit the website.
Photos: PragueShorts.
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