Reviews

14th Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival in the media.

Milestone book on documentary film published

November 11,  2010 / Referendum newspaper
The Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival and AMU Publishing House have co-published a milestone book dedicated to documentary film. Introduction to Documentary Film, by Bill Nichols, was ceremonially launched during the Opening of Jihlava IDFF 2010. Nichol’s book is one of the most important theoretical explorations of documentary film in the academic world ever.

Jihlava’s joys

November 8, 2010 / Týden / Irena Hejdová
Portrait of Michael Kocáb was one of 14 films to be introduced to the wider public through the Czech Joy film competition, part of the recently ended Jihlava International Film Festival. The competition included other films with a focus on social issues: much acclaimed was Michal Danišovič J.D, a portrait of the man at the head of the police attack on demonstrating students on Národní Street in Prague in 1989, as was Soul in the Coal, a film about women in Horní Jiřetín. Erika Hníková’s bittersweet comedy Matchmaking Mayor drew much attention, as did the Vít Klusák film All for the Good of the World and Nosovice! The audience award, however, was given to Earthlings, Who Are You Voting For?
It has been said that Czech movies are typified by an inability to confront contemporary issues, but the same is certainly not true of Czech documentaries—and Czech documentary filmmakers can connect with global trends via the East Silver documentary market. This market, which has now been part of Jihlava IDFF for seven years, provides a rich film library where filmmakers can learn about the newest trends in film production abroad. And this has obviously been very fruitful.

News from Jihlava: the art of the documentary

November 3, 2010 / Hospodářské noviny / Petr Fisher
This year again the Jihlava Documentary Film Festival refused to shy away from the questions of where the border lies between documentary and fiction and how one can distinguish authentic footage of reality from footage which has been subjected to hidden or unacknowledged manipulation. But in an era characterized by an overabundance of images—a time when one always has to be wary of deceit in what one sees—are these questions really important?

Record breaking attendance. Hundreds of documentaries. The Festival is growing

November 1, 2010/ MF DNES / Petr Okurka

For the past six days Jihlava has been transformed into a young student town, as the 14th Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival attracted record-breaking numbers of visitors.
It may not be the most popular programme format on TV, but it attracts more and more people to Jihlava: it is documentary film. The cinemas [screening the festival’s documentaries] are packed, and audiences really want to see these films, discuss them with their directors, and talk about them among themselves.
This year the festival was attended by 2600 people, the biggest number in its 14-year of history. According to the Artistic Director of the festival, Marek Hovorka, this represents a 25 per cent increase on last year’s attendance.

All for the Good of Jihlava and Nošovice

October 30, 2010 / Lidové noviny / Vojtěch Rynda
The world premier of Vít Klusák’s All For the Good of the World and Nosovice! attracted enormous attention among the festival-going public. It was almost impossible to close the door to the packed DKO hall where the screening took place. The film was shown as part of the Czech Joy competition section.

Jihlava: Godard for the good of the world

October 29, 2010 / Deník / Jana Podskalská

The Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival 2010 is underway. It will present new documentary films from the Czech Republic and abroad as well as themed sections, workshops, and author readings.
The newest controversial film by Jean-Luc Godard had its Czech premiere yesterday. A bitter and ironic film about the ideals that have been left behind in western society, Socialism was warmly received at the Cannes Film Festival. Enfant terrible of French cinema and one of the most influential film directors of the second half of the 20th century, Godard (Breathless, The Little Soldier, Crazy Pete) has once again made an uncompromising film full of critical reflection and humour. The Jihlava Film Festival screened this film as a follow-up to its Godard retrospective in 2005.

A cultural service

October 25, 2010/ Respekt / Jan Gregor
Documentary film is in. It opens horizons and helps one get oriented in a world overloaded with information—and this year’s IDFF will present the record number of 270 films. The Festival has been known for its motto: ‘Think through film!’; this could just as readily be read as ‘Think with your head.’ Think with Ji-hlava. (hlava=head).