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Czech Masters of Animation at the National Film School of Denmark in Copenhagen

On Tuesday 2 November 2010, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Copenhagen in cooperation with the National Film School of Denmark, the Danish Design School and the National Film Archive in Prague arranged a one-day film event with works by Czech masters of animation.

The occasion of the event was the 100th-year anniversary of the birth of Karel Zeman – the genius of Czech animation film. Works of the most significant animators in Czech film history were presented.

 The event took place at the screening hall of the National Film School of Denmark in Copenhagen with a program divided into thematic sections. The first part opened with Danish film historian Ulrich Breunning who presented the history and development of the Czechoslovak and Czech animation film and introduced short films by the most famous Czech animators: How the Mole Got His Pants (1957) by Zdeněk Miler; the very last film by Jiří Trnka: The Hand (1965); The Dog´s Fiddles (1971) by Břetislav Pojar; Dimensions of Dialogue (1982) by Jan Švankmajer and The Fall (1999) by Aurel Klimt. Finally Ulrich Breunning introduced one of the best-known films by Karel Zeman, The Fabulous Baron Münchhausen (1961).

From the right: Czech Ambassador Zdeněk Lyčka, Professor Alice de Champfleury and film historian Ulrich Breunning
From the right: Czech Ambassador Zdeněk Lyčka, Professor Alice de Champfleury and film historian Ulrich Breunning

During the second section, the professor at the National Film School of Denmark, Alice de Champfleury introduced the main guest – Czech animator Jiří Barta who presented and commented on samples from his new film In the Attic: Who Has a Birthday Today? (2009) together with some of his previous works.

From the right: Czech animator Jiří Barta and Professor Alice de Champfleury
From the right: Czech animator Jiří Barta and Professor Alice de Champfleury

Czech animator Jiří Barta presented his new film In the Attic
Czech animator Jiří Barta presented his new film In the Attic

Czech Ambassador Zdeněk Lyčka commemorated Karel Zeman’s achievements and his contribution to world cinematography and presented a short documentary The Magic World of Karel Zeman (1962) by Zdeněk Rozkopal. Finishing off the final section, Zeman’s last movie In the Attic: Who Has a Birthday Today? (2009) was shown.

The audience consisted of students and teachers of the two above mentioned universities, some interested Danes and Czech expatriots. Refreshments and Czech beer were served at the end.

Czech Ambassador Zdeněk Lyčka commemorated Karel Zeman’s contributions to world cinematography and introduced the Czech animator Jiří Barta
Czech Ambassador Zdeněk Lyčka commemorated Karel Zeman’s contributions to world cinematography and introduced the Czech animator Jiří Barta