Night Owls and René in Korea
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Audiences at the 13th Pusan International Film Festival have a rare opportunity to see two of the latest achievements in Czech cinematography which offer insight into contemporary Czech society.
In the festival's World Cinema section of non-Asian films, screenwriter Irena Hejdova will introduce Night Owls, a youth-centred drama set in contemporary Prague.
The film won Best Actor and Actress awards for Jiri Madl and Martha Issova, respectively, at Karlovy Vary this summer.
Also in Pusan, director Helena Trestikova will present her documentary René, which was selected for the Wide Angle section. The film follows its title subject over in and out of prison over the course of his life.
Negativ produced both films and has received support from EFP Film Sales Support to help cover marketing expenses at Pusan, one of seven non-European festivals connected to the programme.
The Czech Film Centre is at Pusan for the second time, presenting new Czech film at the EFP umbrella stand at the Asian Film Market. Recent editions of PIFF have seen two Czech titles: Marta Novakova's Marta [trailer] in 2006 and Robert Sedlacek's Rules of Lies in 2007.
Theodore Schwinke cineuropa.org