Posted by jp in -From John Priddy
John Priddy and event producer Mary Cass
Being in Prague, Czech Republic, for our second annual Windrider/Angelus Film Festival Europe, was nothing short of amazing. TheFocolare community was our gracious host and, in partnership with the ever-energetic Mary Cass, put on a memorable event.
The highly decorated documentary “To Die in Jerusalem,” and the 2008 Angelus Student Film Festival award-winning films, were premiered for the public in two, free, evening screenings during an international workshop: Cinema: Going Beyond the Barriers. The March 6-9 event was a cooperative effort between the Film and TV School of the Academy of the Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) and the Angelus International Student Film Festival / Priddy Brothers / Windrider Forum / Media Alliance associationNetOne.
Our good friend Holly Book, and the Peter Glenville Foundation, once again co-sponsored the workshop — a whirlwind of great films, thought-provoking discussions, making new friends, and for some of us, overcoming serious jet lag! We weren’t “all work and no play” either. We took time out to tour one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and to quench our thirst with famous Czech beer (which was flowing like a fountain, by the way).
In my next few blogs I’ll recap the four-day event, day by day. Here’s what happened Friday night March 6 (“Day 1”):
We opened with the Czech premiere of “To Die in Jerusalem” at Prague’s beautiful, historic Svetozor Theater.
Sold Out Svetozor Theatre in Prague
We were amazed — and thrilled — to see throngs of people waiting in line, and soon learned that the publicity had been incredible. Czech national television covered the premier screening, as did local TV stations. Several radio stations and local papers ran feature stories. In all, 32 newspapers picked up the press release.
The sold-out event welcomed an audience of 400, many of them squeezing in by sitting on the floor, lounging in the aisles, or leaning against the walls. Management finally had to turn people away. Not an inch of space remained — literally!
“To Die in Jerusalem” Director Hilla Medalia and I were on hand for a Q&A session and panel discussion. Local Czech television personality Veronika Sedlácková served as the moderator, Tomas Svoboda was our ever able translator, and middle-east expert, Prof. Lubos Kropácek added a historic perspective for the audience.
After film Panel Discussion:Panel discussion with professor Lubos Kropácek; moderator Veronika Sedlácková and translator was Tomas Svoboda.
Theatre management had expressed concern that, given current tensions is the Middle East, the Q&A could become “problematic.”Thankfully, our Czech audience was not only gracious, but informed and interested; and Medalia did a fabulous job — as always — beautifully fielding even the most difficult questions.
More Photos from Day One:
Outside the Svetzor Theatre
Special Guest: Producer Ralph Winter
Press Conference
