Zlín Film Festival

Chances are that on your wanders through Prague, you've come across merchandise for a fuzzy little fella by the name of Krteček (Little Mole). This much-loved, much-marketed cartoon critter - still going strong after 55 years - is a paradigm of the Czechs' love for onscreen children's entertainment. It is fitting, then, that Krteček's creator, Zdeněk Miler, is a regular supporter of the Zlín Film Festival, which prides itself on promoting movies for children and youth, and in championing emerging young film talent.

"Film Clapperboards," recently on display at the Hibernia Theater in Prague, is one of the festival's many initiatives to generate finance for student productions at Filmová škola Zlín (Zlín Film School). Each year, 130 of the traditionally black-and-white clapperboards are artistically decorated by some prominent and some lesser-known Czech artists, before being exhibited and put up for auction. Last year, Miler's own clapperboard, which featured his famous cartoon creation, won the highest bid of 170,000 Kč.

On May 29, the Zlín Film Festival begins in earnest, with a plethora of international films specially targeted at children and young adults, heading to the southeast Moravian city. The festival's main competitive sections focus on feature films and animations, while "European Debuts" presents the opportunity for young filmmakers to give their debuts a public airing. Now in its 51st year, the festival is refreshing its identity; the central hubbub of events relocating to a new building: architect Eva Jiřičná's Congress Centre. Meanwhile, the coveted Golden Slippers - trophies awarded to the best feature and animation films - have undergone a redesign by sculptor Radim Hanek.

Among those judging this year's Golden Slippers are Czech film director and FAMU graduate Jan Hřebejk, and Canadian actress Stana Katic, who starred in the 2008 Bond film Quantum of Solace. Of the eight movies nominated for the main children's award, the Czech Republic will field two: last month's cinematic release Čertova nevěsta (Devil's Bride), which was shot at Prague's Barrandov Studios, and F.A. Brabec's V peřině (Under the Duvet), a fantastical story based in a drycleaners and starring Lucie Bílá.

"Even though the Czech Republic is not among the superpower countries of children's films, almost every year there is at least one Czech film for children and youth nominated at the festival competition," says festival spokeswoman Nela Fišerová. "But the main countries that are really good at producing these movies are Germany, Russia and the Scandinavians."

In addition to the festival's customary competition sections, this year the spotlight will shine on Italian and Hungarian cinema, plus there will be a celebration of Walt Disney, 110 years since his birth. Festivities are also on the cards for the 75th anniversary of Zlín Film Studios, which were originally established by entrepreneur J.A. Baťa as a center of advertising for his lucrative shoe company. Incidentally, this is also where Miler began his career.

Although Zlín's is among the most family-friendly film events in the country, Fišerová maintains that it is not purely targeted at parents and their children, but rather, to be enjoyed by everyone. In particular, the festival is keen to appeal to those youth on the threshold of adulthood and working life.

"It is their feelings, tastes, education and moral qualities in particular that will shape society," Fišerová says. "A measure of goodwill, tolerance and understanding among young people across the world will significantly influence the atmosphere of the 21st century."

Picks

Ocean Heaven Hong Kong, 2010. Xiao Lu Xue, director. A touching narrative, in which a terminally ill father attempts to pass on his worldly knowledge to an autistic son. Features an unusual appearance from martial artist Jet Li. May 29 at 7:30

The Runway Ireland, 2010. Ian Power, director. Inspired by the true story of a South American pilot who became stranded in Mallow, Ireland, and was able to return home only after the townspeople come together to build a runway. Stars Demián Bichir and Jamie Kierans are attending the first screening. May 30 at 8; May 31 at 10:20 a.m.

The Liverpool Goalie Norway, 2010. Arild Andresen, director. A warm comedy following 12-year-old Jo, who eschews girlfriends and his mother in the hunt for a rare soccer card, which he believes will solve all of life's problems. Contender for one of the Golden Slippers. May 31 at 10:30 a.m.; June 2 at 1:20

Score: A Hockey Musical Canada, 2010. Michael McGowan, director. Sheltered 17-year-old Farley is snapped up by a major league hockey team and sucked into a world of fame and fortune, the drawbacks of which he hasn't bargained for. Cheesy high-jinks on ice. May 31 at 7:20; June 1 at 7:30

The Lost Thing Australia/UK, 2010. Andrew Ruhemann, Shaun Tan, directors. Featuring comedic ivory-tinkler Tim Minchin, The Lost Thing is about a boy who discovers a strange creature on a beach. It won this year's Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. June 1 at 11 a.m.

Čertova nevěsta Czech Republic, 2011. Zdeněk Troška, director. Continuing the Czech custom of fairytale-telling, Čertova nevěsta spins the yarn of an impatiently broody queen who turns to the Devil for help getting pregnant with a daughter. Unsurprisingly, complications ensue. June 2 at 10:30 a.m.; June 4 at 10:20

All films are in English or with English subtitles.

Will Noble can be reached at
wnoble@praguepost.com