We are pleased to announce the winners of the 60th Golden Prague International Television Festival. Congratulations!
GRAND PRIX
Movie: ORPHEA IN LOVE
Producers: EuroArts Music International GmbH
Coproducers: schöne neue filme & SEHR GUTE FILME in co-production with BR/Arte, Bayerische Staatsoper, SHOOTnPost
Justification: Orphea convincingly reinterprets the ancient myth of Orpheus with great cinematographic talent and an enormous sense of humour, making fun of regietheater.
CZECH CRYSTAL – DOCUMENTARY PROGRAMMES DEDICATED TO MUSIC, DANCE AND THEATRE
Movie: MUSIC UNDER THE SWASTIKA – THE MAESTRO AND THE CELLIST OF AUSCHWITZ
Producers: 3B-Produktion GmbH
Coprodusers: Deutsche Welle
Justification: Music under the Swastika shows how music can not only be turned into propaganda but also how it can save lives, as an Auschwitz survivor proves by contrasting the lives of conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler and cellist Anita-Lasker Wallfisch.
CZECH CRYSTAL – RECORDINGS OF STAGE WORK
Movie: INNOCENCE
Producers: CAMERA LUCIDA PRODUCTIONS
Coprodusers: RADIO FRANCE
Justification: The last opera by Kaija Saariaho was very successfully staged by Simon Stone at the d’Aix-en-Provence festival. Film director Philipe Béziat has brilliantly recreated the suspense of this opera for viewers worldwide.
CZECH CRYSTAL – RECORDINGS OF CONCERT PERFORMANCE
Movie: MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME. VILNIUS 700
Producers: Lithuanian National Broadcaster (LRT)
Coproducers: Litva
Justification: Musical Journey through Time, beautifully shot, it combines music from young Lithuanian composers with contemporary architecture and movement to create a pure meditative experience.
CZECH TELEVISION PRIZE
Movie: THE DARK SECRET OF MR. PAGANINI
Producers: A co-production by ORF, ARTE and Felix Breisach Medienwerkstatt funded by Austrian Television Fund and VAM, distributed by ORF-Enterprise
Justification: The film represents an exciting, revelatory, but also hugely entertaining journey in search of what makes the sound of old violins and other string instruments unique – a secret ultimately hidden not so much in their wood but, rather surprisingly, in the material used for their strings, which comes from animals, and the method by which these strings are manufactured. For centuries, this was an anxiously guarded secret; the makers of this film have found a captivating way how to let their audience peek behind the curtain.
SPECIAL MENTION FOR EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT
Movie: THE STRANGEST OF ANGELS
Producers: Minerva Productions
Coproducers: New Zealand Opera
Justification: New Zealand film director Rebecca Tansley successfully transforms the chamber opera The Strangest of Angels into a film on location, raising doubts about who is sane and who isn‘t.
EBU – IMZ OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Alexander Ekman and Mikael Karlsson
Justification: “It gives me great joy that the EBU Music Group and the IMZ Board selected Alexander Ekman and Mikael Karlsson for their contributions and accomplishments to our sector. Their works have made a long-lasting impact on the audiovisual performing arts sector, and even though they are receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award individually, I cannot think of Mika without thinking of Alex and vice versa – they are an inspiring team and I cannot wait to see what’s next”, remarked Arild Erikstad, IMZ President and Executive Producer at NRK. Ieva Rozentale, Chairwoman of the EBU TV Music Expert Group and Head of Culture at Latvian Television, stated that “with their unparalleled creativity, Karlsson and Ekman became trailblazers in the realm of composing, dance and choreography, leaving a profound impact on audiences on and off the screen. I cannot think of a better choice for this year’s award. I am delighted that they honour us with their presence in Prague, and am looking forward to inspiring conversations with them!”
DAGMAR AND VÁCLAV HAVEL FOUNDATION VIZE 97
Movie: NIKOLA MÁROVÁ: PORTRAIT OF A PRIMA BALLERINA
Director: Martin Kubala
Producer: Czech Television
Co-producer: National Theatre
Justification: Raising an educated, culturally-minded nation – this is a goal toward which the VIZE 97 Foundation has been working from its very beginnings, and a goal which we have in common with the Golden Prague television festival. How wonderful it is that Czech Television keeps producing documentaries about individuals who through their outstanding talent elevate the Czech cultural scene to a new level, and who at the same time share their experience with a younger generation! It is almost impossible to properly appreciate the good fortune of having directors such as Martin Kubala, who are able to turn a documentary into a one-of-a-kind artistic experience that exudes a unique atmosphere. Mr. Kubala fully deserves the VIZE 97 Prize for the singular achievement that is "Portrait of a Prima Ballerina". We believe that many viewers will be entertained, educated, and above all inspired by this documentary.