Prague Days of European Film Festival Opens With Salvador Dalí’s Biopic This Week

Film lovers will be treated to the best of contemporary European films at the Days of European Film (DEF) in Prague and across other Czech cities. This 10-day festival opens on Thursday, April 4, featuring various award-winning European movies and debut films made in Europe. In Prague, the festival will run from April 4-9 but screening will go on across other Czech cities up to April 14.

For the past 30 years, the annual event has occurred every Spring in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, and other Czech cities. This 31^st edition this year will show diverse award-winning films including comedies, animations, dramas, and documentaries.

Highlights of The Program

The documentary about renowned Spanish artist, Salvador Dalí will be one of the main features of the festival. The 2023 comedy film is known as Daaaaaalí! It is the work of French director Quentin Dupieux.

See also

Entertainment, Travel

Ângelo Freire Brings Fado to Lisbon

Peter Doherty: Stranger In My Own Skin, is another main feature of the festival that will reveal the reality behind the musician’s struggle with drug addiction. This former Libertines frontman and the film’s director are set to attend a special screening of the film in Prague.

They Shot the Piano Player is another celebrated film that will be shown at the festival. This 2022 animated musical is the work of Oscar-winner and Spanish filmmaker Fernando Trueba.

Other highlights to look forward to include the award-winning documentary, Anselm. The film is based on the life of the acclaimed German painter and sculptor, Anselm Kiefer. This 2023 documentary was directed by the German filmmaker, Wim Wenders.

The Swedish award-winning drama, Paradise Is Burning released in 2023 will be another film for attendees to expect. The film is the work of Mika Gustafson. The sustainable fashion documentary, Fashion Reimagined by Becky Hutner released in 2023, will also be among the best features the film festival will capture.

“Every year, we try to bring a selection of internationally acclaimed films to Czech cinemas that generally don’t make it to regular distribution,” said festival organizer  Šimon Šafránek. “At the same time, we present European filmmakers’ varied takes on topics like relationships, historical views, or pressing current issues,” quoted by Expats.cz.

The program of the festival consists of several sections. One main category is the competition for outstanding first films. Another section is a music-focused competition. There are also the tribute and panorama categories.

In the music category, the documentary Peter Doherty: Stranger In My Own Skin, directed by Doherty’s wife, Katia de Vidas’ will be a main feature. Besides documentaries, this category will include genres like live-action and animated pieces that center on music and its cultural impact.

In the Panoráma category, La Chimera, a 2023 drama by Alice Rohrwacher will be shown. The Irish author John McGahern’s award-winning novel adaptation, That They May Face the Rising Sun will be under this category. Kos, a 2023 film directed by Paweł Masłoń will take its audience to Poland’s 1794 uprising against the Russians.

The festival will honor the legacy of Austrian director Jessica Hausner in its tribute section. Her latest work the thriller Club Zero, released in 2023 will be shown and she is set to be present for the show. Hausner is also behind the acclaimed 2009 Mystery film, Lourdes.

Besides film screening, Days of European Film will organize discussions, seminars, and children’s animation workshops. There will also be screenings dedicated to schools and seniors. All films will have both Czech and English subtitles. Tickets and program details are available on the event’s website.