The 38th Karlovy Vary Film Festival

Study Abroad Program,

Czech Republic

“The Festival naturally also lures hundreds of foreign guests, journalists, film critics, international film-club members, and each year brings greater numbers of foreign television crews, attracted by, among other things, the presence of stars such as Michael Douglas, Milos Forman, Mia Farrow, Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall, Rod Steiger and many others.”

Program Information
The trip will include:
Round trip air transportation with an open-ended return
Accommodations and breakfast
V.I.P. accreditation at the film festival and all entrance tickets
Lectures by Professor Weitz and other Czech film experts
4 days in Prague, 2 days before and 2 days after the festival
Participants will have an opportunity to take optional field trips when not attending screenings a the festival, which may include visits to:
The Terezín Concentration Camp (Theresienstadt)
The crystal town of Novy Bor
The castle and wine cellars of Melnik
“The Czech Paradise” (Cesky Raj)
Participants may earn 3 or 6 FIU credits by registering for a course titled “Czech Film,”taught by Director of the FIU Film Studies Program and Director of the Czech Study Abroad Program Professor Barbara Weitz.
Reservations will be held with an application and a $250 non-refundable deposit that will be applied to the program cost. Enrollment is limited.For more information and a complete application, please contact:

F.I.U. Film Studies Director, Professor Barbara Weitz

weitzb@fiu.edu

Department of English, Florida International University,

University Park – DM 459A, Miami, FL 33199 Miami, FL 33199

IFP/Miami Marketing Director, Mark Woods

mark.woods@fiu.edu

Department of English, Florida International University

Professor Barbara Weitz

You will love traveling with Florida International University Film Studies Director, Professor Barbara Weitz, to the Karlovy Vary 38th International Film Festival 2003. This is the 12th year Professor Weitz has led the F.I.U. Czech Study Abroad Program. Professor Weitz is one of the leading film experts in South Florida. You will benefit from Professor Weitz's special knowledge and experience as you travel to the Czech Republic in Summer 2003. Enjoy the comfort and security of traveling with the F.I.U. Study Abroad Program. The F.I.U. Karlovy Vary Study Abroad Program is open to students from any college or university. Non-students are welcome, also. All program participants can enjoy Professor Weitz's tour orientation classes and lectures on film history, World Cinema, and the Czech “New Wave” Film Movement.

weitzb@fiu.edu

Mark L. Woods

Join other filmmakers and film students led by IFP/Miami Marketing Director, Mark L. Woods at this ultimate, annual “film-lovers” event. Accompany veteran-regional film festival organizer and Graduate Film Studies student, Mark L. Woods, and learn from his expertise in Independent Film Marketing and Distribution. Mark's current film research focuses on “Film Marketing Strategies in “Copyrighted-Entertainment-Products Global Sectors.” Don't miss this opportunity! The Czech Republic will be admitted to the European Union in 2004; this could be your last year to enjoy the incredible dining, shopping, and travel bargains still available in the Czech Republic and the magical capital of Prague! Enrollment is limited, so apply today to guarantee your place.

mark.woods@fiu.edu

Visit Karlovy Vary & Prague, Czech Republic!

A strong tradition of film in the Czech Republic measures up to that of any other nation. In recent years, thanks the work of US Academy Award-winning directors such as Miloš Forman, Jirí Menzel and Jan Sverák, the Czech film industry has moved into the international spotlight. The Czech Republic annually produces approximately 30 feature films and 1,200 documentaries and cartoons and, in fact, Prague houses a rare archive of originally (some repaired and restored) European films. Annual festivals such as the ever-popular Karlovy Vary festival or the unique European Film Days add an exciting dimension to the Czech Republic's cultural offerings. Watch the British Council, the Goethe Institute, the French Institute and the American Center for Culture and Commerce for free screenings of new and classic films.

Why the The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival?
Originally founded in 1946 in the spa town of Mariánské Lázne (Marianbad), the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has been based in elegant Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) since 1948. Since 1990, many films formerly banned by the old regime have been aired here and, post 1994, the Festival has been organised by the Film Festival Karlovy Vary Foundation with both public and private funding. Under the capable auspices of popular Czech actor and producer Jirí Bartoška, the festival has risen to achieve top “A category.” It's now the biggest event of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. Eva Zaoralová, the festival's Art Director, said “although it cannot and does not want to compete with the biggest festivals in the world (Cannes, Berlin and Venice), it tries to offer its audience an interesting and varied program with the emphasis on new talents and finds.” One of its unique characteristics is the "East of the West" section, which introduces new productions from former communist countries - a rare chance to see complete examples of these productions. “This section is greatly appreciated by guests from the West,” comments Zaoralová. The same attention is also given to the section on new Czech cinema.

As Artistic Director, Zaoralová creates the program concept, is responsible for its quality, suggests guests and the International Jury for the festival. But how on earth does she choose the particular films on show? “I give special attention to the choice of films for the competition which, according to FIAPF regulations, must not have been shown in any other international film festival's competition, said Zaoralová. In practice, the choice of films for the competition and for informative sections is carried out either at other festivals, which also offer film markets, or by visiting individual countries, where I can acquaint myself with the latest films in a few days. Other sources are video cassettes. The rule is that I have to know the film to decide whether or not to include it.”

See: www.neweuropepromotions.com/czech/culture2.html

Register Today!

weitzb@fiu.edu