Czech film festival under way |13 November 2004

Marking the accreditation of new Czech Ambassador to Seychelles, Petr Kopriva, the three-day film festival is showcasing a range of light comedies and fairy tales from some of the biggest names in Czech cinema.

Opening the festival, Ambassador Kopriva said that cultural exchanges can help improve understanding between different countries and people.

"I think that films are the best media to share the style of living, of how people in different countries can understand one another," he said, after Czech Honorary Consul, Dr George Panofski had compared Czech-Seychelles cultural links to chapters of a book.

"We opened the first chapter in May this year with (the visit by a) trio of musicians, now we have opened the second chapter with the Czech cinema festival."

"There is a great tradition of Czech and Czechoslovakian cinematography," said Dr Panofski, "Many famous actors and directors, and we believe the biggest benefit is it's total difference from commercial Hollywood style, which is full of violence and crime. These films are full of gentle typical Czech humour."

The opening film of the festival was Postriziny (Cutting it short), described by Ambassador Kopriva as a story about the director of a brewery, his beautiful wife and the arrival of his brother, set between the two World Wars.

The final two films of the festival are being shown today, with Tri Orisky Pro Popelku (Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella) being shown at the National Theatre at 5:00 p.m. and S Tebou Me Bavi Svet (The world is fun with you) starting at 8:00 p.m. at the same venue.

Both films are being shown free of charge.