Awards
Audience Award
KATIA KABANOVA
François Roussillon et Associés (France)
Prize of the Foundation VIZE 97
KEEP THE BEAT
Czech Television (Czech Republic)
Reasons:
The Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation Vize 97 Prize was awarded to the programme Keep the Beat which was produced by Czech Television and directed by Olga Sommerová. The Foundation Vize 97 thoroughly appreciated this summary documentary based on the Chap-book Project which was inspired by the Berlin Philharmonic´s successful concept Rhythm is it! It is an extraordinary performance; a playful and creative approach of the film-makers towards the collaboration between dance professionals and complete beginners. The documentary shows the transformation of the originally indifferent and unqualified children, their joy at their own achievement and the knowledge they have gained and lessons learned through working together on a creative artistic work.
Czech Television Prize
EVERYTHING IS A GIFT: THE WONDER AND THE GRACE OF ALICE SOMMERHERZ
Allegro Films (United Kingdom)
Reasons:
The Czech Television Prize was awarded to the programme Everything is a Gift – The Wonder and the Grace of Alice Sommer –Herz directed by Christopher Nupen. It is the outstanding, deep and wise confession of the Prague native pianist Alice Sommer – Herz who suffered and survived the horrors of the Nazi concentration camp. Music always being for her a life long inspiration and encouragement. Even today she continues to practise the piano for two and a half hours every day at the age of 106. The director Christopher Nupen has completely proven that serious artistic works – if they are to really say something - can originate simply without any complicated formal or technical procedures.
Czech Crystal
Category 1: Documentary programmes dedicated to music and dance
ELGAR: THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK
Crux Productions Ltd. (United Kingdom)
Reasons:
We all felt that this was a beautifully crafted film about a subject whose reputation as a major composer is being re-examined and the use of archive material – including much of the composer himself is exemplary. There are still people alive who tell stories about him and the letters reveal a man behind the mask of English reserve. This portrait of a human being gives new insights into his music.
Czech Crystal
Category 2: Music on the TV screen (recordings of opera, operetta, musicals, dance, ballet, concerts)
CARMEN
François Roussillon et Associés (France)
Reasons:
The Czech Crystal for music on the TV Screen goes to Carmen from Opéra Comique in Paris – the location where the first performance took place in 1875. Whilst retaining the tradition of the first performance this is also a very contemporary interpretation beautifully performed and captured for the small screen. Musically the forces of John Eliot Gardiner’s Orchestra Revolutionaire et Romantique with period instruments and the Monteverdi Choir continues a long line of authentic interpretation. The soloists led by Anna Caterina Antonacci were an impeccable cast. Of the many Carmens in the world the stage performance here, we believe, stands ahead of the rest and the way it was captured for television makes it the prize winner. However we also wanted to give a special mention to the production of Katia Kabanova from the Teatro Real also directed by François Roussillon.
Special mention for extraordinary artistic achievement
SOUNDS UNDER THE SUN
Mistrus Media (Latvia)
Reasons:
The prize for Extraordinary artistic achievement we have given to Sounds Under Sun – a film from Latvia. This is an evocative, magical and beautiful film. It combines haunting lyricism with spiritual music from all corners of the earth creating ‘sounds under the sun’. It was filmed poetically and challenges the audience to look at the world with more curiosity. In a busy world this is a difficult thing to achieve and we think this film achieved it with great style.
Grand Prix GOLDEN PRAGUE
BALLET BOYZ: THE RITE OF SPRING
BBC (United Kingdom)
Reasons:
The jury believes that this film broke boundaries for television – firstly by commissioning it for a channel that never shows dance and also – probably more importantly – by introducing amateur performers to a world that was unknown to them. It is sure that it will have changed the performers and the TV audiences’ perception of dance in a positive way. The Ballet Boyz success in breaking these boundaries is celebrated in this film and though it was not obvious that this challenge would work – the skills, imagination and tireless energy of the Ballet Boyz’ team made a memorable film that we unanimously agreed deserved the top prize.