czech Archives – Page 8 of 21

This year, more streets will be festively decorated in Prague. The municipality is investing almost four million CZK in the lighting, and in the past years, it spent around two million CZK on decorations. Residents of Prague 9 will also see Christmas decorations in some of their streets this year.

The capital will have Christmas trees in Na Příkopě Street, and a small park in the Old Town Square, as well as lighting on them, told Prague City Council spokesman Vit Hofman. “Starting this year, the lighting of the city will be much more extensive, in more streets,” he added.

The municipality will provide Christmas decorations in the city center, for example on Mariánské náměstí, Old Town and Wenceslas Square, Smetana, and Dvořák Embankments, Evropská and Na Příkopě streets.

Unlike in previous years, Christmas decorations will also sparkle Prague 9 this year. “You will see lights in Vysočany, Sokolovská Street, from Balabenka to UN Square and Freyova Street,” said City Hall spokeswoman Marie Kurková. Some streets in Prosek will also be decorated, where there will be a Christmas tree in the Friendship Park (Park Přátelství).

According to Jana Hamrníka, the City Hall of Prague 10 will pay 917,000 CZK for Christmas decorations this year. In addition to the main Christmas tree on Kubánské Square, there will be 33 small trees for kindergartens and elementary schools, and another eight trees will be decorated within the areas of the city district.

This year’s Prague 5 decoration will cost 1.5 million CZK, said Jitka Drmolová on behalf of the city district, stating that it is preparing a new illuminated LED decors. The Modřany Town Hall will pay almost 300,000 CZK for Christmas decorations.

The streets of Prague will start lighting next week, and on the weekend of November 30 and December 1, the festive lighting of Christmas trees will take place. The decoration in the city will remain mostly until January 6.

At the expense of hotels, accommodation platforms in Prague are taking a growing share of the increasing business of tourists. The percentage of Airbnb platforms in tourist accommodation is increasing, and hotel owners are trying to counter this with new development projects.

Every year, three hundred thousand more tourists come to Prague. However, while the number of hotel beds has risen by 1.4 percent over the last two years, accommodation capacity via Airbnb platforms has grown by 34 percent. These results come from a study by the consulting firm Deloitte, according to which, last year Prague had available for short-term rental about fourteen thousand apartments.

“The possibility of profits through short-term housing platforms pushes people out of the city center. We expect this effect to extend farther,” said Deloitte’s property manager Miroslav Linhart.

According to Cushman & Wakefield, there are now in the capital a total of 16 hotel projects with 2900 rooms. However, only 42 percent of this capacity is being built. “Taking into account the strength and considerable size of the Prague hotel business, the planned construction is relatively modest and easily absorbed by the market. Especially when we realize that it may take many years for the hotels to be completed,” said Bořivoj Vokřínek, a hotel market specialist from Cushman & Wakefield.

According to him, an example of a complex path from the plan to the realization is the project of a luxury hotel of the Ritz Carlton chain in buildings near the Old Town Square. Builders are already working there, but the project has been under construction since 1998. However, the growth in accommodation platforms does not mean that Prague hotels are empty. “Their occupancy has been around 78 percent on average for the second year running. This percentage is a relatively high number. However, the average prices of accommodation are gradually increasing, and Prague is already close to the prices of Vienna,” said Václav Stárek, President of the Czech Association of Hotels and Restaurants.

Per room, the price for a four- or a five-star hotel in Prague in September is an average of ninety euros, and in Vienna 102 euros. Prague hoteliers year-on-year average prices increased by 2.2 percent, while the occupancy rate increased by 70 percent according to the hotel association statistics.

Film lovers in Prague can go on a journey into the world of French art: Institut français de Prague is to host the 22nd edition of the French Film Festival from November 20 to 27. Some of the entries will be English-friendly.

This year, the festival will take place not only in Prague but also in the regions: in České Budějovice and Ostrava from November 21 to 27, in Hradec Králové from November 24 to 28, and in Brno from November 25 to December 1.

Four Prague cinemas – Lucerna, Svetozor, Edison Film Club, and Kino 35 in the French Institute – will screen recent hits and a few classics with English subtitles as part of the Critics’ Choice, a Tribute to Henri-Georges Clouzot, Short Film Evening, and Focus Adèle Haenel.

CZECH CRITICS’ CHOICE

Chambre 212/On a Magical Night (2019)

Director: Christophe Honoré

After 20 years of marriage, Maria decides to leave. She moves to the room 212 of the hotel opposite her marital home. From there, Maria can scrutinise her apartment, her husband, her wedding. She wonders if she has made the right decision.

A 2019 French comedy film was premiered on May 19 at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, where Chiara Mastroianni, a starring actress, won the award for best performance. The film was released in France on October 30, 2019.

21.11. – 18h00 – Kino 35, Štěpánská 35, Praha 1

23.11. – 21h15 – Lucerna – Velký Sál, Vodičkova 704/36, Praha 1

25.11. – 20h30 – Kino Světozor – Velký Sál, Vodičkova 791/41, Praha 1

TRIBUTE TO HENRI-GEORGES CLOUZOT

Clouzot was a French film director, screenwriter and producer. Also known as a “French Hitchcock”, he is best remembered for his work in the thriller film genre, having directed The Wages of Fear and Les Diaboliques, which are recognised as among the greatest films from the 1950s. Clouzot also directed documentary films, including The Mystery of Picasso, which was declared a national treasure by the government of France. All of these films will be screened as part of the tribute to the great film director.

1) The Wages of Fear/Le salaire de la peur (1952)

The Southern Oil Company, which pretty much rules the roost in the impoverished village of Las Piedras, sends out a call for long-distance truck drivers. Southern Oil’s wages of 2,000 dollars per man are, literally, to die for — the drivers are obliged to transport highly volatile nitroglycerine shipments across some of the most treacherous terrains on earth. Through expository dialogue, tense interactions and flashbacks, we become intimately acquainted with the four drivers who sign up for this death-defying mission: Corsican Yves Montand, Italian Folco Lulli, German Peter Van Eyck, and Frenchman Charles Vanel. The first half of the film slowly, methodically introduces the characters and their motivations. The second half — the drive itself — is a relentless, goosebump-inducing assault on the audience’s senses.

The film brought Clouzot international fame—winning both the Golden Bear and the Palme d’Or at the 1953 Berlin Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival, respectively—and allowed him to direct Les Diaboliques.

20.11. – 18h00 – Lucerna – Malý Sál, Vodičkova 704/36, Praha 1

23.11. – 20h00 – Kino Světozor – Malý Sál, Vodičkova 791/41, Praha 1

2) Les Diaboliques/The Devils (1955)

Clouzot’s Les Diabolique is set in a provincial boarding school run by headmaster Michel Delasalle (Paul Meurisse). A ruthless lothario, he becomes the target of a murder plot concocted by his long-suffering invalid wife Christina (Vera Clouzot, the director’s own spouse) and his latest mistress, an icy teacher played by Simone Signoret. A dark, dank thriller with a much-imitated “shock” ending, Diabolique is a masterpiece of Grand Guignol suspense. The simple murder plot goes haywire, and Michel’s corpse disappears, prompting strange rumors of his reappearance which grow more and more substantial as the film careens wildly towards its breathless conclusion.

The film was the 10th highest-grossing film of the year in France, with a total of 3,674,380 admissions and received the 1954 Louis Delluc Prize, a French film award presented annually since 1937.

23.11. – 15h30 – Kino Světozor – Malý Sál, Vodičkova 791/41, Praha 1

24.11. – 17h30 – Lucerna – Malý Sál, Vodičkova 704/36, Praha 1

3) The Mystery of Picasso/Le mystère Picasso (1956)

A filmed record of Pablo Picasso painting numerous canvases for the camera, allowing us to see his creative process at work. Clouzot concentrates upon a real-life enigma in The Mystery of Picasso. While we are treated to several scenes of the legendary Spanish artist at work, explanations of his inspiration are not always forthcoming. As with Pablo Picasso’s paintings, this documentary is meant to be experienced, not understood. The in-progress paintings displayed in The Mystery of Picasso were destroyed by the artist after the film was completed, thus this feature-length documentary has in the past forty years assumed the status of “Must See.”

The Mystery of Picasso was released in France on May 18, 1956. The film won the Special Jury Prize at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival.

22.11. – 18h15 – Lucerna – Malý Sál, Vodičkova 704/36, Praha 1

24.11. – 16h00 – Kino Světozor – Malý Sál, Vodičkova 791/41, Praha 1

SHORT FILM EVENING (SOIRÉE DU COURT MÉTRAGE)

The Short Film Night, prepared in collaboration with Unifrance, presents eight short films: Plein Ouest (2019), Per Aspera ad Astra (2019), Sape (2018), La Mouche de bronze (2019), Hurlevent (2019), Crazy Hair (2018), Le Chant d’Ahmed (2018), and Ma Dame au Camélia (2019).

26.11. – 20h30 – Kino Světozor – Velký Sál, Vodičkova 791/41, Praha 1

27.11. – 18h00 – Kino 35, Štěpánská 35, Praha 1

FOCUS ADÈLE HAENEL

1) In the Name of My Daughter/L’homme qu’on aimait trop (2014)

Director: André Téchiné

Nice, 1976. When her marriage falls apart, Agnes Le Roux (Adèle Haenel) moves back to the South of France from Africa to live with her mother, Renee (Catherine Deneuve), owner of the Palais de La Mediterranee casino in Nice. There, Agnes falls in love with Maurice Agnelet (Guillaume Canet), a lawyer and Renee’s business advisor, who is ten years her senior. Maurice continues to have relationships with other women. Agnes is madly in love with him. As a shareholder in the Palais de la Mediterannee casino, Agnes decides to sell what should have been her inheritance to go it alone. A fixed card game threatens the casino’s financial stability. Someone is trying to intimidate her mother. Behind the scenes hangs the shadow of the mafia and Fratoni, the owner of a rival casino, who wants to take over the Palais de la Mediterannee. Agnelet, who has fallen from grace with Renee, introduces Agnes to Fratoni. Fratoni offers her 3 million francs to vote against her mother in the shareholder’s meeting. Agnes accepts the offer. Renee loses control of the casino. Agnes finds it hard to cope with her betrayal. Maurice also distances himself from her. In November 1977, after a failed suicide attempt, Agnes disappears. Her body is never found. Thirty years on, Maurice Agnelet remains the prime suspect in a murder case with no body and no proof of his guilt. Convinced of his involvement, Renee is prepared to fight to the bitter end to see him put behind bars…

23.11. – 21h00 – Lucerna – Malý Sál, Vodičkova 704/36, Praha 1

24.11. – 18h15 – Kino Světozor – Malý Sál, Vodičkova 791/41, Praha 1

25.11. – 16h30 – Lucerna – Velký Sál, Vodičkova 704/36, Praha 1

2) Orphan/Orpheline (2017)

Director: Arnaud des Pallières

Screened at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, the film narrates about four moments in the lives of four female characters. Sandra’s youth as she moves to Paris and has a brush with disaster. Karine’s teenage years, an endless succession of runaways, men and mishaps, because anything is better than her desolate family home. The childhood of a little girl called Kiki, captured as a game of hide and seek turns to tragedy. And finally the grown-up life of Renée, a woman who thought she was safe from her own past. Gradually, we come to understand that these four characters are actually different sides of the same woman.

22.11. – 20h15 – Kino Světozor – Malý Sál, Vodičkova 791/41, Praha 1

23.11. – 16h30 – Edison Filmhub, Jeruzalémská 1321/2, Praha 1

26.11. – 16h00 – Lucerna – Velký Sál, Vodičkova 704/36, Praha 1

The wall on Kampa, by the Vltava River, has been redesigned by the internationally renowned artist and illustrator Petr Sís, whose works adorn public space in New York, Lisbon, Cape Town or at Václav Havel Airport in Prague.

The “Velvet Bridge” commemorates the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and visually discusses the history of Czechoslovakia between 1918 and 1989. The work will be completed next spring.

The most recent artistic achievement of Sís is this replica of the Charles Bridge. The author will place 12 paintings in the arches of the bridge, which symbolically describe the history of Czechoslovakia between 1918 and 1989.

On the Kampa wall, two paintings in a cartoon design by Petr Sis have been introduced, one representing Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and the other representing Václav Havel. The finished work will be installed next spring after the necessary reconstruction of the wall.

Visualization: Petr Sis

The work was initiated by a philanthropist of Irish origin, Bill Shipsey, founder of the Art for Amnesty initiative. Shipsey is engaging prominent artists around the world in promoting issues related to human rights and the development of democracy.

He has collaborated on projects around the world with personalities such as Nelson Mandela, Joan Baez, Bono Vox, Peter Gabriel, U2, Sting, Yoko Ono, Paul Simon and John Legend.

As an admirer of the first President of the Czech Republic, Shipsey also advocates the installation of the so-called Václav Havel benches around the world.

“On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of this international event, we are honoured to provide Prague with this artistic gift for all the brave women and men who made the revolution happen. We hope that the Velvet Bridge will remind both locals and visitors that freedom and human rights are not a matter of course and must be protected every day,” said Bill Shipsey.

Petr Sís, who alternately lives in New York and Prague, in Nerudova Street in Malá Strana, is delighted to realize the project. “I’m glad this wall is turning into a bridge. I am still finishing some elements of the work, and because I like to come back here, I care about every detail,” he said.

The capital receives the work as a donation from partners, three-quarters of the costs of realization are covered by contributions of private persons.

The Tour de France has started five times abroad over the past eight years. Soon, the beginning of the most famous cycling race could take place in Prague.

“Prague is a beautiful city, one of the most beautiful capitals. If it stands, we will judge it with the greatest possible attention,” said the general director of the legendary race, Christian Prudhomme.

The lead course designer, Thierry Gouvenou, confirmed that Prague could enter the game of organizing the Tour. “I know that the City of Prague has already established contacts with our organizing agency ASO,” informed Gouvenou at the end of July.

Negotiations are in progress. “We are acting in cooperation with the Czech Cycling Association, with Škoda Auto and with the organizing agency,” said Prague City Councilor for Education, Sport, Science and Business Support, Vít Šimral.

The costs of the Tour organization or the start of the three-week race is millions of crowns. This year the Tour started in Brussels, next year it will start in Nice, and in 2021 the so-called Grand Départ will be host in Copenhagen.

“We’ve been doing everything we can to get the Tour to start here. Negotiations are in progress, but I can’t conclude how they will evolve. We will officially give a resolution together with our partners in three or four months” added Šimral.

This is probably why the Czech Cycling Association is slightly restrained about the Tour. “I heard that we are working on it, but I do not know anything else. When someone contacts us, we will deal with it, but now we do not know anything specific,” responded Petr Marek, president of the Cyclists’ Union.

On the contrary, Šimral remarked that at the beginning of next year a delegation of representatives of the organizing agency ASO should arrive in Prague to negotiate the submission of the candidature.

“We will submit the candidature if the preliminary negotiations confirm us that we have a real chance to organizing the event,” explained Prague councillor.

The Grand Tour cycling races have never been held in the Czech Republic, although there have been recent efforts to get the Giro d’Italia. There were speculations about 2017 or 2018 and the politician Václav Klaus Jr. (Tricolor of the Citizens’ Movement) was involved. However, negotiations were not successful, and the Giro began in 2017 in Sardinia, and a year later in Israel.

Peter Sagan’s fan page on Facebook published the profiles of three proposed stages for 2023 of the Tour in the Czech Republic, giving a hint about the efforts to organizing it in the Czech Republic.

The itineraries of the stages are presented in the official visual style of the Tour de France and, according to the label, come from La Flamme Rouge, the profile creator of the biggest bike races.

The 18.5 kilometres long Prague time trial runs from Josefov to Vítkov through points such as the Strahov Stadium and Charles Square. The next stage around the capital is 160.5 kilometres long and leads cyclists through Slaný or Beroun, including two climb bonuses. Also, a 195 kilometres long, crossing from Prague to Karlovy Vary, with several climbs and a total of five bonuses.

In the end, however, it turned out that the three proposed stages are probably only the work of La Flamme Rouge users, where cycling enthusiasts discuss races or stages and can model their route profiles.

Šimral was surprised by the stage designs. “That was ahead of us, we’re not that far,” he smiled. “We have already begun to think theoretically where the stages would lead, but we are at the very beginning, and therefore I do not want to give more details,” Prague councillor added.

The Tour de France in the Czech Republic would mean a considerable advertisement for Prague and the whole country. The situation should be more precise at the beginning of next year.

Already redesigned for an all-weather cozy experience, Manifesto Markets in Smichov and Florenc created a magical holiday experience.

Winter holiday-styled market will be inaugurated on November 20th at both locations, complete with Christmas trees, lights and aromatic traditional drinks and food. The remaining weeks until the end of this year are the last opportunity to explore Manifesto Smichov, covered recently by Dezeen for its design and architectural qualities.

At Smichov, six igloos will be surrounded by containers decorated with ribbon, turning them into giant “gift boxes”. On January 2^nd, Manifesto Smichov will close at its current location, as originally planned. At Manifesto Florenc, the designers are adding vintage chandeliers above its iconic long communal table, covered with a fabric roof. As a gift to the visitors, Manifesto will host several free concerts and music nights.

OUR TIP: Manifesto Winter Market Opening Program

20. 11. Manifesto Winter Market Opening | Manifesto Smíchov | Juwana Jenkins, DJ Tris Kayo
More info here

20. 11. Manifesto Winter Market Opening | Manifesto Florenc | Concert Trombenik
More info here

A five-meter tree from Czech countryside will be lit-up for the first time on Wednesday Nov 20^th, at both locations, and powered by renewable energy from Nano Energies.

Visitors can book cozy transparent igloos on GoOut.

Czech-made red-white porcelain cups adorned with Manifesto’s iconic design replace single-use cups for enjoying mulled wine and drinks.

To help navigate the new seasonal menus, visitors can scan QR codes on each table and get inspired by the most popular and recommended meals. Manifesto remains open Wed-Sun 11am-10pm, through November and December.

“The winter redesign will take more than three weeks to be ready for guests on November 20th. Manifesto Winter Market will be open for six weeks, bringing people and families together until the end of the year. From DATE Manifesto Florenc will be taking on a ski break and Manifesto Smichov pop-up will close at its current location. In the city, you don’t have to go to the mountains to have winter fun. We’ve created a unique environment to enjoy fresh air in the city,” explains Martin Barry, founder of the food and culture market drawing on his experience of designing year-round public spaces in Canada and other cold-weather countries.

Photo courtesy: Manifesto

What’s new: our picks

At both markets, heated domes – igloos – can be booked on GoOut. Newly this season, you can wrap yourself in brand new Manifesto blankets and some igloos come together with a chilled bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne.

On the culture side, Manifesto Smichov will present live music and DJs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and Manifesto Florenc will continue to host Friday Nightmarket with live music, on top of special highlights of the Fall season. Events line-up is available at the new website manifestomarket.com.

Holiday Opening Hours

20. 11. Manifesto Winter Market opening | Manifesto Smíchov and Florenc

November-December Open Wen-Sun 11am-10pm

23. 12. Open 11am-10pm
24. 12 Closed
25. 12. Closed
26. 12. Open 11am-10pm
27. 12. Open 11am-10pm
28. 12. Open 11am-10pm
29. 12. Open 11am-10pm
30. 12. Closed
31. 12. Open 11am-10pm
1. 1. Open 11am-10pm
2. 1. Closed

Photo courtesy: Manifesto

Jillian Garvey—Anglo American University

Taking over the stage at Roxy on Thursday, November 14, is the British musical artist Charlotte Aitchison, better known as Charli XCX.

Described as ahead of her time, Charli XCX has a sound unlike any other in the industry. Bordering experimental while pushing the limits of pop, it is a struggle to define her genre. Music critics have described her as dance-pop, electropop, pop punk, alternative pop, and even cyborg pop.

Though perhaps being ahead of one’s time is just the best way to describe music of the future. Basically, Charlie XCX plays a mix of conventional pop vocals laid over digital techno beats, making for an always fun, up-beat music perfect for all-night ragers.

Her unique style of music has led this 27-year-old to be stuck with a “rising star” status for the past decade. Nonetheless she has built a reputation as a triple threat in the music industry.

Not only is she a singer, but also a songwriter and producer, who has contributed to some of the most popular songs of the decade including Icona Pop’s “I Love It” and Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy.” While her most recent collaboration as co-writer is with Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello on the hit “Senorita.” She has also managed to have ten hits on the UK top 40 charts over the years, since her first one, which was “I Love It” in 2013.

Charli XCX’s success hasn’t come easy though. She first entered the music industry at the age of 16 after getting noticed on MySpace by a promoter. Charli XCX was her MSN Messenger display name for her MySpace. Despite her age, she soon began to perform at illegal warehouse parties and raves in East London, taking any opportunity to get her name known. This eventually led to her getting signed by Asylum Records in 2010, who she has been with since.

However, making music for raves was not where Charli pictured her career going. When she left that scene, after getting signed to Asylum, she was confused as to which path she wanted to pursue. In a 2013 interview for The Guardian, she said “I was lost, you know? I was still in school, I’d just come out of this weird rave scene, and I wasn’t really sure what to make of that. And when I got signed I hated pop music; I wanted to make bad rap music. I didn’t know who I was. I didn’t know what I liked. Even though I was signed, I was still figuring it out.’”

Despite her initial dislike of pop, she found her voice and has become famous in the pop industry. Though, unlike today’s Queens of Pop, like Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, or Miley Cyrus, Charli XCX’s sound has an edge to it, managing to make even her sad songs something you’d want to dance to.

With her incredible voice that’s been compared to Gwen Stefani or Marina and the Diamonds and her clear vision to create a new sound distinctly her own, she has rightly earned her own title as The Queen of Future Pop. Not on the same level as the Queens of (Mainstream) Pop, as Charli opened for Swift just last year on her 2018 Reputation Tour, but without a doubt Charli XCX is blazing her own trail to become a household name, herself.

Now on her 3^rd solo album, self-titled “Charli,” this album has 15 songs with 14 guest artists. Some of the guests who collaborated with her include Troye Sivan, Lizzo, Kim Petras, Tommy Cash, and Clario.

As described by Charli in a Tweet to her fans, the album is emotional, club, tender and aggressive at the same time. Every song is different from the last in the best way possible and leaves the listener wondering how she is going to push the boundaries of pop on the next track, or even on her next album.

So, if you like to discover new music and have a great time (at the same time), you should see Charli XCX. It’s likely that after hearing only a few of Charli’s songs you’ll be counting down the days till she’s back in Prague, and surely next time performing at the O2 Arena, where the likes of Ariana Grande performed just a few months ago, in September.

Tickets for Charli XCX can be purchased at The Roxy website

The Art Nouveau style kino Lucerna in Prague, one of the most representative venues of Czech cinematography, hosted today the press conference to present MittelCinemaFest 2019, the Central European Festival of Italian cinema, now in its 7th edition in Czech Republic.

Francesco Saverio Nisio, Italian Ambassador, Alberta Lai, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Prague and Matteo Mariani, Secretary General of the Italian-Czech Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented the initiative.

The conference has been attended also by Maestro Walter Attanasi, who on 3^rd December will conduct the PKO orchestra of Prague with a programme of music by Nino Rota, Nicola Piovani and Luis Bakalov from the most famous films of Federico Fellini. His concert will officially open the celebrations for the centenary of the birth of the great film director in Prague.

“MittelCinemaFest 2019 offers a selection of films of great directors and emerging authors, of comedies and dramas, which will carry the viewers through an immersive experience into the contemporary Italian cinema as a mirror of Italy of our day”, Ambassador Nisio declared.

He also pointed up the great synergy between Institutions and Italian business community, which even this year has allowed the realization of one of the most important initiatives in the diverse cultural scene of Czech Republic.

The festival will be inaugurated on 28^th November, in the Great Hall of Lucerna cinema, with the film “Quanto basta”, at the presence of the director Francesco Falaschi. Then, the Festival will stop in Ostrava, at Luna cinema, from 5^th to the 8^th December, and in Brno, at Art cinema, from 8^th to 9^th December.

During the Festival, eight films will be screened. They have been protagonists in the main international festivals this year and, recently, at the Venice Film Festival. ENIT – National Tourism Board and the promotion of the Italian territory will be the protagonists at the opening night as well.

All films will be screened in their original language with Czech and English subtitles. The tickets will be available online and at cinemas’ box office. Italian Embassy in Prague, Italian Cultural Institute, Italian-Czech Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ENIT, Istituto Luce Cinecittà, Lucerna cinema of Prague organize the event in collaboration with City of Prague, UniCredit Bank, Ferrero, Segafredo, Alchymist Hotel of Prague, Eleutheria Foundation, Italian Business Center and other partners.

MittelCinemaFest 2019 is held as part of the celebrations for the centenary of the opening of the Italian representation in Prague and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

More info here

Albertov and Národní třída in Prague are symbols of November 17th and this year they will become essential places to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the Velvet Revolution.

The Freedom Festival, as the citizens’ initiative calls the set of events, will occur on Sunday 17 November in Albertov and then follow up with a series of other events. See what happens and where.

Velvet procession

A memorial procession on the route of the student manifestation on 17 November 1989. It is organized by the Freedom Festival initiative and ART Prometheus.

When: November 17, starts at 14:30 on Albertov for approximately 2.5 hours.
Route: Albertov – Na Slupi – Přemyslova – In the Fortress – the circuit at Vyšehrad – In the Fortress – Vratislavova – Vnislavova – Subway railway bridge at Výtoň- Rašínovo Embankment – Masarykovo Embankment – ends at Národní třída.

Free November: Commemorating November 17 at Albertov

Meetings of academics, students and citizens, concerts, discussions, presentations of student activities. Organized by: Center of Associations, Students and Graduates of Charles University.

When: November 17, starts at 9:00 until 14:30 approximately.

During the day, student clubs will present their activities at Albertov, several discussions will take place, and there will be a chance to see a unique exhibition of 17 stories of 17 November from 17 faculties of Charles University.

Velvet sanctification

Satirical parade of masks, performers and musicians through the centre of Prague. Organized by: FORUM association

When: November 17, starts at 14:00 at Kampa for approximately 3.5 hours.
Route: Kampa – Maltese Square – Charles Bridge – Smetana Embankment – Národní třída – Na Perštýně – Jilská – Old Town Square – Celetná – Hybernská (ending in the courtyard of the Hybernská Campus).

Communication 89

A multimedia exhibition in a unique space in Letná. Organized by Shoah Memorial Prague o.p.s.

Where: Letná Plain (opposite Generali Arena)
Opening hours: 10:00 – 18:00. Open until the end of November.

The memory of a Nation: 1989

Projection and light installation on Národní třída

Where: Národní třída
When: November 17, at 17:00, 18:45 or 20:00

This year’s memory of the nation is preparing a stunning light installation and projection at Národní třída. Light, sound, atmosphere, but mainly stories related to the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. The screening is presented by Memory of Nation in collaboration with 3dsense and the association Díky, že můžem.

Nation Memory Awards

The award ceremony for personalities who have shown in their lives honour, freedom and human dignity. Organized by: Post Bellum, o.p.s.

Where: National Theater
When: November 17, at 20:00

ČT2, STV and ČRo Plus will broadcast the National Memory Awards live

This year’s laureates are Władysław Frasyniuk (Poland), László Regéczy-Nagy (Hungary), Dietrich Koch (Germany), Dalma Špitzerová (Slovakia) and Miroslav Hampl (Czech Republic).

Concert for the future

Concerts and speeches on Wenceslas Square. Organized by: Nerudný fest.cz

When: November 17, 16:30 – 22:00
Performers: Mig 21, Tata Bojs, Buty, Vypsaná fiXa, Aneta Langerová, Vltava, Už jsme doma, Lenka Dusilová, Matěj Ruppert, Poletíme?, Bára Zmeková, Thom Artway, František Černý and Karel Holas from Čechomor, Circus Brothers or Skety.
Speakers: William Luers (USA), Michael Žantovský, Šimon Pánek, Jiří Přibáň, Václav Malý, Petr Pavel, Jan Kysela, Nora Fridrichová, Lída Rakušanová, Eva Dudová, Anna Hogenová, Lucie Smolková, Tomáš Halík, Jáchym Topol, Martin Mejstřík, Hynek Čermák, David Klimeš and Rosťa and Šimon Novák.

Korzo Národní

Great street party in Národní třída. Organized by: Association Díky, že můžem.

Where: Národní třída
When: November 17, 10:00 – 22:00 outdoors / followed by concerts at Rock Café and FAMU Club

Throughout the day there will be a rich program on several stages and the street, in addition to concerts and theatres, exhibitions, children’s program, lectures and workshops.

“A person who is healthy and has a good family does not need more. It’s already rich!”

Cozy shop with Syrian and Lebanese specialties. At Emessa, they offer Lebanese wines, coffee and tea sets, Arabic candy and coffee, dates, beverages, spices, soaps with olive oil, etc.

Sixty per cent of the things you can find are imported from Syria, and thirty-five from Lebanon. Emessa is a shop on Politických vězňů street, where we can spot Mr. Murhaf, originally from Homs, and on their shop Sweet Palace on Vodičkova Street, his wife, Mrs. Wafau. Initially, Mr. Murhaf may look shy, but once you talk to him, you can look forward to having a pleasant chat over cardamom coffee about various treats, recipes, or Arabic spices. You will learn, for example, that caraway tastes excellent with cheese.

And what does Emessa mean? It is an old Greek name for the Syrian city of Homs, which is in the Midwest of Syria.

Mr. Murhaf and his family have lived in Prague for thirteen years. He first visited Prague in 1986 when he attended a course of X-ray welding. Two years later, he returned to another course, and since then he traveled to the Czech Republic with his family for the summer holidays. “My profession is a businessman, so I started importing water pipes, sinks, and sanitary ware into Syria. I represented several Czechoslovak companies in Syria and Lebanon. I remember times when a cutlet with a side dish and two beers only cost 28 crowns. But the average salary was also 1800 crowns,” says Mr. Murhaf.

In 2007, the family opened the Sweet Palace Confectionery and Delicatessen in Vinohrady, which was very popular among customers. In addition to incredible goodies, the guests appreciated the homely atmosphere that Mr. Murhaf and his wife managed to maintain in their stores. “A person who is healthy and has a good family does not need more. It’s already rich!”

How do Czechs react to your shop?

Murhaf: There are not many Arabs in Prague, so often Czechs come buy to my shop.

Have you ever been affected by any attitudes that Czech society has had towards Muslims over the past few years?

Murhaf: “You know, in Syria, we have lived side by side with Christians, Muslims, Jews. Mosques stood right next to the churches. No racism or religious problems occurred. I help other families who move to Bohemia from Syria and advise them to respect the Czech and traditions.”

After reducing emissions, eliminating noise and protecting groundwater and surface waters, Václav Havel Airport is embarking on a new environmental protection program. It aims to reduce the consumption of disposable plastics in the airport environment as much as possible and to encourage passengers to consume this kind of plastic as little as possible.

For our company, plastic products are becoming an increasing issue to fight against. Even if we now completely stop the production of all plastics and their products, they will still be a problem for many generations to come.

According to a study published in 2017 in the prestigious science journal Science, we have managed to “enrich” our planet by 8.3 billion tons of plastics, whose collection, recycling and subsequent disposal will be a big problem. Moreover, the production rate of plastics remains high and if we do not significantly reduce it, we can be overwhelmed with up to 34 billion tons of plastics in 2050.

This scenario not only stresses out many but also begins to affect many businesses and governments that try to avoid it. This is evident by the recent decision of the European Union to definitively ban the use of disposable plastics, which are one of the most problematic forms of plastic products. It wants to say goodbye to Václav Havel Airport nowadays in the new program Plastics No Longer.

“Although the European Parliament has approved a ban on the use of disposable plastics only since 2021, Prague Airport is already launching its own initiative and will gradually put into practice concrete measures to reduce disposable plastics. The aim is, among other things, to motivate passengers to reduce their environmental impact and to travel with, for example, reusable beverage bottles or to dispose of beverages in disposable plastic bottles prior to a security check but to empty them and use them again,” said the Director of Prague Airport Environmental Protection.

In the fight against plastics, Prague Airport joins other airports around the world, including San Francisco. This completely banned the sale of water in plastic bottles at the terminal, which is one of the most common and often unnecessarily thrown away plastic waste due to airport checks and drinks while waiting for connections. It is often impossible to fill the bottle behind the control gates, so there is nothing else to do but to throw it out and buy a new one.

Photo: Prague Airport

Do not throw away the bottle before inspection

One of the measures offered by the new Prague Airport to passengers is, therefore, a sink and drinking system that allows the liquid to be poured out before the check and the same bottle is filled with drinking water free of charge. Sinks can only be found at Terminal 2 for the time being, with more being added.

At the same time, the airport reduced the disposable plastics in the internal catering of the airport staff. Water in plastic bottles will no longer be offered in offices, meeting rooms and various events. They replace glass decanters with water, often enriched with a variety of herbs. Glasses and small coffee milk in a plastic container will replace plastic cups and milk jugs, respectively.

The airport will motivate tenants to take similar steps. Lagardére Travel Retail, which operates several restaurants and snack bars within the airport, joined the Plastics initiative for the first time. In 2020, instead of disposable cups, customers will receive backed-up cups that they will return after drinking.

“Prague Airport also commissioned a study to help with the selection of suitable alternatives for disposable plastics. Therefore, when choosing alternatives, we will focus on the entire product life cycle, not just one aspect, such as biodegradability. Our aim is to choose a variant that is truly environmentally more beneficial than a plastic variant. Plastic is not always the worst variant, as is gradually confirmed,” added Soňa Hykyšová.

Photo: Prague Airport

Prague will welcome the New Year on January 1st, 2020 with a video-mapping show on the facade of the National Museum.

“The video mapping will last ten minutes and is called My, Praha. The show will be screened at the National Museum building and will be repeated three times every hour; the first screening will start at 6:15 pm,” Vít Hofman, spokesman for Prague City Hall

“It is a helpful step not only for all citizens of the metropolis who are sensitive to excessive noise but also for animals that face unnecessary stress every year,” Prague City Councilor Jan Chabr said.

Earlier this year, some 15,500 people signed a petition to regulate fireworks operation. They were most concerned about the impact of noisy firefighters and firecrackers on children and animals.

Meanwhile, the new association Ohňostroj pro Prahu (Fireworks for Prague) wants to preserve the fireworks tradition: “Fireworks have been, are and will be,” says Martin Peter, designer, and choreographer of the last five years fireworks in Prague.”

“I would like to give every citizen the feeling that Prague belongs to the people themselves,” explains the association’s director Šaršoun. “I believe that people are interested in fireworks, so we leave the financing to their will. Every citizen of Prague, Czech citizen or organization can contribute to our transparent account with any amount and help save a part of our country’s culture.”

However, only 40,000 CZK has been collected in the bank account. Organizers need at least 5 million CZK.

Last year’s show on Jan. 1 lasted 10 minutes and 52 seconds and cost some Kč 1.7 million, which was higher than the recent average of Kč 1 million for the shows. The theme was the Velvet Revolution of 1989.

Velvet procession

Free November: Commemorating November 17 at Albertov

Velvet sanctification

Communication 89

The memory of a Nation: 1989

Nation Memory Awards

ČT2, STV and ČRo Plus will broadcast the National Memory Awards live

Concert for the future

Korzo Národní

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