17 November 2022
The exclusive screening of “Il Boemo” by Czech director Petr Václav was co-organized by EFAD – European Film Agency Directors , Czech Film Fund, the Czech Centre Brussels, the Embassy of the Czech Republic to the Kingdom of Belgium, and the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU.
The event, which took place on Wednesday 16 November at cinema BOZAR in Brussels, is part of a cycle of screenings designed to celebrate European cinema and promote cultural diversity as a cornerstone of the European audiovisual policies, in partnership with European associations from the cultural and audiovisual sectors: FERA, CEDC, CEPI, CICAE, Cineuropa, Eurocinema, Europa Cinemas, Europa Distribution, Europa International, EFA, EPC, SAA.
Debuted at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, the biographical film explores the extraordinary life of Josef Mysliveček, one of the most celebrated Czech composers of the 18th century. The composer embarked on a journey to Italy, the heartland of opera, swiftly succeeding in his career. Director Petr Václav seeks to bring to light the secrets behind his dazzling fortune and subsequent fall into oblivion.
The screening was preceded by a cocktail reception, where SAA Executive Director Cécile Despringre, Member of the European Parliament Martina Dlabajová, and Helena Bezděk Franková, head of the Czech Film Fund, kicked off the event highlighting the importance of promoting and supporting the audiovisual sector financially, which remains essential to foster thriving European audiovisual storytelling and culture in the future.
The screening ended with a conversation with producer Jan Macola and Vaclav Luks, who composed the music for the film, moderated by Jitka Pánek Jurková, director of Czech Centre Brussels, where the audience had the opportunity to find out more about the creation of the film, the story behind it and its characters.