Vladimír Michálek

Vladimír Michálek (b. 1956, Mladá Boleslav, Czechoslovakia) studied documentary film direction at FAMU and then came up with his powerful debut America (Amerika, 1994), a mesmerising and artistically compelling adaptation of Franz Kafka’s novel. Before this he worked as assistant director at Barrandov Film Studios where he teamed up with the likes of Margarethe von Trotta (Rosa Luxemburg, 1985) and Ted Kotcheff (The Shooter, 1995). He chose Jakub Deml’s novel as the basis for the drama Forgotten Light (Zapomenuté světlo, 1996) which, like America and his subsequent film Sekal Has to Die (Je třeba zabít Sekala, 1998), screened in the main competition at KVIFF. The films Angel Exit (Anděl Exit, 2000) and Of Parents and Children (O rodičích a dětech, 2008) are also literary adaptations from the highly versatile director. He has also worked in theatre and television, where notable projects include the series “Mountain Rescue” (2003).

47. MFF Karlovy Vary