FEBIOFEST – DAY 1

This year’s 28th Prague IFF – Febiofest, which has been moved from its usual springtime dates, kicked off on Friday 17 September at Prague’s Municipal House. Attendees of the opening night were welcomed by iconic TV moderator Jolana Voldánová. The festival was officially opened by the Honorary President of Febiofest Fero Fenič, followed by the jury of the Main Competition: Slovakian filmmaker Ivan Ostrochovský, Czech actor and director Jiří Mádl, and Iranian film director and women’s rights activist Mahnaz Mohammadi. Next up to speak were the honorary president of the Comedy Competition’s audience jury Michael Kocáb and Czech minister of culture Lubomír Zaorálek.

Other opening night guests included personalities such as Daniela Kolářová, Štěpán Kozub, Igor Orozovič, Vlastimil Harapes, Martina Hudečková, Zdeněk Mahdal, Iva Janžurová with her daughter Theodora Remundová, Eva Čížkovská, Denisa Pfauserová, Petra Svoboda, and Jan Nedbal, among many others.

THE KRISTIAN AWARDS WERE PRESENTED DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY.

The mayor of Prague Zdeněk Hřib presented the Kristian Award to legendary Czech film and theatre actor Jiří Lábus, while Slovakian actress Božidara Turzonovová received hers from the hands of Czech minister of culture Lubomír Zaorálek. British producer Mike Downey was awarded a Kristian statuette jointly by Prague city councilwoman Hanka Třeštíková and film director Stephen Daldry, who is a guest of this year’s Febiofest.

The opening film this year was Woody Allen’s film Rifkin’s Festival. The latest comedy by this iconic director and screenwriter deals with the true love of his life – the magic that can be created on the silver screen.