"Kawasaki's Rose" Chosen As Czech Entry for Academy Awards!

The Czech Republic has chosen Kawasaki's Rose, the award-winning film from preeminent Czech filmmakers Jan Hrebejk and Petr Jarchovsky, as the country's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at this year's Academy Awards. This is the second film in Oscar contention for Hrebejk and Jarchovsky, as their film Divided We Fall was nominated in 2001.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the final five nominees for Best Foreign Language Film on January 25th. The 2011 Oscars will be awarded in Los Angeles on Feb. 27. Read more in The Hollywood Reporter and Cineuropa.

'Spotlight' on director Jan Hrebejk in Cleveland!

The Cleveland International Film Festival recently showcased the films of visionary Czech director Jan Hrebejk in this year's Director Spotlight series! The retrospective featured five of Hrebejk's films: Cosy Dens, Beauty in Trouble and Shameless (all released by Menemsha Films), as well as Up and Down and the Academy Award nominated Divided We Fall. After each film there was a discussion with Jan Hrebejk and his frequent writer and collaborator, the two-time Academy Award nominee Petr Jarchovsky.

Here's what the CIFF had to say about Hrebejk:

Clevelanders have long been fans of prolific Czech director Jan Hrebejk. Since his "Cosy Dens" debuted in Cleveland at the 23rd CIFF, Hrebejk has impressed audiences with his ability to unearth profound truths about the fragility of love, family, and friendship, whether during times of war, natural disaster, or even the most private of dilemmas. While his artistic vision brings at once beauty and irony to his subjects, his ear for music enriches his films to a level of greatness.

The retrospective was featured in the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

"When you have a chance to do a retrospective on an Oscar-nominated director, you do it," says festival artistic director Bill Guentzler. "Our audiences have always responded to his work."

And not just because the area's ethnic makeup has made Central and Eastern European films popular draws. Hrebejk is a leader in the newest wave of Czech cinema, mixing humor with irony, humanity amid upheaval.

To learn more about the wonderful films by Jan Hrebejk available from Menemsha Films, visit our website!