Čálek David

Berkat and Marsho/Happiness and Freedom
Two courageous Czech women decide to set up an organization called Berkat (Happiness) with the aim of helping war victins, especially children. Jana Hradilkova and Petra Prochazkova discover the Sputnik camp on the Chechen-Ingush border, the home of 9000 refugges, who live not only in fear and sadness but also with joy, dance, music and art. They discover the children's dance group Marsho(Freedom) whereby they decide to organize a trip abroad for them, so that they can proudly present their national dances and music. Their aim was to allow the children to experience something other than the horrors of war, but ordinary life in a warless country. Jana and Petra devote their love, time and effort and permit the children to meet new people,gain new experiences,but most importantly, to encourage their long-lasting passion of traditional dance, the only aspect from their destroyed homeland that remains with them and excitement for life in a free world.

Dreamless Nights
A documentary film by Radim Špaček about the Christmas revolt of the employees of the Czech TV, who organized a strike protest against the management.

Athough I Love Them, They Piss Me Off
A personal meeting with a man who has changed my life. A portrait of the Prague Priest Mons. Jiří Reinsberg (30. 3. 1918 - 6. 1. 2004), who served more than fifty years in the churh of St Havel in the Old Town and at the Church of the Virgin Mary on Old Town Square in Prague. FAMU, Department of Documentary Film (5th year)

Heaven Hell
Heaven Hell is a full-length documentary film project dealing with human diversity that doesn't necessarily lead to hell even though it might seem like that from the outsider's point of view. It is an attempt to defend even very extreme notions of freedom if such notions are well-founded and lead to new horizons of human understanding. The film portrays people who have found pleasure in pain and decided not to hide this passion, or at least not to suppress and deny it any more. These people either inflict pain or demand it from others, but they do not force anyone to do anything. This closed society is often labelled by its members as BDSM.

Rozkovany Dreams
Film about gypsy settlement trying to survive in the country which is just about to join European Union. The story about young mother who decided to take care about the mentally and physically handicapped child although the family is completely out of material means. When you have nothing, you will start dream for real...

The Legionnaire’s Great-Granddaughters
As a young medic, Bedřich Opletal took part in a series of cruel battles in WWI. He fought in Galicia in Poland, in Dobruja in Romania, in the Ukraine and along the Trans-Siberian Railway. From Siberia, he brought back his young wife Yelena. Later, as an established medical doctor, he wrote his memoirs, to be read only by his family. They contain many interesting stories based on his amusing as well as tragic encounters. The memoirs became a family legend, accompanying his two granddaughters, Kristina and Leona, since childhood. The documentary should depict their journey in the footsteps of their great-grandfather. New images of reality will be confronted with the old text, imagination and private memory of one family will be weighed against the general history of Europe and the world.

Frišta

Escape from Somalia
The Somali Sea, once among the richest fisheries in the world, has been turning into a ”dead” sea in the last 15 years, due to a rampant, massive fishing by multinational fishing cartels. The film reveals the difficult plight of Somali pirates, mostly former fishermen, for whom the sea is no longer the source of livelihood. Escape from Somalia follows Ali, a young fisherman who became a pirate for some time. After an unsuccessful hijacking attempt, he had to swim in the sea for hours until he came upon another pirate boat. His older brothers, who were on the boat with him, perished. He was left alone and has been on the run ever since. The perspective of this bright young guy gives us a better idea about piracy. The film does not defend any form of violence, it tries to ponder the reasons that result in modern-day piracy.

Czech Director / Cinematographer David Calek (39) graduated from Prague’s heralded FAMU film school in 1989 and has shot and/or directed over 30 documentaries around the world for independent producers, TV broadasters (Czech TV) and more. His last doc HEAVEN HELL was released theatrically in the Czech Republic and had its international festival premiere at SXSW 2011. The film also won BEST FILM at the Czech national film festival, Finale – Plzen IFF. He has also shot 8 narrative feature films, including MAMAS & PAPAS, winner of Best Film at the Hamptons 2011.

Curriculum vitae David Čálek MgA. Born April 28, 1971, Prague 2, Apolinář maternity ward. 1978-1986 Basic school, Ostrovní, spec. French and Russian. 1986-1990 SPŠST (Vocational school, communications) Panská 3, Praha 1, film production, Russian, Italian. 1990-1992 FFUK Prague, film studies (four semesters), English 1992-1998 FAMU Prague, film and TV cinematography 1999-2002 FAMU Prague, documentary directing  Feature Films “Ve svém bytě bydlím sám“ (35mm, 12 min, b/w) dir. R. Špaček, with K. Roden and two deaf actors, FAMU cinematography exercise, 2nd year “Metro“ (1994, 5 min, b/w) dir. D. Čálek, with P. Vacek, M. Zimová, FAMU cinematography exercise, 2nd year “Most“ (1995, 16mm, col., 7 min) dir. D. Čálek, with M.Sidonová, K. Dobrý, cvičení kat. kam. 3.roč FAMU “Kafemlejnek“ (1995, 16mm, col.) dir. D. Čálek, with K. Zima, FAMU cinematography exercise, 3rd year “Bolest“ (U-matic SP, 23 min) TV drama, FAMU-parody “Best Before the End“ (25 min, Digital Betacam and 16mm neg.), thesis TV drama at FAMU, with Halka Třešňáková, Chris Hugues a Dana Hábová “Úsvit“ (35 mm 30 min, col.,) thesis film at FAMU, dir. Slobodanka Radun, with Zuzana Stivínová and Tomáš Pavelka, Golden Maxim Award for Best Cinematography, Famufest 1998 “Rychlé pohyby očí / Rapid Eye Movement“ (70 min, 35mm, col.) dir. R.Špaček, with Zdeněk Čížek a Tereza Pánková, Plyšový Lev for the least successful film of the year), “Kanárek“ (120 min, col., 35mm) feature debut by dir. Viktor Tauš “Dotek obrazu“ (12min, 35mm) dir. David Čálek, with Klára Issová, Martin Němec, thesis film, inspired by the art of Jan Vermeer van Delf. Jaromír Kučera Award, Association of Czech Cinematographers. “Kuličky“ (post-production) dir. Olga Dabrowská, prod. Čestmír Kopecký "Mamas & Papas" (2010) dir.: Alice Nellis, prod. Ufo pictures Documentary Films “Maruška“ (30 min., col./b/w, 16mm, 1994) dir. D. Čálek, a portrait of a weaver from East Bohemia, FAMU cinematography exercise, 2nd year, Golden Maxim Award, Famufest 1994 “Černá jiskra“ (25 min, 16mm, prod. Czech TV) dir. V. Matoušková, a portrait of singer and violinist Iva Bittová “Alenky“ (Betacam SP, 30 min. 1999, prod. Martin Vandas) dir. S. Zeman, a portrait of young witches “Pocta páteru Koniášovi“ (25 min, 16 mm, 1999, prod. FAMU and Czech TV) dir. S. Zeman, a portrait of three Catholic intellectuals “Milý společník aneb blues pro Luďka Hulana“ an episode from the “Premature Deaths“ TV documentary series (prod. Czech TV and WCF, 50 min, Digital Betacam) dir. Petr Slabý, about a famous Czech jazz bass player from the 1960s “Bombay-ČT Cestománie“, (25 min, DVCAM, Prod. Czech TV) dir. Nora Kurtzová, about rich and poor people in Mumbai “Šedesátka“ (Beatcam SP, 25 min, prod. Czech TV) music programme “Artóza“ (DVCAM, 25 min, 24 dílů, 2002, prod. Czech TV) dir. Radim Špaček “Chaos“ (DVCAM, 25 min, prod. Czech TV) dir. Jiří Chlumský and Miroslav Janek “Zpráva o stavu světa“ (DVCAM, 53 min, 2001, prod. Czech TV) dir. R. Špaček, P. Jančárek, M. Pátek, about the IMF meeting in Prague “Máme NATO?“ (DVCAM, 30 min, 2003, prod. Czech TV) dir. Vít Janeček “The Myth“ (DVCAM, 66 min, 2003, prod. Nomorebuds crew) dir. Šimon Šafránek, about Nick Cave's tour and fans “Bezesné noci / Sleepless Nights“ (DVCAM, 108 min, 2003, prod. NFI a D. Čálek) dir. R. Špaček and D. Čálek, about the so-called “Czech TV crisis“ in 2001 “Barevný národ“ (23 min, Digital betacam, prod. Czech TV a Člověk v tísni) dir. D.Čálek, about Nazism in the Czech Rep. “Karlín ležící spící aneb bitva o Karlín“ (23 min, DVCAM, prod. Czech TV and People in Need) dir. D. Čálek, “Velký vůz“ TV programme “269 miliónů pod hladinou“ (53 min, DVCAM, prod. Czech TV and People in Need) dir. D. Čálek, about the disastrous floods in the Czech Rep. in 2002 “Karel Ančerl“ (53 min, Digital Betacam, prod. Czech TV) dir. J. Hovorka, a portrait of a Czech conductor “Den E / E-Day“ (53 min, DVCAM, 2004, prod. Czech TV) dir. E. Hníková, V. Janeček, I. Miloševič, about the Czech Rep. joining the EU “Pátrání po Ester / Searching for Ester“ (2005, DVCAM, film 35 mm, 128 min., prod. Bionaut-Vratislav Šlajer) dir.V. Chytilová, about Czech artist and filmmaker Ester Krumbachová “Tančící Katmándů / Dancing Khatmandu“ (DVCAM, prod., rež. Sangita Shrestová, 45 min, 2006, ) “Felix Holman“ (Digital Betacam, 50 min, 2006)dir. Václav Kučera, prod. Czech TV “Berkat a Maršo-Štěstí a Svoboda“ (HDV, DVCAM, dir. David Čálek, 75 min, 2007), Grand Prix, Femina Film 2007, screened on Czech TV, Feb 14, 2007 “Potížistky “ (Digital Betacam, dir. Věra Chytilová, prod. Czech TV, 53 min, 2007) “Přesně tak“ (HDV, dir. D. Čálek, prod. Verbascum, 36 min, 2007) “Flying Academy“ (HDV, dir., cinematography D. Čálek, prod. David Čálek, 15 min, 2007) “Wyhanovo kvarteto“ (HD, dir. Alice Neklid, cinematography D. Čálek, 30 min, 2007) “Velmi intimní dialogy“ Based on the Vagina Monologues. (DVCAM, dir. Theodora Remundová, cinematography D. Čálek, 26 min, 2007, Czech TV Brno) "Olympiáda, über Alles! (2008, 28 min, Digital Betacam, Production: Czech Television) dir.: David Čálek "Heaven Hell" (2010, 82 min, HDCAM, prod. HBO Czech rep./Pepe Rafaj) dir.: David Čálek Music Videos “Bílá nemoc“ (16mm, 2,5 min, 2001, prod. THA) dir. Pavel Marek “Choze EDEN“ (16mm, 5 min, 2001, prod. Barrandov Biografia) dir. Pavel Marek “Iva Bittová a Škampa quartet“ (16mm, 5 min, 2001, prod. THA) dir. V.Matoušková “TataBojs Nanotour“ (Digital Betacam, 16 mm, 35 mm, DV, 2005) dir. J. Kohák, TataBojs concert “Gothart videoklip Šrapnel“ (16mm, dir. David Čálek) “Iva Bittová“ k oncert Akropolis (Digital Betacam, dir. J. Kohák, 2006) “Red Hot Soul, The Fullbliss“ label: Village Slut Records (XD Cam HD, dir. Šimon Šafránek, 2006) “Wohnout, záznam koncertu ve sportovní hale“ (HD, 2007) dir. J. Kohák, Commercials “Oskar“ Czech Mobile Operator (35mm, 5 min, 2004) dir. Alice Neklid “Danone-Actimel“ (35mm, 30s, 2007) dir. Alice Nellis TV Programmes Šedesátka (DVCAM, Czech TV) Kosmopolis (DVCAM, Czech TV) Velký vůz (DVCAM, Czech TV) Redakce (Digital Betacam, TV Prima, 2005) Artróza (DVCAM, 28 min/episode, 2003-2004)