LA-based distribution company Myriad Pictures has picked up international rights to Zátopek, the Czech Republic’s 2021 Oscar Entry. The film has also sold in the US to Gravitas Ventures.
The deal was negotiated between John McGrath of UTA, on behalf of the producers, and Scott Bedno, Senior Vice President of Sales & Acquisitions at Myriad Pictures
Zátopek follows the story of four-time Olympic champion Emil Zátopek. It is the seventh film by prolific Czech director David Ondříček.
The film stars Václav Neužil (Dabing Street), Martha Issová (Dukla 61), and Australian James Frecheville. Zátopek dominated the 2022 Czech film awards with eight wins, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.
Director David Ondříček said: “When we premiered Zátopek at Karlovy Vary Festival in 2021, the response from audiences and international critics was so strong that we knew we had a film that...
The deal was negotiated between John McGrath of UTA, on behalf of the producers, and Scott Bedno, Senior Vice President of Sales & Acquisitions at Myriad Pictures
Zátopek follows the story of four-time Olympic champion Emil Zátopek. It is the seventh film by prolific Czech director David Ondříček.
The film stars Václav Neužil (Dabing Street), Martha Issová (Dukla 61), and Australian James Frecheville. Zátopek dominated the 2022 Czech film awards with eight wins, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.
Director David Ondříček said: “When we premiered Zátopek at Karlovy Vary Festival in 2021, the response from audiences and international critics was so strong that we knew we had a film that...
- 9/9/2022
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Gravitas Ventures takes North American rights on the film.
Myriad Pictures has acquired international sales rights to David Ondricek’s Czech feature Zatopek, which won the audience award at last year’s Karlovy Vary Film Festival having opened the event.
Myriad will introduce the film to buyers at TIFF.
Gravitas Ventures has picked up North American rights on the film, which tells the story of Czech athlete and four-time Olympic champion Emil Zatopek.
It opened in Czech cinemas last summer following its Karlovy Vary debut, grossing 2.3m to date – a strong result for the country.
Zatopek was the Czech Republic...
Myriad Pictures has acquired international sales rights to David Ondricek’s Czech feature Zatopek, which won the audience award at last year’s Karlovy Vary Film Festival having opened the event.
Myriad will introduce the film to buyers at TIFF.
Gravitas Ventures has picked up North American rights on the film, which tells the story of Czech athlete and four-time Olympic champion Emil Zatopek.
It opened in Czech cinemas last summer following its Karlovy Vary debut, grossing 2.3m to date – a strong result for the country.
Zatopek was the Czech Republic...
- 9/9/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Myriad Pictures has acquired the international rights to “Zátopek,” Czech Republic’s 94th Academy Award Best International Feature Film submission. Gravitas Ventures has North American rights to the feature.
The deal was negotiated between John McGrath of UTA, on behalf of the producers, and Scott Bedno, senior vice president of sales and acquisitions at Myriad Pictures.
“Zátopek” is about the greatest Czech athlete of all time, four-time Olympic champion Emil Zátopek. It is the seventh film by prolific Czech director David Ondříček. His film “In the Shadow” was the Czech Oscar submission in 2012.
“Zátopek” stars Václav Neužil (“Dabing Street”), Martha Issová (“Dukla 61”), and Australian James Frecheville.
The film dominated the most prestigious Czech film awards, Czech Lions, with eight wins including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Editing. It was nominated for 13 Czech Lions.
Ondříček said: “When we premiered ‘Zátopek’ at Karlovy Vary Festival in 2021, the...
The deal was negotiated between John McGrath of UTA, on behalf of the producers, and Scott Bedno, senior vice president of sales and acquisitions at Myriad Pictures.
“Zátopek” is about the greatest Czech athlete of all time, four-time Olympic champion Emil Zátopek. It is the seventh film by prolific Czech director David Ondříček. His film “In the Shadow” was the Czech Oscar submission in 2012.
“Zátopek” stars Václav Neužil (“Dabing Street”), Martha Issová (“Dukla 61”), and Australian James Frecheville.
The film dominated the most prestigious Czech film awards, Czech Lions, with eight wins including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Editing. It was nominated for 13 Czech Lions.
Ondříček said: “When we premiered ‘Zátopek’ at Karlovy Vary Festival in 2021, the...
- 9/9/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The actor and musician answers your questions on how to stare down a lion, what Luther would say to Stringer Bell – and whether he was named after the dragon from Ivor the Engine
What’s your best survival tip on how to avoid getting eaten by a giant lion? TopTramp
Stay quiet, stay still, don’t move around too much because they will find you, then radio for help. There are no real lions in my new film, Beast: it’s all CGI. They took lots of photos of an actual lion in its real environment to see what the light was doing and how the fur would move.
What’s your best survival tip on how to avoid getting eaten by a giant lion? TopTramp
Stay quiet, stay still, don’t move around too much because they will find you, then radio for help. There are no real lions in my new film, Beast: it’s all CGI. They took lots of photos of an actual lion in its real environment to see what the light was doing and how the fur would move.
- 8/25/2022
- by As told to Rich Pelley
- The Guardian - Film News
“Zátopek,” director David Ondříček’s biopic about Olympic champion Emil Zátopek, dominated the 29th annual Czech Lion Awards, winning in eight categories across 13 nominations.
The Czech Lion Awards were held on Saturday evening at Dvořák Hall in Prague’s Rudolfinum. The awards, which are voted on by a 350-person jury of members from the Czech Film and Television Academy, are considered the highest film honors in the Czech Republic.
During the ceremony, “Zátopek” won awards for best film, director, actor in a leading role, cinematography, editing, sound, production design and makeup and hairstyling. Prior to the ceremony, it was also announced that the film had previously won the fan vote category at the awards, as well as an award for its poster design.
“We deeply appreciate that the members of the Czech Film and Television Academy awarded the film ‘Zátopek,’ not only as best film, but also in so many other categories,...
The Czech Lion Awards were held on Saturday evening at Dvořák Hall in Prague’s Rudolfinum. The awards, which are voted on by a 350-person jury of members from the Czech Film and Television Academy, are considered the highest film honors in the Czech Republic.
During the ceremony, “Zátopek” won awards for best film, director, actor in a leading role, cinematography, editing, sound, production design and makeup and hairstyling. Prior to the ceremony, it was also announced that the film had previously won the fan vote category at the awards, as well as an award for its poster design.
“We deeply appreciate that the members of the Czech Film and Television Academy awarded the film ‘Zátopek,’ not only as best film, but also in so many other categories,...
- 3/5/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
Zátopek, David Ondricek’s biopic about multi-Olympic champion runner Emil Zátopek, become a box office champ in the Czech Republic when it released late last August and is also repping the country in the race for the International Feature Oscar.
The story sees Australian runner Ron Clarke (James Frecheville), after suffering a serious collapse during a major race, pay a visit to legendary Czech runner Zátopek (Vaclav Neuzil), who he believes might help him become a champion again. Over the course of Clarke’s visit, the film takes viewers back through the key moments in Zátopek’s life, including his tumultuous and passionate marriage to Olympic champion Dana Zátopková (Martha Issova).
Ondricek and his lead actors joined for Deadline’s Contenders Film: International awards-season event to discuss the genesis of the project and its resonance at home.
The director explained that he had heard stories of Zátopek when he was...
The story sees Australian runner Ron Clarke (James Frecheville), after suffering a serious collapse during a major race, pay a visit to legendary Czech runner Zátopek (Vaclav Neuzil), who he believes might help him become a champion again. Over the course of Clarke’s visit, the film takes viewers back through the key moments in Zátopek’s life, including his tumultuous and passionate marriage to Olympic champion Dana Zátopková (Martha Issova).
Ondricek and his lead actors joined for Deadline’s Contenders Film: International awards-season event to discuss the genesis of the project and its resonance at home.
The director explained that he had heard stories of Zátopek when he was...
- 11/20/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Mediawan takes ‘For The Record’ rights
Exclusive: French distributor Mediawan has taken worldwide distribution and European/LatAm format rights for For The Record, CBC Gem’s shortform comedy from Suits actor Julian De Zotti. Mediawan will take the comedy, which stars De Zotti alongside The Expanses’ Anna Hopkins, on the road following this week’s Mipcom. The show had its international premiere earlier this year at SXSW and features an interconnected cast of characters who are brought together in each episode by a song from Universal Music’s back catalogue. Mediawan’s move is “part of a larger effort of Canadian content and its creators to cross borders and find success abroad,” according to De Zotti, who was speaking exclusively to Deadline and cited the success of Schitt’s Creek. Mediawan VP content, Charles Touboul, said: “For The Record is a timeless love story with universal themes and unforgettable music, perfect for a global market.
Exclusive: French distributor Mediawan has taken worldwide distribution and European/LatAm format rights for For The Record, CBC Gem’s shortform comedy from Suits actor Julian De Zotti. Mediawan will take the comedy, which stars De Zotti alongside The Expanses’ Anna Hopkins, on the road following this week’s Mipcom. The show had its international premiere earlier this year at SXSW and features an interconnected cast of characters who are brought together in each episode by a song from Universal Music’s back catalogue. Mediawan’s move is “part of a larger effort of Canadian content and its creators to cross borders and find success abroad,” according to De Zotti, who was speaking exclusively to Deadline and cited the success of Schitt’s Creek. Mediawan VP content, Charles Touboul, said: “For The Record is a timeless love story with universal themes and unforgettable music, perfect for a global market.
- 10/11/2021
- by Max Goldbart, Tom Grater and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Zátopek, a biopic about four-time Olympic champion Emil Zátopek, has become a box office champ in Czech Republic as it continues to dominate turnstiles after two weeks in release.
From director David Ondricek, the movie originally debuted on August 26, scoring over 17M crowns ($791.5K) in its first frame to record the biggest opening weekend in the market since the start of the pandemic. It also was one of the five highest-grossing opening weekends of all time for a Czech title. In its second session, the film held the top spot (despite the arrival of Shang-Chi) and reached more than 200K admissions and about $1.4M. Scroll down for the trailer.
Produced by Kryštof Mucha and Ondříček, Zátopek had its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was the opening-night film and went on to win the Kviff Audience Award among 109 competing titles in the official selection.
From director David Ondricek, the movie originally debuted on August 26, scoring over 17M crowns ($791.5K) in its first frame to record the biggest opening weekend in the market since the start of the pandemic. It also was one of the five highest-grossing opening weekends of all time for a Czech title. In its second session, the film held the top spot (despite the arrival of Shang-Chi) and reached more than 200K admissions and about $1.4M. Scroll down for the trailer.
Produced by Kryštof Mucha and Ondříček, Zátopek had its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was the opening-night film and went on to win the Kviff Audience Award among 109 competing titles in the official selection.
- 9/9/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
At the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, 29-year-old Czech runner Emil Zátopek achieved the seemingly impossible, winning three gold medals in the 5,000-meter, 10,000-meter and (following an unexpected last-minute entry) marathon races: a hat-trick that remains unmatched. He’d already won two medals at the previous Olympics, and repeatedly broken his own speed records in assorted categories. Two years later, he broke the 29-minute barrier in the 10,000 meters.
Most of these achievements are dramatized, in suitably hearty and rousing form, in director David Ondříček’s polished, engaging biopic “Zátopek,” and certainly, it’s a life that could forgivably merit the most bombastically flattering sort of sports-drama treatment. Yet the emotional peaks in Ondříček’s film lie, unexpectedly, elsewhere. Ambitiously attempting both an interior character study as well as a broad historical overview, “Zátopek” appears to sincerely grasp the soul of a man for whom winning wasn’t everything, even if he always won.
Most of these achievements are dramatized, in suitably hearty and rousing form, in director David Ondříček’s polished, engaging biopic “Zátopek,” and certainly, it’s a life that could forgivably merit the most bombastically flattering sort of sports-drama treatment. Yet the emotional peaks in Ondříček’s film lie, unexpectedly, elsewhere. Ambitiously attempting both an interior character study as well as a broad historical overview, “Zátopek” appears to sincerely grasp the soul of a man for whom winning wasn’t everything, even if he always won.
- 8/25/2021
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival became the latest festival to try to navigate an in-person event in these days of Covid and the Delta variant, staging a festive event on Friday night that awarded a prize to Michael Caine, screened the world premiere of “Zátopek” and put guests through a rigorous array of Covid checks and mask requirements.
The pandemic precautions were most visible in advance, when attendees were required to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative Pcr test to obtain special color-coded wristbands that gave them access for different periods of time; as at the Cannes Film Festival in July, authorities in the Czech Republic aren’t always accepting Qr codes from U.S. vaccinations, though that may change in the coming days.
On opening night, everybody seemed to be sporting the appropriate wristbands, but another central part of the 2021 Kviff rules — a mandate that masks...
The pandemic precautions were most visible in advance, when attendees were required to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative Pcr test to obtain special color-coded wristbands that gave them access for different periods of time; as at the Cannes Film Festival in July, authorities in the Czech Republic aren’t always accepting Qr codes from U.S. vaccinations, though that may change in the coming days.
On opening night, everybody seemed to be sporting the appropriate wristbands, but another central part of the 2021 Kviff rules — a mandate that masks...
- 8/21/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
With Cannes right around the corner, two more prominent European film festivals announced their official lineups for 2021 this week. The 2021 Locarno Film Festival (the 74th edition of the event) is taking place August 4-14 and will feature the world premiere of Abel Ferrara’s “Zeroes and Ones,” plus the Melissa Leo-Frank Grillo starring thriller “Ida Red” from director John Swab. Perhaps the most prominent U.S. title in the Locarno lineup is “Respect,” the Jennifer Hudson-starring Aretha Franklin biopic that has already caught the eye of Oscar pundits here in the states. The film will screen out of competition, as will Ryan Reynolds’ long-delayed Disney-Fox tentpole “Free Guy.”
“A festival can be quite highbrow and also entertaining at the same time,” Nazzaro told Variety in a statement. “That is why for this year’s lineup we have selected several comedies and also some genre movies, as well as straightforward auteur films.
“A festival can be quite highbrow and also entertaining at the same time,” Nazzaro told Variety in a statement. “That is why for this year’s lineup we have selected several comedies and also some genre movies, as well as straightforward auteur films.
- 7/1/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Stephen Graham stars as a London chef under pressure in Boiling Point, part of the official selection in the 55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Photo: Film Servis Karlovy Vary The official selection of the 55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival which takes place from 20 to 28 August, features now fewer than 32 premieres, including Boiling Point by Philip Barantini from the UK and starring Line of Duty alumni Stephen Graham.
The films will make their bow in the festival's two competitions and Special Screenings section. Karlovy Vary will also celebrate the work of Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation with an extensive tribute.
In 2019, the festival adjusted the structure of its official selection by axing the documentary competition. The 2021 edition will formally see the updated version of the fest come into reality after the Covid-related cancellation of last year’s edition. Feature-length documentaries are now, for the first time, incorporated into...
The films will make their bow in the festival's two competitions and Special Screenings section. Karlovy Vary will also celebrate the work of Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation with an extensive tribute.
In 2019, the festival adjusted the structure of its official selection by axing the documentary competition. The 2021 edition will formally see the updated version of the fest come into reality after the Covid-related cancellation of last year’s edition. Feature-length documentaries are now, for the first time, incorporated into...
- 6/29/2021
- by Richard Mowe
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
World premieres include UK drama ‘Boiling Point’, starring Stephen Graham.
Philip Barantini’s UK drama Boiling Point, starring Stephen Graham, and Dietrich Brüggemann’s No are among the films making their world premiere in competition at this year’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (August 20-28).
All 12 main competition titles are world premieres except Claudio Cupellini’s Italian drama The Land of The Sons, which is an international premiere.
Scroll down for full list
Filmed in one take, Boiling Point sees Graham plays a stressed head chef on the busiest night of the year at one of London’s top restaurants.
Philip Barantini’s UK drama Boiling Point, starring Stephen Graham, and Dietrich Brüggemann’s No are among the films making their world premiere in competition at this year’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (August 20-28).
All 12 main competition titles are world premieres except Claudio Cupellini’s Italian drama The Land of The Sons, which is an international premiere.
Scroll down for full list
Filmed in one take, Boiling Point sees Graham plays a stressed head chef on the busiest night of the year at one of London’s top restaurants.
- 6/29/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival, Central and Eastern Europe’s leading movie event, unveiled the lineups for its Official Selection, Retrospective, and industry programs Tuesday. This includes 27 world premieres, two international premieres and two European premieres spread across its two competition sections and the Special Screenings program, including British drama “Boiling Point,” starring Stephen Graham as a stressed out chef.
The festival, which runs Aug. 20-28, opens with “Zátopek,” David Ondříček’s drama about runner Emil Zátopek, the four-time Olympic gold medalist, who is widely regarded as the most popular athlete in Czech history.
The festival’s retrospective will be dedicated to the work of The Film Foundation, the movie restoration and preservation organization set up by Martin Scorsese in 1990, with the screening of 10 of the more than 900 movies it has restored.
The Eastern Promises Industry Days, which takes place online between July 28 and Aug. 12, has unveiled 29 film projects...
The festival, which runs Aug. 20-28, opens with “Zátopek,” David Ondříček’s drama about runner Emil Zátopek, the four-time Olympic gold medalist, who is widely regarded as the most popular athlete in Czech history.
The festival’s retrospective will be dedicated to the work of The Film Foundation, the movie restoration and preservation organization set up by Martin Scorsese in 1990, with the screening of 10 of the more than 900 movies it has restored.
The Eastern Promises Industry Days, which takes place online between July 28 and Aug. 12, has unveiled 29 film projects...
- 6/29/2021
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The official selection of the 55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) has been revealed, featuring 32 premieres. Scroll down for the full list of titles.
The fest will open with Zatopek, David Ondříček’s feature about four-time Olympic gold medalist, the runner Emil Zátopek, who is widely regarded as the most popular athlete in Czech Republic’s history. The film will premiere on August 20, 2021 in the Hotel Thermal Grand Hall at the opening night gala. Also screening is Boiling Point, the drama about a restaurant chef starring Stephen Graham.
A retrospective will take place dedicated to the work of The Film Foundation, Martin Scorsese’s non-profit organization established in 1990 dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history, restoring to date more than 900 classic works of cinema. A total of 10 films will be screened at the fest.
In addition to today’s program announcement, a selection of non-competitive strands, featuring notable...
The fest will open with Zatopek, David Ondříček’s feature about four-time Olympic gold medalist, the runner Emil Zátopek, who is widely regarded as the most popular athlete in Czech Republic’s history. The film will premiere on August 20, 2021 in the Hotel Thermal Grand Hall at the opening night gala. Also screening is Boiling Point, the drama about a restaurant chef starring Stephen Graham.
A retrospective will take place dedicated to the work of The Film Foundation, Martin Scorsese’s non-profit organization established in 1990 dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history, restoring to date more than 900 classic works of cinema. A total of 10 films will be screened at the fest.
In addition to today’s program announcement, a selection of non-competitive strands, featuring notable...
- 6/29/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
David Ondříček’s “Zátopek,” a biopic about Olympic champion athlete Emil Zátopek, has wrapped filming. The film stars Václav Neužil, Martha Issová and James Frecheville, who starred in Sundance prize-winner “Animal Kingdom.”
Ondříček, one of the most successful Czech directors working today, was selected by Variety magazine for its “10 Directors to Watch” list. His TV miniseries “Dukla 61” was nominated for a Golden Nymph at the 59th Monte-Carlo Television Festival this year.
In the film, Zátopek is seen as someone who inspires other athletes around the world. One of those is Australian record-breaker Ron Clarke – played by Frecheville – who unexpectedly loses what was probably his last chance at an Olympic medal after collapsing in a key race.
Clarke begins to lose faith in his abilities and goes to visit Zátopek, whom he admires unreservedly. The conversation between Clarke and Zátopek brings us retrospectively back to the main moments of the Czech...
Ondříček, one of the most successful Czech directors working today, was selected by Variety magazine for its “10 Directors to Watch” list. His TV miniseries “Dukla 61” was nominated for a Golden Nymph at the 59th Monte-Carlo Television Festival this year.
In the film, Zátopek is seen as someone who inspires other athletes around the world. One of those is Australian record-breaker Ron Clarke – played by Frecheville – who unexpectedly loses what was probably his last chance at an Olympic medal after collapsing in a key race.
Clarke begins to lose faith in his abilities and goes to visit Zátopek, whom he admires unreservedly. The conversation between Clarke and Zátopek brings us retrospectively back to the main moments of the Czech...
- 12/5/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Czech director David Ondříček will continue shooting the ambitious drama about legendary runner Emil Zátopek until mid-December. Czech producer-director David Ondříček has wrapped the second production phase on the period drama and biopic Zátopek, about Emil Zátopek, a Czech distance runner nicknamed the “Czech Locomotive” and the holder of several world records, who was singled out as Greatest Runner of All Time by the editors of Runner’s World magazine in 2013. Shooting will continue, with several breaks, until mid-December. Ondříček co-wrote the script with writer-director Alice Nellis and composer Jan P Muchow, and the movie is a reconstruction of Zátopek’s life, with Ondříček revealing that the story is more about politics than sport. The other main character besides the legendary runner himself is his wife, Olympic javelin thrower Dana Zátopková. Ondříček fully immersed himself in the life of Emil Zátopek when he prepared the documentary Zátopek in 2016. “It is.
- 10/18/2019
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
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