Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 

A set of Jan Špáta’s restored films had its world premiere screening at the beginning of the festival. The selection from this unique project to digitally restore the films of Czech documentary legend Jan Špáta includes Respice finem, Hallo Satchmo, Variations on Gustav Mahler's Theme, Between Light and Darkness, and Athletic Variations. The project involved the digital restoration and transfer to HD format of 18 of Jan Špáta's most important works. They are to be released on four DVDs.

"I'm glad we were able to finish this demanding project," says producer Richard Němec. "Regarding the work, we were convinced by the huge success of the world premiere shown to a sold-out audience of 300. Everyone reacted wonderfully, and the discussion went on long after the screening. It was a very powerful experience for me because although I followed the whole process of the digitalization and restoration during countless projections, I experienced a feeling of indescribable joy with the audience. I remember the films in their unrestored state, and what I saw in Karlovy Vary on Saturday was beautiful."

The selection of The Restored Films of Jan Špáta will be distributed under the same title in September 2009 by Aerofilms.

Festival screenings:
2E2 - 4.7. Saturday, 13:00, Espace Dorleans Cinema
923 - 11.7. Saturday, 12:30, Small Hall
Both screenings will be in HD.