Czech The News – Consulate General of the Czech Republic

September, 2013 VOL. #11 Czech Parliamentary Elections To Be Held This October

President of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman gave his approving assent to dissolve the Parliament on August 28th, and announced new parliamentary elections for the 25th and 26th of October, 2013. After a resignation of the Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas in June, the government led by Jiří Rusnok had lost a vote of confidence on August 7, 2013. After an agreement of the Czech-political parties, the Parliament then voted yes to a motion to dissolve itself on August 20th, resulting in the new election in October.

Voters living abroad will again have the right to vote at Czech Embassies and Consulates General worldwide, including Consulate General in Los Angeles.

For citizens of the Czech Republic with long-term or permanent residence abroad, the law allows registration into a special electoral registry administered by Embassies and Consulates General, based on their written request which must be submitted no later than 40 days before the elections date. Therefore, those eligible voters wishing to vote must submit their request to the Consulate General in LA no later than September 15, 2013.

INDEX

Introduction by the Consul General...... 1,3 Czech Parliamentary Elections To Be Held This October...... 1,2 Renowned Czech pianist Emil Viklický Returns to Los Angeles……………...…………………………2 Jiří Menzel, One of the Most Influential Czech Dear Friends in Southland Film Directors of All Time in LA………………....4 Launch of the 2013 Mutual Inspirations Festival I hope you all had a wonderful summer. Some of Devoted to Václav Havel………….……………….5 you probably visited the Czech Republic as my Information the new citizenship law of the Czech family and I did in August and enjoyed the beauty Republic……………………………………………6 of our motherland. As you have read or heard, the The Czech Republic inaugurated its Honorary Czech Parliament dissolved itself last month and Consulate in Seattle, State of Washington….……7 there will be new parliamentary elections held this Exhibition of Photographs “Prague 1968” at the October. Czech Consulate……………………….…………..7 Cont´d on page 3

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Cont´d from page 1 Internationally acclaimed jazz pianist Emil Viklický, who has won countless awards and led numerous ensembles, Voting as a permanent/long-term resident abroad will return to California this fall. Local jazz enthusiasts Voters who wish to be included in the special electoral will have an opportunity to hear him at two concerts in registry of the Consulate, must submit their request in October 2013. His worldwide appearances have garnered writing and enclose a valid identification document critical and popular acclaim from the US to Japan and (passport, Czech Republic ID card, US driver’s license), a Israel. proof of citizenship of the Czech Republic (Czech Republic ID card, Czech Republic passport, Certificate of Jazz legend Viklický will perform with skilled American Czech Republic citizenship) and a proof of permanent residence (such as US driver’s license, energy bills) in the saxophonist Benny Golbin within the Petrof Concert Series consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General in Los on October 11, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. at the residence of Angeles. Consul General Mr. Michal Sedláček.

There is no prescribed form of application, however, a Emil Viklický will also participate on the much anticipated sample form can be downloaded from the website of jazz music festival “EUropean Jazz at UCLA.” The Consulate General in Los Angeles. As a reminder, festival will be held from October 10 until 13, 2013 at the registering into the special voter’s registry at the Schoenberg Hall (445 Charles E Young Drive East, Los Embassy/Consulate will automatically remove the Angeles, CA 90024). Emil Viklický will perform with his citizen from a regular voter registration list in the Czech Republic. exceptional colleagues Dustin Morgan (bass) and Richard Weller (drums) on the Opening Night (October 10) that In case a prospective voter is outside their long- starts at 7:00 p.m. term/permanent residence at the time of the election, Czech Embassy/Consulate can issue an electoral ID card The event is jointly organized by a number of European at the voter’s request for those who are listed in the special Consulates in Los Angeles (Austria, , Croatia, voter´s registry. This ID card would then authorize the Czech Republic, Germany, , Ireland, Italy, vote to be cast outside the long-term/permanent place of and Switzerland) and UCLA Department of Music. residence, including any election district abroad or even an election district in the territory of the Czech Republic. It is not only celebrating a jazz music but also serves as an opportunity to welcome Croatia into the European Union. The electoral ID card request must be delivered to the The festival will offer Angelinos the best of current Consulate General in Los Angeles no later than October European jazz music and surely should not be missed by 18, 2013, or requested by personal appearance at the any jazz fans. The event is free to public. Consulate General in Los Angeles no later than October 23rd, 4:00 PM. The Consulate General in Los Angeles will start issuing electoral ID cards on October 10, 2013.

Voting While on Short-term Stay Abroad

Czech citizens who are abroad only temporarily must still register for an electoral ID card. In this case the electoral ID card must be issued in the Czech Republic prior to the short stay abroad, within the jurisdiction of the registry closest to their permanent residence.

The electoral ID card request must be delivered to the

Municipal authority no later than October 18, 2013, or Emil Viklický requested by personal appearance no later than October 23rd, 4:00 PM.

For detailed information please visit the website of the Consulate General at www.mzv.cz/losangeles. Page 2

Cont´d from page 1 I am also pleased to announce that the Petrof Music Series which we organize in cooperation with Society All Czech citizens can vote, either back in the Czech of Arts and Sciences (SVU) will continue this fall with Republic or at Embassies and Consulates General jazz concerts of Emil Viklický. Besides performing in abroad. If you live in California or other Western Seattle and San Francisco, he will also participate at states and would like to come to vote at the Consulate the EU jazz festival at UCLA on October 10, 2013. His General in Los Angeles, you must register with the own separate concert with saxophonist Benny Golbin Consulate by September 15, 2013. Please, see the will take place at my residence on Friday, October 11. story on previous page for more information or visit our website: www.mzv.cz/losangeles for more details. I am very excited that Czech language schools in Los Angeles and Orange County continue to grow each This fall, we will have an opportunity to celebrate the semester. The LA school has reached a point that the life and to commemorate the work of one of the classes will be moving from the Consulate to the greatest Czechs of the 20th century – playwright, Beverly Hills Country Club to better accommodate the dissident and President Václav Havel. The Czech increased number of children this semester. I would Embassy in Washington, DC selected the late Václav like to thank Lilian Roter and Miron Ilincev for Havel as a person to whom the annual Mutual facilitating this move. The Consulate will still continue Inspiration Festival will be dedicated to this year. The to support the teaching of Czech language to kids and first event will take place at the Wende Museum of adults and will organize a St. Nicholas celebration Communism, which is, I would say fittingly, devoted to again in December and much more. Please, check our the history of Communist dictatorships. We will be website or our Facebook page. screening Havel’s film “Leaving”, his debut as a movie director, on September 15, 2013. A fantastic exhibit of Paul Goldsmith’s photographs called “Prague 1968” which just opened on August 21, th I am also looking forward to a theater performance of the day of the 45 anniversary of the infamous Warsaw Edward Einhorn’s Untitled Theater Company # 61 Pact invasion of , is on display at the st from New York City which will perform a series of Front Gallery at the Consulate until November 21 , monologues from Havel’s plays at my residence on 2013. I can assure you it is worth seeing. To conclude, September 29, 2013. And I am excited that UCLA is let me wish you all a great fall season, when we will th organizing an exhibit at the beautiful Powel Rotunda celebrate the Czech National Holiday on October 28 , on campus. which may include a music performance of renowned Czech violinist Ivan Ženatý, and I look forward to Please, join us for the opening of this prestigious seeing you at our cultural events. exhibition about Havel, his life, his work and his connection to Los Angeles on October 8, 2013. Several documentaries about Havel will be also screened at the Consulate General in Los Angeles.

The legendary Czech film director Jiří Menzel will come to Denver and Los Angeles this September. The famous American Academy for Arts and Sciences will honor Menzel with a special evening on September 23, 2013 and will screen his Oscar winning movie “” from a brand new film print at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater at the Academy. Consul General Michal Sedláček with photographer Paul Goldsmith

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Legendary Czech Film Director Jiří Menzel in LA

The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in cooperation with the Czech Consulate in Los Angeles will hold a special evening in honor of the Oscar winning director from the Czech Republic, the legendary Jiří Menzel who celebrated his 75th birthday this year. In addition to Jiří Menzel, there were only four other Czech and Slovak directors who won an Oscar – Miloš Forman, (“One Flew over the Cuckoo´s nest,” 1975, “Amadeus,” 1985), Jan Svěrák (“Kolja,” 1996), Elmar Klos and Ján Kadár (for their common project “Shop on the Main Street,” 1965).

The evening will start with a festive reception at the Academy (upon invitation only) and continue with a screening of Menzel´s Oscar winning picture and one of the Jiří Menzel most-loved films of the famous Czech New Wave “Closely Mr. Menzel also wrote and directed “” Watched Trains” (Ostře sledované vlaky, 1966). The screening will take place on Monday, September 23, 2013 at (Skřivánci na niti) that was banned by the authoritarian communist government of former Czechoslovakia, and was 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater (8949 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills) and will be followed by a Q&A session not released until after the fall of communist regime in with the Czech director, Jiří Menzel. At the Grand Lobby 1990, when it won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Gallery of the Academy building, the attendees will have an opportunity to see an exhibit curated by Menzel’s wife Olga Many of his other films also received prestigious dedicated to Jiří Menzel and his work. international awards: “,” (Perličky na dně, FIPRESCI award in Locarno 1966), “Capricious Everybody is invited to the screening, the theater holds Summer” (Rozmarné léto, Crystal Globe, Karlovy Vary 1,000 seats. For ticket reservations, please contact the International Film Festival, 1968) “” Academy. Tickets ($5 general admission/$3 Academy (Postřižiny, Special Mention, Venice 1981), “The End of members and students with a valid ID) went on sale on the Old Times,” (Konec starých časů, Best Film – Los September 3rd online and by mail. Tickets will not be Angeles IFF 1990), and “I Served the King of England” available in advance at the box office, only a day of the (Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále, FIPRESCI Award – screening. Berlin 2007).

After collaborating with other directors on “Pearls of the In 1996 the Czech Film Academy awarded Mr. Menzel Deep,” (Perličky na dně, 1966), “Closely Watched Trains” with a Czech Lion for making a significant and lasting was Menzel’s solo debut feature and the movie immediately impression on Czech film. Mr. Menzel has also been a won the 1967 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. His teacher at FAMU University in Prague (where he studied interpretation of 's novel features a famous from 1958-1962). Mr. Menzel´s international recognition Czech musician Václav Neckář as a young Czech railroad are significant; he was awarded the French order of worker during the Nazi occupation. Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres for artistic importance and lifetime achievement, and the Akira Kurosawa Prize at the Part of the Czech New Wave era of the 1960s, Jiří Menzel San Francisco Film Festival. Mr. Menzel is stylistically earned an early reputation as one of the leaders of modern renowned for his unique and provocative cinematography, Czech cinema as Miloš Forman, Ivan Passer and Věra as well as his deep, dark analytical approach to film. Chytilová. His work over the years as a theater and film director, an actor and a screenwriter solidified him in a position at the top of the industry. The list of Menzel´s accomplishments in the movie industry is endlessly impressive. Menzel was again nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1986 with his delightful comedy “” (Vesničko má středisková).

Page 4 Launch of the 2013 Mutual Inspirations Festival Devoted to Václav Havel

The Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Los The Exhibition will be organized around the following Angeles announces the launch of the annual Mutual themes: Havel as a playwright, as a dissident, as a politician Inspirations Festival 2013 dedicated to the work and life of and a head of state, and as an honorary professor at UCLA. the legendary dissident, successful playwright, and the first president of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel. The The 2013 Mutual Inspirations Festival will continue with a festival in Los Angeles will officially kick-off with a screening of a documentary “Citizen Havel” (Občan Havel) festive screening of Václav Havel’s directorial debut on October 16, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Czech Consulate of “Leaving” (Odcházení, 2011) at the Wende Museum on in LA. This documentary, revealing former Czech September 15, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. with LA County president’s private moments, is one of the most complete supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky delivering opening remarks. and fascinating portraits of a politician in the history of film and surely should not be missed. The celebration of Václav Havel theatrical plays will continue with a performance of Edward Einhorn’s Untitled The festival will conclude on October 23rd with a double Theater Company #61 from New York City. The show will feature documentaries.The first “Václav Havel, Prague comprise of a series of monologues from various Havel´s Castle” (Václav Havel, Praha – Hrad) (70 min) is a plays, interspersed with commentary on Havel and his documentary directed by Petr Jandáček recounting the works. The theater performance will take place on beginnings of Mr. Havel´s presidency after the Velvet September 29, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. at the residence of Consul revolution in 1989. The second,“Citizen Václav Havel General and will be followed by a reception. Rolling Barrels” (Občan Havel přikuluje) (72 min) directed by Jan and Adam Novák, describes circumstances during Make sure to mark your calendar for the special event of the creation of “Audience”, a play written by Mr. Havel in October 8, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. UCLA, together with the the mid-1970s from experience at his temporary job at the Czech Consulate in LA, will open an exhibition Trutnov brewery, where he was rolling barrels in the cellar. accompanied with a special seminar dedicated to Havel´s The screening will be traditionally held at the premises of life and work. The exhibit will be open throughout the fall the Czech Consulate and starts at 7:00 p.m. All screenings quarter starting on September 26, 2013, and lasting until within the Mutual Inspirations Festival will be presented in December 6, 2013 in the wonderful and prestigious Powell Czech with English subtitles. UCLA Library Rotunda (10740 Dickinson Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095).

Mutual Inspirations Festival 2013 - Václav Havel Date Time Event Location Sept 15 4 p.m. Screening of a film Leaving The Wende Museum and Archive Theater Performance by Untitled Theater Residence Sept 29 4 p.m. Company #61 Exhibition and lecture dedicated to UCLA Powel Library Rotunda Oct. 8 4 p.m. Havel Screening of the documentary Citizen Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Oct. 16 7 p.m. Havel Los Angeles Screening of documentaries Vaclav Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Havel, Prague - Caste & Citizen Vaclav Los Angeles Havel Rolling Barrels Oct. 23 7 p.m.

Page 5 INFORMATION ON THE NEW CITIZENSHIP LAW OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czech Republic amended its citizenship rules this past spring after years of discussions with the compatriot community. This new law of citizenship, Act No. 186/2013 Coll., will take effect on January 1, 2014 and introduces many substantial changes. Foremost, it completely abandons the principle of single citizenship and conversely acknowledges multi- citizenships for Czech citizens. Therefore, former Czech/Czechoslovak citizens who lost their citizenship after acquiring a U.S. citizenship will be eligible to reinstate their Czech citizenship.

Acquisition of Citizenship by Former Czech Citizens

Former citizens, who lost Czechoslovak or Czech Acquisition of Citizenship by Paternity Republic citizenship, will be able to regain it by means of an affirmation (prohlášení) with minor exceptions. Children whose father (a Czech citizen) The new law extends the eligibility to regain citizenship acknowledges paternity by an affirmative statement, without any time or date restrictions unlike the current acquire citizenship, if the mother is a: legislation, which allowed dual citizenship only for those who lost it during the period from February 25, 1948 to o permanent resident in the Czech Republic March 28, 1990. o citizen of an EU member state o citizen of the Swiss Confederation In addition, children and grandchildren of former Czech o citizen of a country party to the European citizens will not be able to be included in the application Economic Area Agreement (Norway, of their parents anymore. Their applications will have to Iceland, Liechtenstein) be filed separately by their parents/legal guardians. o stateless (apatrida)

By affirmation, it is also possible for individuals to gain citizenship if they were born from October 1, 1949 to Loss of Czech Citizenship May 7, 1969, outside of the territory of Czechoslovakia if at least one of the individual´s parents was at the Effective January 1, 2014 Czech citizens will no moment of birth a Czechoslovak citizen, or who became longer lose their Czech citizenship after acquiring a Czech citizen as of Jan 1, 1969. In this case it is foreign citizenship. The only way how to abandon necessary to submit the affirmation no later than January citizenship will be through the means of Declaration 1, 2015. of Renunciation of Czech Citizenship.

Acquisition of Citizenship by Foreigners For detailed information, please visit the website of the Consulate General in Los Angeles Effective January 1, 2014, the requirements for the (www.mzv.cz/losangeles). acquisition of Czech citizenship by foreigners are increased. The applicant will now have to prove basic Details on how to apply for regaining citizenship will knowledge about the Czech constitutional system, state be announced on the website of the Consulate symbols and an orientation in fundamental culture, General after the instructions will become available social, geographical and Czech historical facts. from the Ministry of the Interior.

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Continue newsletter text here. Continue newsletter text The Czech Republic inaugurated The address of the Honoraryhere. Continue Consulate newsletter is: text here. Continue newsletter 3115 NE 65th Street its Honorary Consulate in Seattle, State of text here. Continue newsletter text here. Continue Washington Seattle, WA 98115 Opening hours: by appointmentnewsletter text here. Tel: (206) 229-7127 On June 28, 2013, the Czech Republic inaugurated its Honorary Consulate in Seattle, State of Washington. The Fax: (206) 523-2220 Email: [email protected] newsletter text here. Continue newsletter text newest Czech consular post was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Environment of the Czech Republic here. Continue newsletter text here. Continue newsletter Tomas Tesar and the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States Petr Gandalovič at a special ceremony text here. Continue newsletter text here. Continue attended by Deputy Mayor of Seattle Darryl Smith. newsletter text here. Continue newsletter text here.

Consular jurisdiction of the Honorary Consulate of the Czech Continue newsletter text here. Republic in Seattle covers the entire State of Washington. The consular post is headed by Wayne Jehlik, long-term promoter of Czech culture in Pacific Northwest, founder and Continue newsletter text here. Continue newsletter text director of the popular Center for Czech Education and Culture based in Seattle. here. Continue newsletter text here. Continue newsletter Petr Gandalovič with Wayne Jehlik The Czech Republic is well aware of the strong Czech text here. Continue newsletter text here. Continue compatriot community in Seattle and the important potential newsletter text here. Continue newsletter text here. it offers for future development of cultural exchange and mutual relations as such. This led the Government of the Continue newsletter text here. Continue newsletter text Czech Republic to strengthen its presence in Washington here. State in the form of first formalized official representation. The Honorary Consulate in Seattle will generate support to Paul Goldsmith’s dramatic photographs of the invasion of economic and commercial relations, will increase cultural Czechoslovakia by Soviet armed forces in August of 1968 cooperation and will promote an exchange in education and “Prague 1968” are currently on display at the Front Gallery tourism. It will play unifying and supportive role in of the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Los compatriot relations, and will provide services in consular Angeles (10990 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1100, LA). The matters. Its presence will help improve the accessibility of exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. till consular services to the Czech nationals in the region and at 12:30 p.m. and runs until November 21, 2013. the same time, it will bring the Czech Republic closer to local communities and general public. The Honorary The exhibition of this distinctive photos captured by then Consulate in Seattle is the twentieth commissioned Honorary 19-years-old Paul Goldsmith officially opened on August th Consulate of Czech Republic in the United States, not 21, which was the day of the 45 anniversary of the including three Consulates General and the Embassy. infamous invasion of Czechoslovakia. The author of these rare photographs was present to discuss his As far as consular matters are concerned, its agenda includes work and together with Consul General Michal Sedláček, assisting Czech nationals in need, including tourists, who they both delivered opening remarks. Books of these might find themselves in difficult situations. In this regard, photographs signed by Paul Goldsmith are available on sale the Honorary Consulate will partially collaborate with the at the gallery. Consulate General in Los Angeles on issuing emergency travel documents. For information abou Paul Goldsmith and his work visit: The consulate will also provide notary functions to the http://paulgoldsmithphotography.com/ public, namely in regard to documents to be used in the Czech Republic. From now on, there will be no need to travel to Los Angeles or another distant Consulate of the Czech Republic for notarizations.

Paul Goldsmith and Lida Sandera (President SVU) Ambassador Petr Gandalovič with Honorary Consul Wayne Jehlik Page 7 Upcoming Cultural Events September 2013 October 2013

Sep. 12, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. – Hollywood Bowl, Czech Oct. 8, 2013 from 3:00 p.m. – Mutual Oct. 23, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. - Screening of Mates – Jakub Hrůša, conductor - Smetana’s tone Inspirations Festival - Opening of prestigious documentaries Vaclav Havel, Prague - poem Šárka and Dvořák’s Sixth Symphony exhibition about Havel, his life, his work and Caste & Citizen Vaclav Havel Rolling MONTH YEAR his connection to Los Angeles Barrels For tickets and more information visit: www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/czech-mates/ (UCLA, Powell Rotunda) (at the Consulate General in LA) Sep. 15, 2013 from 4:00 p.m. - Screening of “Leaving” Oct. 10 until 13, 2013 - Jazz music festival Oct. 28, 2013, 4:00 p.m. – Czech National (Odcházení, 2011). Showing will take place at Wende “EUropean Jazz at UCLA Day with a music performance of Museum (5741 Buckingham Pkwy, Culver City, CA renowned Czech violinist Ivan Ženatý 90230) Opening Night with Emil Viklický (October 10) starts at 7:00 p.m. (Schoenberg Hall, 445 Charles E Young Drive East, LA, CA 90024) Sep. 23, 2013 – The Academy – Screening of “Closely Oct. 11, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. - Jazz legend Nov. 19, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. – Screening of Watched Trains” with a presence of Jiří Menzel Viklický performance within the Petrof the Czech film “Don´t Stop” Concert Series at the residence of Consul Tickets ($5 general admission/$3 Academy members General Mr. Michal Sedláček (at the Consulate General in LA) and students with a valid ID)tickets on sale from September 3 online and by mail Sep. 29, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. - theater performance Oct. 16, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. - Screening of the Dec. 7, 2013, 2:00 p.m. – Saint Nicholas VOL. # ISSUE # constituted from a series of monologues from various documentary “Citizen Havel” (Občan Havel) Party (Mikulášská besídka) Václav Havel’s plays at the residence of Consul General (upon invitation only) (at the Consulate General in LA) (at the Consulate General in LA)

Sep. 30, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. – Screening of short films by the students of FAMU (Film & TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague) Venue: USC School, 900 W. 34th Street, LA (The Albert and Dana Broccoli Theatre, SCA 112)