Christmas Issue Czech the News San Francisco

Czech Ambassador Petr Gandalovič meets San Francisco

Mayor during his visit to California

The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States, Mr. Petr Gandalovič, visited San Francisco and Silicon Valley from November 4 to November 11, 2013 to promote and facilitate business ties between the Czech Republic and California.

A substantial part of the Ambassador’s official duties was his attendance as one of the speakers and panelists at the Conference on cyber security, organized by the East West Institute at Stanford University. His program also included meetings with various city officials, especially the Mayor of San Francisco Edwin M. Lee, and Bobbie Landers, a former mayor of Orinda, which is the sister city of Tábor. During the meeting

with the Mayor of San Francisco the Ambassador mentioned Ambassador P.Gandalovič with awarded George Shultz Škoda’s trolleybuses in the streets of San Francisco as a vivid reminder of the Czech Republic´s presence and discussed possibilities for adding other Škoda vehicles to the San Francisco fleet.

Cont´d on page 2 INDEX Dear Friends in California, Czech Ambassador Petr Gandalovič meets San Francisco Mayor during his visit to CA...... 1,2 Let me wish you wonderful holidays, Merry Christmas and Introduction by the Consul General...... 1,2 Happy New Year. We have been having a very busy year Czech Films Return to SF in Spring...... 3 2013 so far. I believe, now is the time to relax and enjoy the Don Juans and Burning Bush Compete for Oscar & Golden last few days of the year. In California, we do not get to enjoy Globe...... 3 snow as much as in the Czech Republic. However, Christmas Movies Based on Hrabal´s Novels at the Czech and Hanukkah are both special times and reasons for Consulate...... 4 celebration here as well. American Sokol San Francisco dinner and dance...... 4 News From the Honorary Consul General Mr. Richard In the Czech Republic, the political life was dominated by two Pivnicka...... 5 important elections this past year. First, the presidential 20th Anniversary of California Czech and Slovak Club...... 6 elections were held in January, when Mr. Miloš Zeman was Second Year of Czech School Began...... 7 elected a president of the Czech Republic. Secondly, the parliamentary elections took place this October and we are still waiting for the new government to be formed.

Cont´d on page 2 To subscribe for our newsletter and upcoming cultural events, please, contact us at [email protected] or 310-473-0889 Page 1

Cont´d from page 1 Ambassador Gandalovič also held meetings with several IT companies from Silicon Valley and met with many members of The Ambassador discussed economic opportunities and the Czech community in the Bay Area. challenges in Silicon Valley with several successful Czech entrepreneurs, including GoodData. He also This fall, we had a great opportunity to celebrate the life and visited the startup accelerator Nest GSV and other to commemorate the work of one of the greatest Czechs of the business entities with consideration of future cooperation 20th century – playwright, dissident, and President, the late with the Czech Republic. “As the year draws to a close, Václav Havel. The Opening event of the Mutual Inspiration everyone in the Valley is looking to predict the next big Festival 2014 offered a screening of Havel’s film, “Leaving” tech wave”, the Ambassador proclaimed. He held talks at the Wende Museum of Communism. about latest tech trends with number of VIPs of the IT industry, attended a private party with Sokol members Untitled Theater Company # 61 from New York City performed organized by the President of Sokol San Francisco Jara a series of monologues from Havel’s plays at my residence and Dusatko and met with numerous Czech compatriots at UCLA organized an exhibit at the beautiful Powel Rotunda on Café Prague and other venues. the campus about Havel, his life, his work, and his connection to Los Angeles.

His visit was concluded by attending the Czech Banquet Several concerts of famous Czech artists took place in recent & Gala event, hosted by the Czech School of California months in California. In October, famous Czech jazz pianist and Sokol SF. The Gala was a benefit event for the Czech Emil Viklický visited Foster City in the Bay Area and Los School of California. The school opened in 2012 and is Angeles, where he performed at the EU jazz festival at UCLA headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Today it is the as well as at my residence with Benny Golbin during a sold out largest accredited Czech charter school in the US, with show. Renowned Czech violinist Ivan Ženatý with pianist over 80 students at four Bay Area locations. Sandra Shapiro helped us to celebrate the Czech National Holiday on October 28. The duo also performed several shows During the Gala, the Ambassador awarded the Silver Jan in the Bay Area upon invitation of the BayCzech Organization. Masaryk Medal to George P. Shultz, former U.S. Secretary of State, and stated: “I cannot think of a better Many cultural events are also planned for next year. The time or place to recognize Secretary Shultz for his role in popular Petrof Concert Series, which we organize in liberating the people of our nation from the communist cooperation with Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU), will kick dictatorship. The successes of the local Czech community off with a concert by Fabio B. Jiricek at my residence in Los are also results of Secretary Shultz’s efforts in promoting Angeles on February 23, at 3pm. The wonderful Czech violinist liberty all over the world.” This prestigious award Pavel Sporcl will return to Los Angeles in late April and one commemorates and celebrates Secretary Shultz’s role in his concert will take place in the Bay Area on April 23, 2014. implementing foreign policy that had led to the I can also announce that the annual “Czech That Film” conclusion of the Cold War, and for his contributions to festival will continue next year. This touring series of the best the world as a statesman. The Masaryk Medal is the Czech movies from the previous year will launch in Los highest award of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Angeles on March 27 with a screening of “Honeymoon”, the Czech Republic. latest film by Jan Hřebejk. This Czech Filmfest will also travel to San Francisco where it will start on March 30, 2014.

It is always a great honor for me to be invited to meetings of local Czech communities. I love to attend Sokol gatherings in Los Angeles and I was amazed at the Czechoslovak luncheon on November 21, 2013, in Orinda. I loved how many Czech people came to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere and an interesting cultural program which included dances and songs from the group Karička of San Diego. The celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Czech and Slovak Club attracted more than 200 people and the future of this fantastic organization is very bright. Lourdes Saab, Deputy Chief of Protocol with the Consul General Michal Sedláček Please look for more information about our events on our Cont´d from page 1 Facebook page or on our website: www.mzv.cz/losangeles . I look forward to seeing you at our cultural events and wish you We were honored by the recent visit of the Czech Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2014. Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Petr Gandalovič, to

California, where he participated in the Czech Gala of the Michal Sedláček, Consul General Czech school of California and met the Mayor of San

Francisco Edwin Lee.

Page 2

“DON JUANS” AND “BURNING BUSH” COMPETE FOR OSCAR & GOLDEN GLOBE Czech film touring series „Czech That Film” will return to San Francisco next spring. For three months the annual film “Don Juans” (Donšajni), directed by the Academy Award festival will offer film enthusiasts the best current Czech Winning Director Jiří Menzel, has been selected as the Czech films coast to coast. The festival will kick off its tour in Los entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 86th Academy Angeles and in San Francisco will take place on March 30 Awards. Menzel’s newest feature combines a proper dosage of through April 2, 2014. The festival is organized in comedy and drama, opera and cinema, singers and actors. The cooperation with Czech Center in New York and the Roxie middle-aged Vitek (Jan Hartl), a director of a small regional Theater in Mission District in San Francisco. opera company, attempts to produce Mozart’s Don Giovanni. “Don Juans” tells a story about the world of opera, unmasked The festival will travel to major American cosmopolitan and stripped of its glamour. The masterpiece “Don Juans” will areas such as Washington D.C., New York City, Los compete with 75 other contenders for the 2013 Oscar Award in Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Chicago, the Best Foreign Language Film category. Phoenix or Salt Lake City. For the first time, the film series will also reach Dallas, TX and Cedar Rapids, IA. California’s Film Institute based in Marin County will screen the Czech candidate for the Best Foreign Language Film within its Additional special events traditionally complement the series called “For Your Consideration”. Series, which presents a festival in each city, such as the opening and closing selection of Oscar submissions from around the world, will be receptions and Q&A sessions with well-established Czech held from Friday, January 10 to Thursday, January 17, 2014. directors. In the 2014 edition, the attendees will have an A special screening of “Don Juans” will be shown during the opportunity to personally meet with the leading Czech opening day of the series on Friday, January 10th at 4:00 p.m. director Jan Hřebejk, whose personal list of and again on Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 6:15 p.m. Both accomplishments in the film industry is endlessly impressive screening will take place at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film and includes a 2000 Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Center (1118 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901). Tickets for Language Film with “Divided We Fall” (Musíme si the screening will be available for purchase online shortly at the pomáhat). His work has won countless Czech Lion Smith Rafael Film Center website at: nominations, in addition to three awards from the Czech http://www.cafilm.org/rfc/index.html. Film Academy for Best Director. At the festival, Mr. Hřebejk will introduce in person his recent drama The Czech candidate for the Best Foreign Film at the 71st “Honeymoon” (Líbánky, 2013, 97 min.), the winner of the Golden Globes Awards, „Burning Bush“ (Hořící keř) held an Best Director Award at the International Film Festival of official Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) screening Karlovy Vary last summer, on March 30 at 4:00 pm at Roxie on October 10, 2014, at the United Talent Agency in Beverly Theater followed by a reception. Hills.

In San Francisco and other festival’s destinations “Czech Over 30 HFPA members, who nominate films for Golden That Film” will also host another special guest - a young Globes, attended the special event along with many influential promising Czech director Roman Kašparovský, who will film industry professionals such as Czech director Ivan Passer introduce his feature debut „Lousy Bastards“(Všiváci, 2013, and actress Edita Brychta. The guests were greeted by the 100 min.). Though he’s a relative newcomer to the motion acclaimed director Agnieszka Holland and the Consul General of picture industry, Roman Kašparovský has already been the Czech Republic in Los Angeles, Michal Sedláček. involved in major projects as production manager and producer such as the Czech HBO series “Lidice” since Golden Globe Awards nominations will be declared on 2011. In „Lousy Bastards“, Kašparovský creates a dramatic Thursday, December 12, 2013, and the Oscar nominations will thriller about two men trying to make right choices in the be announced on Thursday, January 16th, 2014. Fingers world. crossed!

Moviegoers will have a special opportunity to see the best of current Czech cinema, including a Czech Golden Globe candidate „Burning Bush“(Hořící keř), directed by Agnieszka Holland, and Jiří Menzel’s official Oscar entrée, „Don Juans“(Donšajni). The screenings will include a diverse assortment of films and surely should not be missed by any enthusiast of international cinema.

Please check the official website of the festival at Burning Bush www.czechthatfilm.com. Page 3

MOVIES BASED ON HRABAL’S NOVELS AT THE CONSULATE!

At the beginning of 2014 we will have an opportunity to as Maryška, the wife of the brewery manager), are based on cherish and enjoy the work of one of the best Czech Mr. Hrabal’s real family members. Maryška’s character is writers of the 20th century, Bohumil Hrabal. In honor of based on his mother and uncle Pepin is based on his uncle, his 100th birthday anniversary on March 28, 2013, the who came to town for a two week visit but stayed for forty Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles, years. in cooperation with the Czechoslovak Society of Arts & Sciences, will host a retrospective of films based on the A graceful and leisurely movie covering the period from books of Mr. Hrabal. The series will highlight Mr. 1930’s to 1950’s, “I Served the King of England” was also Hrabal’s importance to Czech cinema that seems to be adapted from a famous novel by Bohumil Hrabal. The severely underrated. His expressive, highly visual screening will take place at the Consulate on Wednesday, storytelling has led to ten film adaptations. February 19, 2014. Additional screenings will be announced at a later date. “The Hrabal’s Months” at the Czech Consulate will begin with a screening of the movie “Larks on a String,” All films will be screened in Czech with English subtitles. (“Skřivánci na niti“), directed by Award Winner Jiří If you are interested in attending, please, RSVP to Menzel, considered by many as his best movie. The [email protected] controversial film was banned by the Communist government at the time, and was not released until after the fall of Berlin Wall in 1989, when it won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. The screening will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at AMERICAN SOKOL SAN FRANCISCO 7:00 p.m., at the screening room of the Czech Consulate DINNER AND DANCE (10990 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA 90024). American Sokol organizes a dinner and dance event to say

good-bye to old year 2013 and welcome the new year 2014. The tribute to Mr. Hrabal will continue on Wednesday, The event will take place on Saturday, December 28, 2013 in January 22, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. with a poetic comedy based Crowne Plaza Hotel (1221 Chess Drive, Foster City CA on Mr. Hrabal’s novel “The Snowdrop Festival” 94404). (“Slavnosti sněženek“) featuring a number of celebrated Czech actors, such as Rudold Hrušinský, Jaromír Hanzlík, Come with friends, meet new people, enjoy life and dance Josef Somer or Libuše Šafránková. enriched by live music of Joe Domitrowich‘s Alpiners USA famous band, starting from 7:00 pm. Door opens at 6:30 pm. “Cutting it Short”, another feature directed by J. Menzel and inspired by B. Hrabal, will be shown on Wednesday, For more information and tickets, please, contact the President February 5, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. The story is set in a local of Sokol Jara Dusatko at [email protected] or brewery in a small Czech town, evoking Bohumil [email protected] or by phone: 925-937-1769. Hrabal’s childhood memories of Nymburk. The main characters of the film, Uncle Pepin and Maryška (starring the unforgettable Jiří Hanzlík and Magda Vašáryová

Page 4 News From the Honorary Consul General

Mr. Richard Pivnicka The Czech Gala and Banquet on Nov. 9 in Foster City, Secretary Shultz came to statecraft through economics. And it Calif., brought together all the ingredients for a truly was a panel of Silicon Valley business and tech trends that historic evening—and not just for the Czech community in kicked off the day for the Czech gala. Ambassador Gandalovič the San Francisco Bay Area. For the black-tie event, there moderated a discussion with representatives of three top was singing, dancing, and fine Czech beer. A panel of Czech companies with a presence in the United States: Martin Czech and American high tech business leaders offered Viktora, Founder and Chief Technology Officer of KERIO some glimpses into what’s ahead. And a heartwarming Technologies, which distributes software that allows ceremony honored the service of a great American businesses to connect, communicate, and collaborate securely; statesman. Hubert Palan, Vice President of Product Development at GoodData, a cloud-based business intelligence provider; and His Excellency George P. Shultz, former U.S. Secretary of Jonathan Penn, Director of Strategy for AVAST, a global State, was the chief guest of honor for the event. Czech provider of anti-virus software. Ambassador to the United States Petr Gandalovič presented him with the Silver Medal of Jan Masaryk in recognition of The panel discussion was sponsored by Czech Tech Shultz’s role in implementing foreign policy that led to the (www.czech-tech.net), which was founded by Richard conclusion of the Cold War, and for his global Pivnicka, Honorary Consul General of the Czech Republic in contributions as a statesman. San Francisco and Silicon Valley, to provide common ground

for Czechs and Americans in the high-tech sector. Discussion “When president Reagan, in what became a signature ranged from the benefits and challenges of Czech companies moment of the Eighties, Called for the Berlin Wall to be torn down, the American foreign policy under your doing business in the U.S. (with all participants agreeing that diverse, global perspectives are invaluable—as is a good leadership helped ensure that the call was heard across educational system with strengths in math and science—and Europe,” Ambassador Gandalovič said. all predicting more Czech companies in Silicon Valley in the The Ambassador noted that the wall came down 24 years to future) to Internet security. the day that this award was presented. The Masaryk Medal is the highest award of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The panel and gala together made for the premier Czech event the Czech Republic. of the year in the Bay Area. Both were held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City. (See a program and more photos at Secretary Shultz was welcomed to the stage by a band czechinstitutesf.com.) Guests were treated to musical playing the Marine Corps Hymn—a song which put even performances by singers Yanna Fabian and Liana Braunova more of a twinkle in his eye than usual. Born in 1920, Derner, a red carpet photoshoot with Lucie Kubinova Silveira, Shultz served in the Marines in World War II. and much more—with the evening emceed by Timothy Bentley. Expressing deep appreciation for the great honor bestowed upon him with the Masaryk Medal, Shultz had this to say: The gala was a benefit for the Czech School of California, “I always felt, while people expressed gratitude to President headquartered in Palo Alto. The school, which opened in Reagan and me, that the gratitude should flow in the other 2012, is the second largest accredited Czech charter school direction.” It was the people of Czechoslovakia, Poland, outside of the Czech Republic, boasting more than 90 students and Hungary, he said, who set an example for the world in at four locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. throwing off the yoke of communism in 1989. “I am so Linda Janourova-Tang, who assists the Honorary Consulate grateful to all of you for the inspiration that you provided General in San Francisco is also a Board Member of the through very difficult times.” School. Find out more at www.czechschoolofcalifornia.com.

PHOTO CAPTION: Gala moment: Left to right, with Ambassador Petr Gandalovič and wife Pavlina Gandalovicova; Charlotte Maillard Shultz and former Secretary of State George P. Shultz; and Hon. Barbara and Hon. Richard Pivnicka.

Richard Pivnicka, Steven Saum and Linda Janourova-Tang

Page 5 20th ANNIVERSARY OF CALIFORNIA CZECH AND SLOVAK CLUB

The event was again hosted by Orinda Tabor Sister City Foundation in beautiful Orinda Community Center. The main hall barely contained 200 plus guests that included among others Consul General Michal Sedlacek and his family as well as Honorary Consuls Richard and Barbara Pivnicka. The event offered a great line-up of performers.

Guests applauded a wonderful rendition of Czech national anthem by Lianka Derner and joined to sing the anthems of Slovakia and the USA. American composer/singer Erick Macek came all the way from Los Angeles to perform his own music and some well-known Slovak folk songs. Coming from San Diego, the folklore group Karička warmed the hearts of everyone with their unique program that presented folk customs, songs and dances all in the traditional costumes. Pavel Soltys had a funny and informative presentation about Christmas history and traditions, explaining among other, how St. Nicholas, accompanied by an angel and a devil visit families at their homes in our native countries. Many children in the audience were very happy when real St. Nicholas and his friends entered the hall. Boys and girls had to sing songs or say a rhyme in order to receive small gifts. The program concluded with the cutting of the 20th anniversary cake.

Karička of San Diego The event was a real success, no doubt thanks to the delicious food catered by DJ Bistro from Concord. Jerry Sedivy and his crew prepared true Czech specialties – the pork roast with sauerkraut and dumplings, known as “vepřo-knedlo“, real Hungarian goulash and vegetarian lasagna.

It was a great year for California Czech and Slovak Club. Headed by a new president, Mrs. Barbora Soltys, the club now plays an important role for Czech and Slovak communities in California as an organizer and facilitator of unique events. Among those, planned for the future are folk music concerts, summer events for kids, Czech business mixers, meetings with writers, artists, filmmakers, doctors and similar interesting personalities, who are, in some ways, connected to the Czech Michal Sedláček, Consul General culture. The mainstay events will remain to be the popular semi-annual club gatherings. Everyone will be looking forward to the next one, The Spring Feast in early April 2014. What a year for California Czech and Slovak Club. This vibrant non-profit organization based in Walnut Barbora Soltys Creek in San Francisco Bay Area concluded the year President 2013 with their traditional Christmas Luncheon.

Page 6 Second Year of Czech School Began

Earlier this fall, the Czech School of California’s second school year began with a running start, as a fourth school site was opened and as student enrollment grew to over 95 students throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Besides this incredible expansion, the School recently also managed to enter into two exclusive partnerships. The first, with Prague’s prestigious Charles University, which entitles the School to work with the University on developing the latest methodologies for teaching Czech as a second language to children and adults. And the second, with the Czech Ministry of Education, which has officially recognized the School as a charter school and has permitted administrators to issue report cards equivalent to those distributed to students in the Czech Republic.

In addition to offering instruction to students, the School also organizes events and activities for the local Czech and Slovak communities. In November, this included the inaugural 2013 Czech Banquet and Gala, a benefit for the School, which was held in Foster City and attended by over 200 people. The Gala was preceded by a panel presentation moderated by Czech Ambassador Petr Gandalovic, featuring successful Silicon Valley-based Czech companies.

After the panel, a historic black-tie dinner featuring top Czech entertainment took place, at which the Ambassador awarded the Silver Medal of Jan Masaryk to former U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz, for his role in implementing foreign policy that led to the conclusion of the Cold War.

And if that wasn’t a tough act to follow, the School organized its annual St. Nicholas Party a few weeks later in early December. Over 80 children attended the Party, which was complete with performances by all of the School’s classes, a Czech Christmas exhibit and fair, with attendance by St. Nicholas himself, as well as the devil!

With 2014 just around the corner, there is much on the horizon for the School. On January 21, 2014, the School will be partnering with Stanford University for a conference on raising a bilingual child, with experts in the field of language education on hand to weigh in on this fascinating topic.

Please look for information about the conference, our potential growth into the north bay in 2014, and all of our activities on our website: www.czechschoolofcalifornia.com.

Iva Crookston

Page 7 Upcoming Cultural Events

December 2013 January 2014 February 2014

Dec. 28, 2013 from 6:30 pm – American Friday, January 10 to Thursday, January 17 - Feb. 3–6, 2014 – TechMatch Euro-Silicon Sokol in San Francisco organizes a dinner California’s Film Institute will screen the Valley and dance event Czech candidate for the Best Foreign Language Film within its series called “For San Francisco and Palo Alto, CA Crowne Plaza Hotel, (1221 Chess Drive, Your Consideration” Foster City, CA 94404)

For more details, please see page 4

Jan. 10, 2014 at 4:00 pm & Jan. 16, 2014 at Feb. 23, 2014 at 3:00 pm – Concert with 6:15 pm - A special screening of “Don Juans” classical pianist Fabio Banegas Jiricek within the Petrof Concert Series at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center Residence of the Consul General (1118 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901) (Upon invitation only!) Tickets for purchase at: www.cafilm.org Jan 21, 2014 – Czech School Conference partnering with Stanford University For more information, please visit the website: www.czechschoolofcalifornia.com

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