Czech Showcase

Screenings of
Auto*Mate (2009)

and Jan Kaplicky / Eye Over Prague  (2010) 
 International Architecture Showcase

London Festival of Architecture

29 June, 8.45 pm, Barbican Centre, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS   (Auto Mate)

2 July, 7 pm, Wren Room, RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD (Eye Over Prague)

see  www.czechcentre.org.uk, www.lfa2010.org for details

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Directly addressing the key theme of the London Festival of Architecture 2010 - 'The Welcoming City' - is the Czech documentary film Auto*Mate (Czech Republic, 2009) by Martin Marecek. Born out of a cultural and social project created to promote activities to make Prague a healthier livelier city, safe for pedestrians and cyclists, Auto*Mate follows the progress of the project including meetings with politicians, group bike-rides, exhibitions and debates, to capture the growth of this inspiring, city awakening initiative. This playful film essay about our automobile-obsessed society crossed the boundary of its media, turning into a social act. Screened as a part of the DocSpot documentary series at the Barbican, the film will be followed by a debate with Martin Marecek and other guests chaired by Patrick Hazard, director of the London International Documentary Festival, comparing experiences in Prague and London and discussing current trends in urbanism.

The second Czech instalment at the International Architecture Showcase is the international premiere of the documentary Eye Over Prague (Oga Spatova, Czech Republic 2010) dedicated to the late Czech architectJan Kaplicky, founder of London based architectural practice Future Systems (Stirling Price 1999 for Lord's Cricket Ground Media Centre). Featuring Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, Vaclav Havel and others, the film tells the story of Kaplicky's design for the National Library in Prague. After winning the international competition, it met fierce opposition from the Czech government and the local administration and the battle began. Director of the Design Museum Deyan Sudjic will chair a debate with architect Eva Jiricna and other guests following the screening.

Both screenings are part of the International Architecture Showcase, one of the highlights of this year's LFA programme, which presents a broad spectrum of exciting international architecture projects organised by more than 30 Embassies and Cultural institutes around London. 

The London Festival of Architecture 2010, a city-wide celebration  of architecture in the capital, will take place from 19 June to 4 July 2010.  www.lfa2010.org