Janus Films (Criterion) to release 30 Czech classic films over the next 10 years

[Scottie]

FNE at KVIFF 2017: Czech National Film Archives Inks American Distribution Deal

KARLOVY VARY: The Czech National Film Archives has signed an agreement with distribution company Janus Films, the company behind the prestigious Criterion Collection, to licence 30 Czech classic film titles for North America. The films will be released over a 10 year period with English subtitles on DVD, online, on television and in cinemas.

The Criterion Collection is a respected publisher of DVD and Blu-ray editions. Their prestigious releases will include all of the titles provided by NFA within this contract, and more films are in negotiation. Criterion has become a long standing guarantee of high quality and their disc releases are cherished around the world.

The deal was announced by NFA helmer Michal Bregant at a special event during the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, where the NFA presented a range of newly restored Czech classic films available on DVD and a new English language book on the history of Czech cinema. All are for sale online on the NFA website.

Bregant said: “The demand for classic Czech films in the US is on an increase, also thanks to the retrospective we have presented this April at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Step by step we broaden the interest of foreign audiences beyond the realms of the new wave.”

https://www.filmneweurope.com/news/c...tribution-deal


Amerika bude promítat českou filmovou klasiku
(Original)

Národní filmový archiv uzavřel významnou smlouvu s distribuční společností Janus Films, díky níž se seznámí s českou filmovou klasikou diváci v celé Severní Americe.

Spalovač mrtvol, Marketa Lazarová, Všichni dobří rodáci, Tři oříšky pro Popelku – i tyto tituly jsou mezi více než třiceti klasickými českými filmy, které uvidí diváci v kinech i na DVD v USA a Kanadě. Umožní to nová smlouva, kterou uzavřel ředitel Národního filmového archivu Michal Bregant s distribuční společností Janus Films.

Janus Films stojí i za The Criterion Collection, respektovaným vydavatelem DVD a Blu-ray disků. V této prestižní edici se budou postupně objevovat všechny filmy, na které NFA nyní podepsal smlouvu, a v jednání jsou už další tituly. Criterion je trvale garantem vysoké kvality a jeho disky jsou oblíbené po celém světě.

America will be screened Czech film classic
(Translated)

The National Film Archive has concluded a significant agreement with a distribution company Janus Films, through which they learn about the Czech film classics audiences throughout North America.

Cremator, Marketa Lazarová, All My Good Countrymen, Three Nuts for Cinderella - and these titles are among more than thirty classic Czech films that viewers will see in theaters and on DVD in the US and Canada. This will allow new agreement signed by the Director of the National Film Archive Michal Bregant a distribution company Janus Films.

Janus Films is also behind The Criterion Collection, a respected publisher of DVD and Blu-ray discs. This prestigious edition will gradually discover all the movies that NFA now signed a contract, and negotiations are already more titles. Criterion is permanently guarantee the high quality and the disks are popular worldwide.

http://nfa.cz/cz/o-nas/aktuality/?a=...lmovou-klasiku

[Buscemi]

Maybe we can finally get the restored Daisies in HD. It played theatrically but ended up under the Eclipse line for some reason.

[davidsal]

Would love Ikarie XB-1 to be the first bluray released from this deal.

https://youtu.be/sOBGQJhHU3Y

Enviado desde mi SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 mediante Tapatalk

[Marshall Crist]

Is it just me, or does this say nothing about Blu-rays being released?

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Marshall Crist

Is it just me, or does this say nothing about Blu-rays being released?

It does mention "DVD" but they're most likely using it in the way people say "Kleenex" for any brand of tissue.

[javi92]

over a 10 year period

[DJANGO]

Originally Posted by davidsal

Would love Ikarie XB-1 to be the first bluray released from this deal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOBG...ature=youtu.be

Enviado desde mi SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 mediante Tapatalk

If you go to the NFA site they have already released IKARIE XB-1 on a Region Free Blu with English subs. This has been reviewed by dvdsavant. It would seem like a natural for Criteron.

[DJANGO]

Originally Posted by Marshall Crist

Is it just me, or does this say nothing about Blu-rays being released?

If you go to their site and wander around it seems several of their films have already been released on Blu-ray so I do not think we need to worry about that.

[ShellOilJunior]

The steady release of films over 10+ years is allegedly why Herzog's films didn't go to Criterion. I think Criterion prefers to release a large body of work slowly over time. November will be 7 years since their first Chaplin release on blu-ray (Modern Times).

[Caseyscott]

The time frame is frustrating but this is easily the most exciting announcement in years, I hope they don't trickle out too slowly!

[bluesparrow]

Originally Posted by DJANGO

If you go to the NFA site they have already released IKARIE XB-1 on a Region Free Blu with English subs. This has been reviewed by dvdsavant. It would seem like a natural for Criteron.

I hope so, that blu ray seems like a pain to get.

[John_Drake]

At least two sellers on eBay are currently offering it.

[78deluxe]

Originally Posted by javi92

I have one Czech Criterion Blu

Realistically 3 releases a year by Janus in the American market is a fair amount.

[malakaheso]

Would love to see Criterion release Valley of The Bees and The Cremator.

[Joseph Goodman]

Originally Posted by DJANGO

If you go to the NFA site they have already released IKARIE XB-1 on a Region Free Blu with English subs. This has been reviewed by dvdsavant. It would seem like a natural for Criteron.

It'd be cool if a Criterion disc of Ikarie included a reconstruction of "Voyage To The End Of The Universe" as an extra... I have a fascination with AIP's foreign imports of that era; a lot of them seemed to use the same English dubbing cast.

[Jospef]

Originally Posted by bluesparrow

I hope so, that blu ray seems like a pain to get.

If anyone wants Ikarie XB 1 (was restored in 4K) on Blu-ray (or other Czech released blu-rays), PM me, I could send.

[silverlakephil]

Purchased Ikarie XB-1 from Jospef recently and the picture and sound looks great. Purchase from him with confidence if you're interested.

[SpiderBaby]

Wonder if we will start to see these 30 releases.

[Jobla]

I'd love to see some Karel Zeman films released on US BD.

[Jospef]

Tried to do updated list of those 30 films that Criterion could release on Blu-ray + process of the restoration + already released titles elsewhere.

1. All My Good Countrymen / Vsichni dobri rodaci (1968; V. Jasny) || 4K restoration in 2013: Czech release (without English subtitles)
   
   
2. Black Peter / Cerny Petr (1963; M. Forman) || 4K restoration in 2017: Czech and UK release (both region free with English subtitles)
   
   
3. A Boring Afternoon / Fadni odpoledne – short film (1964; I. Passer) || Restored: UK release (as Extra of Intimate Lighting)
   
   
4. Capricious Summer / Rozmarne leto (1967; J. Menzel)
   
   
5. The Cassandra Cat (When the Cat Comes) / Az prijde kocour (1963; V. Jasny)
   
   
6. Closely Watched Trains / Ostre sledovane vlaky (1966; J. Menzel) || 4K restoration in 2014: UK and Czech release (both region free with English subtitles)
   
   
7. Courage for Every Day / Kazdy den odvahu (1964; E. Schorm)
   
   
8. The Cremator / Spalovac mrtvol (1968; J. Herz) || 4K restoration in 2019 & already released by Criterion (21/04/2020); also Czech release (region free with English subtitles), UK release is unrestored (but region free with English subtitles)
   
   
9. Daisies / Sedmikrasky (1966; V. Chytilova) || 'Remastered': UK release (region free with English subtitles)
   
   
10. Diamonds of the Night / Demanty noci (1964; J. Nemec) || 4K restoration in 2018 & already released by Criterion (16/04/2019); also Czech and UK release (both region free with English subtitles)
    
    
11. Distant Journey / Daleka cesta (1949; A. Radok) || 4K restoration in 2019: Czech release (planned for 2020; region free with English subtitles)
    
    
12. The Ear / Ucho (1970; K. Kachyna) || 'Remastered': UK release (region free with English subtitles)
    
    
13. The Firemen’s Ball / Hori, ma panenko (1967; M. Forman) || 4K restoration in 2012: UK and Czech release (both region free with English subtitles)
    
    
14. Footprints / Stopy – short film (1960; J. Jires) || Restored & already released by Criterion (30/06/2015) as Extra of Valerie and Her Week of Wonders; also on the UK release (region free with English subtitles)
    
    
15. From Saturday to Sunday / Ze soboty na nedeli (1931; G. Machaty) || 4K restoration in 2016: Czech release (region free with English subtitles)
    
    
16. The Hall of Lost Steps / Sal ztracenych kroku – short film (1960; J. Jires) || Restored & already released by Criterion (30/06/2015) as Extra of Valerie and Her Week of Wonders; also on the UK release (region free with English subtitles)
    
    
17. Ikarie XB 1 (1963; J. Polak) || 4K restoration in 2015: Czech and UK release (both region free with English subtitles)
    
    
18. Intimate Lighting / Intimni osvetleni (1965; I. Passer) || 4K restoration in 2016: UK release (region free with English subtitles)
    
    
19. The Joke / Zert (1968; J. Jires)
    
    
20. Loves of a Blonde / Lasky jedne plavovlasky (1965; M. Forman) || 4K restoration in 2019: UK release (region free with English subtitles)
    
    
21. Marketa Lazarová (1967; F. Vlacil) || 4K restoration in 2011 & already released by Criterion (18/06/2013); also Czech release (region free with English subtitles)
    
    
22. Pearls of the Deep / Perlicky na dne (1965; J. Menzel, J. Nemec, E. Schorm, V. Chytilova, J. Jires)
    
    
23. A Report on the Party and the Guests / O slavnosti a hostech (1966; J. Nemec)
    
    
24. Return of the Prodigal Son / Navrat ztraceneho syna (1966; E. Schorm)
    
    
25. Shop on Main Street / Obchod na korze (1965; J. Kadar, E. Klos) || 4K restoration in 2017; UK release is unrestored (but region free with English subtitles)
    
    
26. Something Different / O necem jinem (1963; V. Chytilova)
    
    
27. Three Wishes for Cinderella / Tri orisky pro Popelku (1973; V. Vorlicek) || 4K restoration in 2015: Czech release (region free with English subtitles)
    
    
28. Transport From Paradise / Transport z raje (1962; Z. Brynych)
    
    
29. Uncle / Strejda – short film (1959; J. Jires) || Restored & already released by Criterion (30/06/2015) as Extra of Valerie and Her Week of Wonders; also on the UK release (region free with English subtitles)
    
    
30. Valerie and Her Week of Wonders / Valerie a tyden divu (1970; J. Jires) || 4K restoration in 2015 & already released by Criterion (30/06/2015); UK release is unrestored (but region free with English subtitles)
    
    + out of the 30 list:
    
    
31. Three Fantastic Journeys by Karel Zeman: Journey to the Beginning of Time Blu-ray / Invention for Destruction Blu-ray / The Fabulous Baron Munchausen Blu-ray (1955, 1958, 1961; K. Zeman) || 4K restoration in 2018, 2015 and 2016 & already released by Criterion (25/02/2020); also Czech (I, II, III) and UK releases (I, II, III) (both region free with English subtitles)