Catalogues of Czech Feature Films
Unique output of scientific processing of NFA collections are publications on Czech feature film where all NFA expert departments take part on its creation. These bilingual filmographical publications represent with its complexity of data work-out and innovations (first time are mentioned data on extant film materials and their securing, on extant contemporary documentation, archive sources etc.) a new and for majority of world film archives hardly achievable standard.
There were issued five volumes from planed edition content period from 1898 to 1993 so far. Catalogue includes:
- all found feature films of Czech production (extant and not extant)
- all found feature films with advertising and cultural content (extant and not extant)
- coproduction films
- films forbidden by censorship
- not finished films
It was worked with primary archive sources in principle. Beside overview of available copies were systematically processed written documents in state and county archives and in archives of eminent culture and political institutions, film and non-film magazines and daily journals from certain period.
Catalogue contain filmographical data on:
- film producers
- film writer
- production
- locations
- film content in Czech and English languages
- extant film materials in NFA and their safety
- contemporary documentation (photographs, posters, advertising materials etc.)
- archival sources (story, synopses, film story, screenplay, technical screenplay, score, censorship entry etc.)
- bibliography (from ca 200 Czech and foreign periodicals)
- film awards
Further there are included 6 indexes (film names, film names in English translation, chronological film index, name index, index of producers and index of locations).
Edition of the VIth catalogue volume is planed in 2010.
Czech Feature Film I. 1898 - 1930
NFA, Prague 1995
330 CZK; 270 b&w. photographs
The first part of the cycle cataloguing Czech feature films from early trials of the architect Jan Kříženecky in 1898 till the end of silent film era of the cinematography in the year 1930. Contents data on films which were preserve in the National film archive till now and also information on films filmed and distributed, but today considered to be lost.
Czech Feature Film II. 1930 - 1945
NFA, Prague 1998
550 CZK; 398 b&w. photographs, 8 colour poster reproductions
The second part of the catalogue is oriented on the next period of our cinematography from first sound films filmed in 1930, continuing with the works of the First Republic era and occupation by Germans. Shortly after the end of the World War II in 1945 was the Czechoslovak cinematography nationalized. This volume publishes only those works which were created before the beginning of the state monopoly and also some films which were not finished from different reasons.
Czech Feature Film III. 1945 - 1960
NFA, Praha 2001
550 CZK; 308 b&w. photographs, 17 colour poster reproductions
The third part of the catalogue is focused on the period when the film production was fully state owned. Since 1945 to 1960 were filmed 400 full-length and short films. The book contains also information on featured advertisements and instructional films. Also here are published films which were not finished - two titles were stopped from political reasons.
Czech Feature Film IV. 1961 - 1970
NFA, Praha 2004
1200 CZK; 395 b&w. photographs, 89 colour photographs, 24 colour poster reproductions
The forth part captures film works from the most successful era of the Czech cinematography, golden sixties brought success to the Czech film also internationally. Some works from this era are still brought back to memory within the framework of retrospective shows all over the world. Some films were withdrawn after the Soviet occupation from distribution and projection was prohibited.
Czech Feature Film V. 1971 - 1980
NFA, Praha 2007
890,- / 600,- (Ponrepo members) CZK; 107 b&w. photographs, 329 colour photographs, 24 colour poster reproductions
The fifth catalogue part considers almost four hundred feature films filmed in the era after the beginning of normalisation period, when part of screenwriters and directors could not produce or were limited due to political reasons. In spite of that quality works were created - especially in the children's film sphere.