Pavel Koutecký Award

The Pavel Koutecký Award, organised by Film & Sociology and Archa Theatre in cooperation with the One World International Film Festival, was founded in memory of this highly original documentary filmmaker. "One of our reasons for founding the Pavel Koutecký Award was so that every year we could bring together friends, filmmakers and other interested people to remember him and show one of his films. He had a unique vision of the world which he was able to portray in film. I would like audiences to have the chance to see his films," says Jarmila Poláková, producer of the film Citizen Havel and one of the founders of the Pavel Koutecký Award.

The glass sculpture for the Award was created by the leading glass artist René Roubíček, filmed at work by Koutecký in his unforgettable film Dialogue.

Pavel Koutecký’s work with the Archa Theatre

"Pavel Koutecký worked with Archa for many years. He made documentaries about the emergence of unusual theatre performances, whether in South Africa or in a refugee camp in the north of Bohemia. The director Jana Svobodová and artist Petr Nikl were involved in these projects. They were both among those who initiated the Pavel Koutecký Award, and are responsible for creating the programme of the celebration..."

Ondřej Hrab, director of the Archa Theatre

Pavel Koutecky and One World film festival

Pavel Koutecký was a great friend of the One World Film Festival. When the festival was established in 1999, he sat on the jury and was instrumental in deciding which films, on this very first occasion, would win One World’s awards. Pavel Koutecký and One World were linked not only by their focus on documentary films, but also by a world vision and an urge to keep people informed about what is going on around us. That is why we gladly and unhesitatingly supported the creation of the Pavel Koutecký Award. It will not only honour the memory of an amazing man, but also motivate and encourage makers of original documentary films in the Czech Republic.

Lenka Lovicarová, One World film festival

Statutes of the Pavel Koutecký Award for film

  • The Award is made annually to film directors following in the steps of Pavel Koutecký, patient observers of the world with the ability to communicate their feelings and insights through documentary film.
  • The founders of the Pavel Koutecký Award are the Film & Sociology Association and the Archa Theatre with the One World International Film Festival of documentary films about human rights (further “the founders”).
  • The founders announce annually the dates between which the films can be entered and the period in which the films entered must have been made. Films can be entered by the director or the producer (further “the applicant”). Documentary films made by Czech directors with whatsoever production company are eligible, as are documentary films made by foreign directors with a Czech production company or in co-production with a Czech production company. Documentary films of any length and in any format are eligible. Films that have not been entered as outlined will not be taken into consideration.
  • Films entered for the One World International Festival of Documentary Films about Human Rights will be entered automatically for the Pavel Koutecký Award.
  • The founders of the Award will name a jury which will decide on the winner of the Pavel Koutecký Award. A new jury will be chosen every year; however, there is no limit to the number of times a person can serve on the jury. The founders can be represented on the jury, but do not have to be. No director or producer of any film entered in the competition can be a member of the jury.
  • The applicant whose film wins the Pavel Koutecký Award must provide the founders of the Award with two free showings of the film (the first at the showing of the nominated films and the second at the celebratory presentation of the Award).

Procedure for 2011