Miroslav Donutil, one of the Czech Republic’s most beloved actors, accepted the Actor’s Mission Award at Art Film Fest today. He personally placed a bronze plaque bearing his own name in Festival Park, earning a place among other illustrious winners such as Jean-Paul Belmondo, Gina Lollobrigida, Jeremy Irons and Omar Sharif.
“In acting circles it’s said that we don’t need prizes; the most important award is praise from audiences. But in my opinion awards can be a real boost, especially in our later years when motivation dwindles. For me it’s a great honour to accept your award, and I’m deeply touched,” said Donutil at today’s press conference.
Donutil has loved to show off from an early age, and despite his initial plans to become a journalist, acting became is lifelong passion. Today, he is doubtlessly one of the Czech Republic’s elite performers, having won prestigious awards like the Czech Lion.
While still a student at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno, he performed at the now-legendary Goose on a String Theatre (Divadlo Husa na provázku), where he went on to portray more than 50 unforgettable roles from the 1970s on, blossoming into a unique acting personality in the process. It was there that he met fellow Actor’s Mission Award laureate Bolek Polívka, the start of a twenty-year-long collaboration. Together they made a lasting impression on audiences with 1992’s The Inheritance or Fuckoffguysgoodday. ”Bolek says he’s finished the script for a sequel – I say he hasn’t. We’ll see who’s right. If the film ever gets made, I’d love to be in it,” revealed Donutil at Art Film Fest.
In 1990 Donutil joined Prague’s National Theatre, where he performs to this day. Since the beginning of his career, he has appeared in nearly 100 television programmes and films, in unforgettable roles including the spirited communist patriarch in the legendary Cosy Dens (1998) and the pastor in the Oscar-nominated Želary (2003). Equally memorable are his portrayals of military officers in the martial comedies Tankový prapor (Tank Battalion, 1991) and Čierni baróni (The Black Barons, 1992). His performance as an emasculated assistant in the black comedy Traps (1998) earned Donutil a Czech Lion for Best Supporting Actor, and his most recent success is his starring role in the popular Novel for Men (2010), in which he plays a cynical, uncompromising lawyer.
Donutil also holds a permanent place in the public’s mind as a brilliant humourist. His one-man show, one of the touchstones of his career, has earned him a reputation as a witty storyteller and an objective, ironic observer with a warm sense of humour. “I consider myself very fortunate that my audiences range in age from five to ninety and come from every possible walk of life,” says Donutil.
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Art Film Fest 2012 – the 20th International Trenčianske Teplice/Trenčín Film Festival
The festival is held under the auspices of Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico.
Organizers: ART FILM, n.o., FORZA, a.s.
Co-organizers: The Town of Trenčianske Teplice, the City of Trenčín, Kúpele Trenčianske Teplice
Financial Support: The Audiovisual Fund
General Sponsors: KOOPERATIVA poisťovňa Vienna Insurance Group, Privatbanka
Main Sponsors: Omnia Holding SE, Slovnaft, AquaCity Poprad, Hydrotour Travel Agency
Official Transport Provider: Lancia
Logistics Sponsor: DHL
Student cinepasses for only €5 provided by Prvá stavebná sporiteľňa, a. s.
Sponsors: TIPOS, Slovak Telekom, Penzión Baske, Cinemax, Forza CZ, Omnia Motors, Omnia 2000, DOMO Omnia, Omnia KLF
Official Suppliers: značka Moët, Hotel Pax – the festival spa hotel, NAY Elektrodom, Esterle&Esterle, MF team, LampART, Stredná odborná škola polygrafická
Main Media Sponsors: Slovak Radio and Television, Pravda, Rádio FM, zoznam.sk
Media Sponsors: TA 3, TV JOJ, Film Europe Channel, Central Europe Television, Rádio Europa 2, .týždeň, Eurotelevízia, Pardon, OK!, Kinečko, Kam do mesta, Focus, GONG SK, Boomerang Media, SITA News Agency, Pay-Per Vision Media, euroAWK, Bittner-print, moviemania.sk, filmneweurope.com
Partners: The Trenčín Self-governing Region, the European Commission Representation in Slovakia, the Slovak Film Institute, the Embassy of Israel in Slovakia, CzechTourism, Celtima SK, Hotel Flóra, KURSALON, versity, the Bratislava Culture and Information Centre, Hollywood Classic Entertainment, Niagara, Magic Box Slovakia, the Italian Cultural Institute in Bratislava, Istituto Luce – Cinecittá, Character – Film Development Association
