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Jim Sheridan

Irish Film Director

“In the last 15 years, I have visited very few film festivals. I know you have been inviting me for such a long time and I am so glad to be here at last. It is a great honour for me to receive this award after so many huge names from history of cinema.”

Mike Leigh

British film director

“It’s been a great honour. I will kick the ice-cream all night. It was a fantastic week, very stimulating. Your audience is excellent. Thank you very much. I hope I will come back one day.”

Abbás Kiarostamí

Iranian film director

“I was amazed by the yesterday’s screening. The screening hall was crammed with people watching a forty-year-old movie! It’s the audience what makes the festival happen. If I turned down your invitation, someone else would come instead of me. If they couldn’t come, I would go instead of them. But to attract dedicated and educated viewers – that takes a lot of skill.”

Peter Greenaway

British film director

“I received all kinds of prizes, including the Golden Mouse. And now it’s the Golden Ice-cream! Spending only two days at this festival is definitely not enough. I would love to come again with another unique masterclass that would fit the festival’s audience.”

Julie Taymor

American film director

“It’s great to be with people who love film and go to the cinema instead of sitting in front of the TV.”

Carlos Saura

Spanish film director

“My son’s fiancée lives in Madrid but she was born in Uherské Hradiště. It’s not a coincidence that I’ve ended up here…”

Aki Kaurismäki

Finnish film director

“I just don’t want to leave this town. Please extend my accommodation for the whole year and count me in for the next year’s SFS.”

Emir Kusturica

Serbian film director

“Actually, I don’t like film festivals very much. But I understand why they exist. Summer Film School has a great atmosphere, young audience and good selection of films.”

Ken Loach

British film director

“I want to say thank you for your warm welcome. Your festival is exceptional in many aspects. It’s got a huge number of screenings and extraordinarily passionate audience.”

Béla Tarr

Hungarian film director

“I hate having my time wasted, but my visit at the SFS was the exact opposite. Thank you for the detailed retrospective of my works, for the book and also for my excellent masterclass.”

Jan Troell

Swedish film director

“Thank you for your hospitality and warm welcome. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to introduce my films here. These people here really live and breathe with film. I’m really happy to be part of such an incredible event.”

Ivan Passer

Czech film director

“I’ve been to many festivals, but the Summer Film School is one of the best. Cannes is about business, Summer Film School is about film. Thumbs up.”

Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Thai film director

“I’m really glad that I could spend these days with you. The audience knew all of my films, it was a pleasure to respond to their intelligent questions. Thanks for your generosity. Relax and have sweet tropical dreams.”