Film Archive

Art Talent Show

Proxima Competition 2022 / Zkouška umění / Czech Republic 2022

Artistic endeavour isn’t about competing; even so, applicants still have to be placed in order of merit at the academy’s entrance exams. But how do you assess artistic talent? And what role can art play in today’s world? A layered, observational documentary which presents a portrait of an institution and a light generational statement in one.

Synopsis

Artistic endeavour isn’t about competing; even so, applicants still have to be placed in order of merit at the academy’s entrance exams. But how do you assess artistic talent? And what role can art play in today’s world? Adéla Komrzý and Tomáš Bojar decided to film talent exams in three studios at Prague’s Academy of Fine Arts. In their observational documentary they pose simple questions that we are usually afraid to ask; perhaps because, in other situations, they lead to unsatisfactory or even banal answers. The directors also demonstrate that a portrait of an institution can also be taken as a light generational statement, in which it makes sense to ask why a person feels the need to create art in the same way he needs to know that bread costing a mere 14 crowns might stay fresh for a whole week.

Martin Horyna

About the film

102 min / Color, DCP
World premiere
Director Tomáš Bojar, Adéla Komrzý / Screenplay Adéla Komrzý, Tomáš Bojar / Dir. of Photography Šimon Dvořáček / Sound Václav Flegl, Michaela Patryková, David Titěra / Editor Hedvika Hansalová / Producer Jakub Wagner / Production GPO Platform / Coproduction AVU, Česká televize / Contact GPO Platform

About the director

Adéla Komrzý (1992). Selected filmography: Teaching War (2016, doc.), Viva Video, Video Viva (2018, doc.), Intensive Life Unit (2021, doc.). Tomáš Bojar (1981, Prague). Selected filmography: RAPublic (2008, doc.), FC Roma (2016, doc.), Breaking News (2018, doc.), Off Sides (2019, doc.).