Artists & Creators

Jaromír 99

- visual artist, musician, lyricist

Jaromír Švejdík (1963) is a Czech singer, songwriter, guitarist and artist. Before starting his military service, he founded a punk band called Chlapi z Práce (Men from Work) in the 1980s. Since 1989, he has been singing in the Priessnitz band and writing the lyrics for most of their songs. In 2007 he was behind the formation of the Jaromir 99 & The Bombers trio. The band recorded a debut album of soundtracks to Švejdík’s comic book - Bomber. In 2014 and 2015 Jaromír and his guests performed at private viewings or gave separate concerts touring the Czech Republic and abroad. Jaromír also co-created the “Alois Nebel” comic and worked on its film version. In addition he composed the film’s theme tune “Půlnoční” sung by Václav Neckář. He produced storyboards for the films “Jedna ruka netleská” (One Hand Can't Clap), “Samotáři” (Loners), “Děti Duny” (Children of Dune) and “Grandhotel”. Finally, Jaromír is the author of the comic “Když nemůžeš, přidej (When you can't keep going, go faster).” (Emil Zátopek).

Markéta Hejkalová

- writer, publisher, translator from Finnish, director of a book fair in Havlíčkův Brod

Born in Prague, she has spent part of her life in Brno. Markéta graduated in Finnish and Russian from Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Arts and worked as a publishing editor. In 1991 she established the Autumn Book Fair in Havlíčkův Brod, which she has organized ever since. She and her husband also founded the Hejkal publishing house. From 1996 to 1999 she worked as a consul and cultural attaché at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Helsinki. Since 2006 she has been Vice-chairwoman of the Czech PEN Centre and since 2009 a Board member of PEN International. She made her literary debut in 1988 with a novella “Mimo mysu“. In the 1990s she wrote a children’s book “Šli myšáci do světa“ (under her maiden name of Markéta Pražáková) and translated several books from Finnish. Since 2002 she has been writing novels often focusing on the life stories of women taking place in foreign lands. In addition, she has written several non-fiction publications and translated many books of Finnish literature.

Petr Nikolaev

- director

Born in Prague, he graduated in Documentary Film from the Film Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU). His school films “Schopen odveden“(1979) and “Praga caput regni” (1980) earned him the Maxim Prize (a student award) and suspended expulsion from school. After graduation, he got married and moved to Paris, working there as a babysitter, interior decorator, ice cream vendor, billposter, director of educational films and a lecturer at the ESRA film school in Paris. His film debut was a comedy “Báječná léta pod psa” (The Blissful Years of Lousy Living) (1997) based on Michal Viewegh’s novel, and continued with a prison love story “Kousek nebe“ (A Little Bit of Heaven) (2005) and an underground legend “…a bude hůř“ (It's Gonna Get Worse) (2007). He directed various other films: an adaptation of Vlastimil Vondruška‘s detective story “Jménem krále“ (In the Name of the King) (2009), the drama –“ Lidice” (2011), “Příběh kmotra” (Story of a Godfather) (2013), “Cyril a Metoděj – Apoštolové Slovanů“ (Cyril and Methodius - The Apostles of the Slavs) (2013). He also directed the latest film adaptation of Viewegh’s comedic novel “Vybíjená” (Dodgeball) (2015).

Viktor Tauš

Václav Jiráček

– actor

Born September 28, 1978, he completed his studies at the Business Academy, and then performed alternative civilian service in the ABC Theatre in lieu of conscription. In 2001 he was accepted into the Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, which he graduated from in 2009. While still a student he was chosen for the leading role in the film “Jánošík”, but he has been cast in many other films – “Hodinu nevíš” (Unknown Hour), “Hlídač č. 47” (Guard No. 47), “Krev zmizelého” (Bonds of Blood), “Lidice”, “Mamas & Papas”, “Jan Hus” and “Láska, soudruhu” (August Fools). Moreover, he acted in the serials “Sanitka” (Ambulance), “Reportérka” and “Přístav”. He is a founding member of the LETÍ Theatre Association and makes guest appearances in Dejvice Theatre and the Divadle Na zábradlí (Theatre on the Balustrade). He jointly owns the “Nahoře a Dole“ Café and Restaurants and he will attend the festival with his girlfriend, Natálie Denkrová, a photographer.

Iveta Toušlová

- presenter, traveller

Although born in Vimperk, her parents come from the Šumava Mountains. She is not married, has no children but has a sister Andrea, who is 13 years her junior. Iveta’s ambition was to be an actress, but a vocal cord disorder spoilt her plans. She graduated from České Budějovice’s Faculty of Education in Czech Language, Literature and History. After her studies, she left for Germany to learn the language and stayed there for two years. After her return, she worked for Jihočeské listy (Deníky Bohemia) (South Moravian Papers) and later also for Radio Factor and Czech Radio. She has been cooperating with Czech Television since 1995, at first as an external member of the News Section and then as a regional reporter from South Bohemia. She presented the “Studio 6” (now “Dobré ráno”) “Události” and “Události Plus” news programmes. Currently she hosts the “Toulavá kamera ”(Wandering Camera), and Rub a líc (Pros and Cons) shows. Iveta is the author and script editor of the programmes: “Wandering Camera”, “13. komnata” (Thirteenth Chamber ) and Pros and Cons. She is also connected with the birth of the “Uvolněte se, prosím” (Relax, Please) show. With Messrs. Podhorský and Maršál she wrote the books “Wandering Camera 1-15” and “Wandering Camera for Children”.

Ondřej Neff

- writer, journalist

Born in Prague as the son of the writer Vladimir Neff, together they worked on a book of memories “Večery u krbu” (1986). Having graduated from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Journalism, Charles University in Prague, he started working for the Albatros publishing house and the Kotva department store in advertising. Later, he was employed with ÚLUV (Centre for Folk Art Production) as a photographer and worked as an editor of the Mladá fronta newspaper, Kmen magazine, Mladá Fronta Dnes and as the editor-in-chief of the Ikarie magazine. He also co-founded the Institute for Digital Photography, where he gives lectures on photographic techniques and composition. In 1996 he created the first Czech daily news website called "Neviditelný pes" (Invisible Dog), and took over the internet version of the Software Newspaper. In 1999, he started DigiNeff, a specialized webzine dedicated to digital photography. Currently, Ondřej Neff is professionally involved in the world of internet and has begun pursuing his literary career once again. He lives with the actress Ljuba Krbová in the village of Zvole.

Ljuba Krbová

- actress, photographer, traveller

While still studying at the State Conservatory in Prague, she got her first real acting break in the “Zkoušky z dospělosti” serial. Since then she has performed in several Prague theatres and has starred in many films, such as “Anděl s ďáblem v těle” (Angel in a Devil's Body), “Holčičky na život a na smrt”, “Helimadoe“, “Lotrando a Zubejda” and “Experti”. She is seen mainly as a soap opera actress, as she plays for example in the soap opera “Ulice” (Street). Currently she can be seen on the stage of Divadlo Bez zábradlí (Theatre without a Balustrade) and Strašnice Theatre in Prague. She has also been quite active in dubbing, and you can hear her voice in blockbusters such as “Cleopatra”, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, “Mrs. Doubtfire”, “Eye for an Eye”, “Back to the Future”, “Terminator”, Kill Bill”, etc. But hardly anyone knows that for more than ten years she has been an exponent of Chinese martial arts. In 2001 she came 14th at the World Wushu Championships.