Mmm…spring road trips. Venturing outside the city is always an adventure (nature, birds, random pit stops), but when there's a destination waiting you’ve got even more fun. Film fans have Karlovy Vary to look forward to (more about that later), but before then there’s another good excuse for a road trip to Moravia.

The Czech Republic’s renown for high-quality animated films sits awkwardly next to its fame for high-quality beers, but somehow the two feathers have existed in the same cap since the country’s animation studios took off in the mid-1940s. One major studio flourished in Zlin, where there’s still a tremendous Czech film archive and animation academy and where the International Festival for Children and Youth (www.zlinfest.cz ), runs from May 27 to June 2.

The fest began in 1960 to honor animation and live-action works for the underage set, although festival organizers don’t keep everything warm and fuzzy. In 2002 they awarded director Alfonso Cuarón the Golden Slipper (best feature for youth prize) for his tale of erotically charged (a.k.a. horny as hell) Mexican teens, Y tu mama tambien. It’s not all strictly indie, either, since Kirsten Dunst’s cheer-tastic Bring It On hurkied its way home with the Audience Award in 2001.

The festival includes competitions for feature films and animated films, plus films created by the youths themselves. There are numerous competition categories plus panels and discussions, and of course many opportunities to watch movies. You can keep it light and stick to the theatres for kindergarteners or take in some teen angst with the PG-13 crowd.

Anyway, it’s in Moravia in late spring. And at the end of the drive you’re guaranteed some cartoons. Road trip, anyone?

And then in June there’s the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (www.kviff.com), increasingly renowned for its Crystal Globe prize and dubbed the European Sundance. The spa town gets overrun each year with filmmakers, stars of those filmmakers’ films, and gawkers hoping to catch a glimpse of Maggie Gyllenhall scarfing down a dinner of pork knee and dumplings (her movie SherryBaby took home top honors last year). So make the trip this year to see who you can spot – it’ll be held June 29 to July 7.

You don't need a car to enjoy films either, Kino Aero will host a Spanish film festival from May 6-10. If you understand either Spanish or Czech, this should be a great few nights' entertainment. Pedro Almodovar’s Volver kicks the festival off and a variety of Spain’s best from the last three decades keep the the fiesta going.

You might’ve seen the posters around town with the adorable dancing frogs about to get eaten by a hungry-looking stork – they’re trying to get you to attend the 2007 International Festival of Animated Films (a.k.a. AniFest), to be held in Trebon, May 3-9. Travel to the South Bohemian town to kick off a spring of film festivals with some international animation, cartoon competitions, and what the website (www.anifest.cz) refers to as a “ProfiForum for film professionals.” Maybe we’ll finally learn how to profit from those inane “animated films” we post on YouTube. Or, something like that.

Anthony B calls himself “the living personification of Afrikan consciousness in reggae.” That’s a bold claim. He asserts a major role in keeping the 1997 Jamaican elections peaceful with the popularity of his single “Nah vote again.” Even bolder still. But critics and fans seem to back his claims up. A member of the Bobo Ashanti side of Rastifarianism, Anthony B lets audiences know of his intense Afrocentric pride through his lyrics. Some have criticized his performances for homophobic tirades during shows, but he consistently draws crowds throughout Europe and North America. A popular member of today’s reggae roster, Antony B will be performing as part of the Real Beat festival (www.realbeat.net) in nearby Točník on June 22-23.

To make you a well-rounded person, here are a few more notable events in town – I don’t think any readers of this ‘zine are scared off by anything labeled as “fringe.” In fact, most “fringe” things may be about as exciting as a baloney sandwich compared to you people. Anyway, Fringe Festival 2007 descends upon Malá Strana May 27 to June 3, with comedy, theater, music and film events that hail from outskirts of societies worldwide. Just about 300 performances will be executed over 8 days by 43 companies from 12 countries. Before it begins, visit its MySpace page (www.myspace.com/praguefringe) and keep up with the organizers’ blogs. And if you’ve never heard of MySpace or “blogs,” congratulations, you really are living on the international fringe.

Speaking of people on the fringe, Khamoro, a.k.a. the World Roma Festival, will be occurring at various locales around Prague May 28 to June 2. The event roster includes “gypsy jazz” concerts at Jazz Club Reduta and “traditional Roma music” at Roxy and Lucerna. Khamoro has brought the lively and colorful music, art and traditions of a group of people too often maligned in the Czech Republic to spice up the center of town each year since 1999. More info at www.khamoro.cz.

By Brooke Edge

Average user rating

   (0 vote)