Masterclass with the director Janez Burger

Display Schedule

Code Completion Credits Range Language Instruction Semester
300MMJB credit 1 30 seminar hours (45 min) of instruction per semester, 3 to 8 hours of self-study English summer

Subject guarantor

David ČENĚK

Name of lecturer(s)

David ČENĚK

Department

The subject provides Subjects and study plans provided by faculty

Contents

Date: 7 May 2026 (Thursday)

Venue: Studio FAMU, Reference Screening Room, 4th floor, Klimentská 1205/4, 110 00 Prague 1, https://www.famu.cz/cs/fakulta/studio-famu/referencni-projekce-sf/

Schedule:

9:30 opening of the hall

10:00 - 11:35 screening of the film Idle Running (90 min) including an introduction by the director

11:35 - 13:00 masterclass with Janez Burger on working with actors and non-actors, moderated by Oskar Šubic

14:30 - 16:30 screening of Opazovanje (82') + On the Sunny Side of Alps (15') including introduction by the director

16:30 - 18:00 masterclass with Janez Burger on the search for a style of film narration, moderated by Oskar Šubic

This masterclass with director Janez Burger will focus on his approach to working with actors and the process of preparing them. Based on the films Idle Running (1999), Observing (2023) and On the Sunny Side of the Alps (2007), we will look at the role of acting rehearsals, film locations and the overall atmosphere of the film in progress in this process.

Films from different periods of Burger's career will offer a space to reflect on how a film's narrative style is found and shaped, and how this style is created in collaboration with the different components of the crew. We will also touch on the differences in working with actors and non-actors and the possibilities of balancing them in front of the camera.

The masterclass will be conducted in English without interpretation. The films screened will be in the original version with English subtitles.

Learning outcomes

Students will learn about the work of Slovenian director Janez Burger, his approach to working with actors and his search for a style of film narrative.

Prerequisites and other requirements

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Literature

Biography of the speaker:

Janez Burger was born in 1965 in Kranj, Slovenia. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Ljubljana and studied feature directing at FAMU. He has directed several short films, documentaries, and feature films that have won numerous awards at festivals around the world. He also works in theatre and opera. He is the co-founder of the production company STARAGARA. He teaches film directing at AGRFT, University of Ljubljana, and is a professor at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Nova Gorica.

Evaluation methods and criteria

100% participation in masterclasses and film screenings. Proof of participation by signing the attendance list in the FAMU Studio Reference Screening on 07/05/2026.

Note

Contact person: Karin Spišáková, e-mail: karin.spisakova@famu.cz, tel.: 234 244 342

Further information

This course is an elective for all students of this school

Schedule for winter semester 2025/2026:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

Schedule for summer semester 2025/2026:

Date Day Time Tutor Location Notes No. of paralel
07.05.2026 10:00–18:00 David ČENĚK Studio FAMU - Screening room
Klimentská ulice		 Venue: Reference screening room, Studio FAMU, Klimentská 4, Praha 1 lecture parallel1

The subject is a part of the following study plans