Production company šššššFilm is newly První řada (The First Row). The name change reflects the new stage of the company, which was founded in February 2021 in Hudlice by director, producer, screenwriter and composer Šimon Holý.
„We founded šššššFilm during the making of my directorial debut Mirrors in the Dark. With a huge effort from the crew and a minimal budget, we managed to make not only Mirrors in the Dark, but also And Then There Was Love... in the first two years. During the production of these films we gained valuable experience, which we now want to capitalize on and expand our activities. Our goal is to support talented filmmakers who come up with innovative, topical and interesting themes. For me, the new name První řada reflects this as well." says Šimon Holý.
New additions to the První řada team include Anna Lísalová and Kateřina Dvořáková, film professionals with many years of experience in the film industry. Anna Lísalová, a graduate of the Production Department at FAMU, has worked on successful student films by Michal Hogenauer (Tambylles, 2011), Tomáš Klein (Retriever, 2014) and Jan Šípek (Buttons of Vigilance, 2016). At Aerofilms, she worked as a senior programmer and coordinated several projects focused on working with audiences. She also collaborates with Aerofilms on the production of her own content (Peculiarity of Fisherman's Soul, The President) and is the head of the Prague cinema Přítomnost. At První řada, she is currently developing Sara Venclovská's directorial debut. "I don't normally seek out first rows in the cinema. I always sit gently on the sidelines, so I'm very excited to see where this 'transfer' takes me. Hopefully to fresh projects that will be a joy to work on."
Kateřina Dvořáková worked for seven years at the distribution company Aerofilms, where she was responsible for PR and marketing campaigns for films. She was a programmer at Mezipatra festival and worked as a production manager for the post-production studio PFX. She is currently working with the Karlovy Vary IFF, where she is in charge of International PR. At První řada she is involved in the development of the film by screenwriter Elizaveta Nagibina and director Pavel Nosek Scars. "Until now, První řada (the first row) for me has mainly meant a favourite place in the cinema: as close to the screen as possible. At První řada, I want to work on projects that pulse with life and tell stories about things that are essential to the filmmakers. Whether because they involve big social issues or because they tell an intimate story close to their hearts," says Dvořáková.
The logo was designed by graphic designer Jakub Polách, who has already contributed to the visuals of And Then There Was Love...