CV
DAVID ČÁLEK
FILM DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (DOP), CINEMATOGRAPHER
Born 28. 4. 1971 in Prague, ČSSR
Based: Prague, Czech Republic
IMDB: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm0129842/credits
1986-1990 – Hight school SPŠST, Prague, specialization in film and TV
1990-1992 – David Čálek – Charles University Prague, Film history Studies
1992-1998 – FAMU – Film and TV school of academy of performing arts in Prague, program Cinematography – D.O.P
1999-2002 – FAMU – Film and TV school of academy of performing arts in Prague, program Documentary Director
from 1999 member of The Association of Czech Cinematographers
Languages: Czech, English, French, Russian
CV
DAVID ČÁLEK (nar. 28.4.1971, Praha) vystudoval na FAMU kameru (1992-98) a dokumen-
tární režii (1999-2002). Od roku 1999 je členem Asociace českých kameramanů.
Jako režisér vytvořil 21 samostatných autorských televizních a distribučních dokumentárních
filmů uváděných v kinodistribuci, HBO a Neflixu a České televizi.
Jako scénárista vytvořil 3 scénáře hraných filmů. Puzzles(nominace na Českého lva), Kábulské
sny(realizován jako animovaný film Moje slunce Mad Michaelou Pavlátovou, na motivy knihy
Petry Procházkové Frišta), Zvířata/Wild Bastards(dosud ve vývoji).
Během studia na pražské FAMU získal dvakrát hlavní cenu na Festivalu FAMU za kameru
filmu Maruška a Úsvit režisérky Slobodanky Radun. Absolventský snímek katedry kamery Dotek
obrazu získal Cenu Jaromíra Kučery Asociace českých kameramanů. Dokument Nebe Peklo
(2010) z produkce HBO měl premiéru v USA na Festivalu SXSW v Austinu a získal Cenu
studentů na Finále Plzeň 2011. Dokument Berkat a Maršo – štěstí a svoboda byl oceněn hlavní
cenou na festivalu Femina Film 2007 a byl distribuován v několika dalších zemích. Film Cesta
Vzhůru byl oceněn na kanadském BANFF festivalu 2017 hlavní cenou za nejlepší režii. Film
Stop time byl uveden v soutěžní sekci festivalu Jeden Svět 2023, film Válečný zpravodaj vyhrál
cenu diváků a hlavní cenu za dokumentární film na 40 roč. Varšavského filmového festivalu
2024 a byl nominován na cenu Český lev za nejlepší dokumentární film. Film Doktor na tripu
byl uveden v české a slovenské distribuci, vyhrál hlavní cenu za nejlepší komunikaci vědy na
AFO 2025, hlavní cenu poroty na Prague science film festival
2025 a zvláštní uznání na festivalu Pärnu 2025.
English version:
DAVID ČÁLEK (born 28.4.1971, Prague) studied cinematography (1992-98) and documen-
tary directing (1999-2002) at FAMU. Since 1999, he has been a member of the Association of
Czech Cinematographers.
As a director, he has created 21 independent television and distribution documentaries relea-
sed in cinema distribution, HBO and Netflix, and Czech Television.
As a screenwriter, he has created 3 screenplays for feature films. Puzzles (nominated for the
Czech Lion), Kabul Dreams (realized as the animated film Moje slunce Mad by Michaela
Pavlátová, based on the book by Petra Procházková Frišta), Animals/Wild Bastards (still in
development). During his studies at FAMU in Prague, he twice won the main prize at the
FAMU Festival for cinematography for the film Maruška and Dawn directed by Slobodanka
Radun. The graduation film of the Department of Cinematography, Touch of the Image,
won the Jaromír Kučera Award of the Association of Czech Cinematographers. The HBO
documentary Heaven and Hell (2010) premiered in the US at the SXSW Festival in Austin
and won the Student Award at the Pilsen Finale 2011. The documentary Berkat and Maršo –
Happiness and Freedom was awarded the main prize at the Femina Film Festival 2007 and
was distributed in several other countries. The film The Way Up was awarded the main prize
for best direction at the BANFF Festival in Canada 2017. The film Stop Time was shown in
the competition section of the One World Festival 2023, the film War Reporter won the Au-
dience Award and the main prize for documentary film at the 40th Warsaw Film Festival
2024 and was nominated for the Czech Lion Award for best documentary film. The film
Doctor on a Trip was released in Czech and Slovak distribution, won the main prize for best
science communication at AFO 2025, the main jury prize at the Prague Science Film Festival
2025 and a special mention at the Pärnu Festival 2025.
SHORT CV
Režisér a kameraman David Čálek (1971) vystudoval kameru a dokumentární režii na FAMU. Od
roku 1998 natočil jako režisér a kameraman přes 40 celovečerních filmů, Mezi oceněné patří film
Nebe Peklo(HBO) uveden v soutěži SXSW 2011 v USA. Cesta vzhůru získal první cenu na festivalu
BANFF v Kanadě 2017 za nejlepší celovečerní dokument. Válečný zpravodaj získal první cenu na
Varšavském filmovém festivalu 2024, Cenu za nejlepší kameru od Asociace Českých
kameramanů, byl nominovám na cenu Český Lev 2025. Film Doktor na tripu získal první cenu na
festivalu Academia Film Olomouc 2025, zvláštní uznání v Estonském Pärnu 2025 a první cenu v
mezinárodní soutěži Prague science film festival 2025.
Jako hlavní kameraman natáčel s Alicí Nellis, Věrou Chytilovou, Viktorem Taušem, Radimem
Špačkem, Rajendrou Sighem, Alenou Hynkovou, Benjaminem Tučkem, Olgou Dabrowskou…
Mimo jiné Mamas & Papas, vítěz Best Film Award na festivalu Hamptons 2011, Mars získal cenu
za kameru BEST Feature VFX na MISCIFI 2019 v USA.
English version:
Director and cinematographer David Čálek (1971) studied cinematography and documentary
directing at FAMU. Since 1998, he has made over 40 feature films as a director and
cinematographer. Among the award-winning films is the film Heaven and Hell (HBO), which was
shown in the SXSW 2011 competition in the USA. The Road Up won first prize at the BANFF
festival in Canada in 2017 for best feature documentary. War Reporter won the first prize at the
Warsaw Film Festival 2024, the Best Cinematography Award from the Association of Czech
Cinematographers, and was nominated for the Czech Lion 2025. The film Doctor on a Trip won
the first prize at the Academia Film Olomouc 2025 festival, special mention in Pärnu, Estonia
2025, and the first prize in the international competition, Prague Science Film Festival 2025. As the
main cinematographer, he filmed with Alicá Nellis, Věra Chytilová, Viktor Tauš, Radim Špaček,
Rajendra Sigh, Alena Hynková, Benjamin Tuček, Olga Dabrowska… Among others, Mamas &
Papas, winner of the Best Film Award at the Hamptons Festival 2011, Mars won the BEST Feature
VFX Camera Award at MISCIFI 2019 in the USA.
AWARDED FILMS FOR D.O.P :
Nebe Peklo (Heaven and Hell) dir. David Čálek, Award for the best documentary film of a student jury IFF Finále Plzen, Czech premiere Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, World premiere SXSW in Austin, Texas
Berkat a Maršo, štěstí a svoboda (Berkat and Marsho: Happiness and Freedom), First price of the film festival Femina Film 2007 Dotek obrazu (Touching Pictures) – graduation film of the FAMU Cinematography department, Jaromír Kučera’s award from the Association of Czech Cinematographers, 1998 Úsvit (Twilight) – graduation film of the FAMU directory department, Award for the best cinematography of feature films in the student film festival of Film and TV school of academy of performing arts in Prague, 1997 Maruška( Maruschka) – documentary study of the FAMU cinematography department, Award for the best camera of documentary films in the student film festival of Film and TV school of academy of performing arts in Prague, 1996
FEATURE FILMS (SELECTION):
Mars (in post production) 2016, prod. Nyasa, dir.: Ben Tuček, cinematography: David Čálek
http://cineuropa.org/nw.aspx?t=newsdetail&l=en&did=297605
http://mdrs.marssociety.org/home/crew-154
Na skleničku 2014, prod. Czech Television, director: Bohdan Sláma, camera operator: DČ, 75 min
4 slunce 2012, prod. Negativ, director: Bohdan Sláma, camera operator: DČ, 102 min
http://negativ.cz/en/films/four-suns/
Mamas & Papas 2010, prod. UFO pictures, director: Alice Nellis, D.O.P.: DČ, 110 min
http://cineuropa.org/f.aspx?t=film&l=en&did=144190
http://www.cineast.lu/2013/detail.php?id_filmy=118
Kuličky 2008, prod. Čestmír Kopecký, director: Olga Dabrowská, D.O.P.: DČ, 90 min
http://www.filmkulicky.cz/index_a.html
Kanárek (The Canary/My Detox) 1999, prod. Gagstones pictures, Milk and Honey film, Czech TV,
director: Viktor Tauš, D.O.P.: DČ, 100 min
http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/specialy/kanarek/main.php
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc_yIdU9ODs
Rychlé pohyby očí (Rapid eye movement) 1998, prod. Czech televizion/FAMU, director: Radim Špaček, D.O.P.: DČ, 75 min
http://www.kinoaero.cz/en/film/3565/Rychle-pohyby-oci/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYyJutg6eZ4
DOCUMENTARY FILMS (SELECTION):
Cesta vzhůru (Climbing higher) 2015, prod. Verbascum, director and cinematography: David Čálek, 103 min
Film about a public and hidden life of Radek Jaros, the only Czech climber who completed the Crown of the
Himalayas, the world’s 14 tallest peaks. What is the price of being the best?
http://www.cestavzhuru.eu/Cesta_vzhuru/Cesta_vzhuru.html
Pirátské sítě (Pirating pirates) 2014, prod. Bratři, director and cinematography: David Čálek, 83 min
Film about a boy from a Nairobi slum who acts as a Somali pirate for media, but he has neither been to Somalia
nor on the sea. Shooting this film in life-threatening areas discovers a scandalous lie, which is very common in
the journalistic world.
http://www.piratingpirates.com/en/ – trailer
http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/10368670732-piratske-site/21256226979/
Adopce: Konkurz na rodiče 2014, prod. HBO, director Alice Nellis, cinematography: David Čálek, Matěj Cibulka, 75 min
A time-lapse documentary about the reality and troubles of adoptions in Czech republic.
http://www.hbo.cz/movie/adopce-konkurz-na-rodice_-79128
Plán 2014, prod. Negativ, Czech Television, director: Ben Tuček, cinematography: David Čálek, 90 min
This documentary observes changes in Prague’s Spatial Development. The Plan becomes a metaphor of the
society’s evolution and its movement in the 21st century.
http://www.aerovod.cz/katalog/plan/
http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/10310684638-plan/21356226995/7949-o-filmu/
Incoming 2013, prod. Shining Pictures, director: Radim Špaček, cinematography: David Čálek. 70 min
Documentary about the Czech reconstruction team in Afghanistan, building schools and bridges under the army
protection.
http://www.oneworld.cz/2014/films-a-z/26164-incoming
Provedu 2013, prod. Shining Pictures, director: Radim Špaček, cinematography: David Čálek. 30+30 min
Documentary about the Czech army units in Afghanistan.
http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ivysilani/10559763409-provedu-afghanska-mise-ii/213382557020001
Pod dlažbou pláž 2013, prod. Czech Television, director: Radim Špaček, cinematography: David Čálek. 53 min
Thoughts about television as a public service broadcaster.
http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ivysilani/10558218896-pod-dlazbou-je-plaz/
Tiger Lillies in Prague 2011, prod. Bratři, director and cinematography: David Čálek. 45
min Portrait of a British controversial music band, whose members are fond of Prague.
https://www.tigerlillies.com/music/the-tiger-lillies-in-prague-dvd
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Tiger-Lillies-Prague/dp/B005ZSCVFO
Nebe Peklo (Heaven, Hell) 2010, prod. HBO and Jacket Bros., director and cinematography: David Čálek. 82 min
Men and women of various ages, backgrounds, and professions have discovered pleasure in different forms of
kink and physical pain. These are individuals who have fully embraced their sexuality and are neither
embarrassed by or hiding its unconventional manifestations. It investigates the BDSM community as an
alternative expression of human sexuality, not deviant behavior.
http://www.nebepeklo.cz/cs/
http://www.hbo.cz/movie/nebe-peklo_-66673
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGlTMCnONmw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDP1cEW1bXE
Olympiáda, über Alles 2008, prod. Czech Television, director and cinematography: David Čálek. 28 min
Documentary film is a reflection on the meaning of the Olympics, shot with athletes before the Olympic Games
in Beijing, 2008.
http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/10169605523-olympiada-uber-alles/20856226514/
https://www.calek.cz/en/olympiada-uber-alles
Berkat a Maršo, štěstí a svoboda (Berkat and Marsho: Happiness and Freedom) 2007,
director and cinematography: David Čálek. 75 min
Two courageous Czech women decide to set up an organization called Berkat (Happiness) with the aim of
helping war victims, especially children. Jana Hradilkova and Petra Prochazkova discover the Sputnik camp on
the Chechen-Ingush border, the home of 9000 refuges, who live not only in fear and sadness but also with joy,
dance, music and art.
http://dafilms.com/film/8149-berkat-a-marso-stesti-a-svoboda/
Pátrání po Ester 2005, prod. Bionaut, director: Věra Chytilová, cinematography: David Čálek. 128 min
Ester Krumbachová – an artist, screenwriter, director, one of the most outstanding personalities of the Czech
New Wave. The director and her close friend Věra Chytilová talks to those who knew Ester, worked with her,
loved her.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462711/
The Myth 2003, prod. Nomorebuds crew, director: Šimon Šafránek, cinematography: David Čálek. 61 min
Portrait of the British singer Nick Cave through his hard core fans.
http://cqaf.com/2006/sound_01.htm
Bezesné noci (Dreamless Nights) 2003, prod. NFI, director :Radim Špaček, cinematography: David Čálek. 108 min
The film is about a crisis in the Czech Television at the turn of the years 2000 – 2001. The film is looking at this difficult situation from as much as possible independent point of view.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M1BHF_UE5E
http://dafilms.com/film/8387-bezesne-noci-en-verze/