Smearhead

Director

Marek Partyš

Starring

Petr Uhlík
In 1921, young miner Petr is reassigned to the dark depths of a coal mine after a tragic accident. There he hears a strange calling and undergoes mystical visions that change him for life. His ecstatic states turn him into both prophet and heretic, dividing the community and drawing the attention of Johana, an educated theosophist who builds a new religious movement based on his experiences. As Petr falls under her influence and the abyss calls him back, Anna — his former fiancée from an arranged marriage in the mining colony — struggles to save his soul and his life.

Producer

Matěj Paclík
Breathless Films

Breathless Films is an independent production company established in 2018 and situated in Prague founded by producer Matěj Paclík prioritising collaborations with emerging directors. We focus on production and co-production of both fiction and documentary films. Our latest project is a first feature film Our Lovely Pig Slaughter by Adam Martinec scheduled to premiere at 58th Karlovy Vary IFF.

Previous projects include the acclaimed short film Anatomy of a Czech Afternoon which premiered at Karlovy Vary IFF and won the Czech Lion for the Best Short Film and Czech Films Critics& Award for the Best Short Film, or a documentary feature debut Bedwetter that premiered at Jihla.va IDFF and won the Best Camera Award in the Czech Joy competition.

We are currently working on three first feature films by upcoming directors from the Czech Republic that all received Development Support from the Czech Film Fund and we are on the active lookout for potential co-production projects.

Matěj Paclík

Matěj Paclík is an upcoming film producer from Czechia and founder of Breathless Films. He has a diverse portfolio, producing both documentary and fiction films. His first fiction film Our Lovely Pig Slaughter by Adam Martinec is scheduled to premiere at 58th Karlovy Vary IFF.

His most notable works include the short film Anatomy of a Czech Afternoon that premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and received an award for Best Short Film at the Czech Film Critics& Awards and the Czech Lion for Best Short Film and the short Sugar and Salt that premiered at San Sebastian IFF. His documentary first feature film Bedwetter by Honza Hušek was awarded the Best Camera Award at Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival in 2023.

Currently he is developing three fiction features by debuting directors. These projects reflect his ongoing commitment to producing a range of compelling cinematic works.

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