Renowned Czech documentary filmmaker Pavel Koutecky died after falling from a high building under construction in the Prague-Pankrac neighborhood while filming is latest film, reports the public Czech Television (CT). He was 49.
The police spokesman told CT that Koutecky had been reported missing since Friday (April 14, 2006) night. Script editor Alena Muellerova said that Koutecky was shooting a documentary about a young man who climbs high buildings.
In 1998, Koutecky co-produced ...AZ NA VEKY (...FOREVER AND EVER) with director and artist Michaela Pavlatova. The film combined live-action shots with animation and went on to win the OIAF Award for Television Specials at the Ottawa International Animation Festival.
His 1994 animated short, O SPORTOVCI (THE SPORTSMAN), about a mentally disabled Czech swimmer, won an award at the 37th International Film Festival IG Medien in Leipzig, Germany as well as Second Prize from the Governmental Committee for Handicapped.
Koutecky also directed SITUACE: 1,2... (SITUATION: 1,2...) in 1995.
Born in Prague in 1956, Koutecky graduated from the capital's Academy of Performing Arts in 1982. Later, he continued his studies at the Documentary Film Department of the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, Britain.
Besides an animator and documentary filmmaker, he was also a scriptwriter and cameraman.
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