Czech actor and TV presenter Marek Eben is a household name in his home country, and not only because he has long featured as the host of the Czech version of Dancing With the Stars.
Foreign visitors to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) will also recognize him as the host of the popular opening and closing ceremonies, making him one of the public faces of KVIFF.
This year, the festival in the Czech spa town, which unveiled a geographically diverse lineup, is celebrating its 60th anniversary edition in its 80th year. Of course, Eben will be on hand to lead through the much-anticipated opening night. And, as it turns out, he has his own anniversary to celebrate at this year’s edition.
Ahead of all the activities, celebrations, star appearances and screenings at Karlovy Vary, THR asked the Czech celebrity about how late legendary Czech actor and long-time fest president Jiří Bartoška, who died last May, brought him to the festival and about his starring roles at KVIFF and beyond.
When did you start hosting KVIFF ceremonies and events, and how/why did you get involved with the festival?
I started working at the festival many years ago – so many that this year will be my 30th run. I was approached by Jiří Bartoška. We had known each other before; we had even shot something together, but most importantly, we lived in the same building. So, I got an offer to take part in this adventure, and I was absolutely charmed by it. After all, it was shortly after the Velvet Revolution.
Under the totalitarian regime, only stars from the Eastern Bloc would visit us at most, and now these were real Hollywood heavyweights. Right in my first year, I had the opportunity to interview Gregory Peck; I wouldn’t have thought of that even in my wildest dreams.
I read that you have the nickname of the “Czech Mr. Nice” and that this has to do with your polite interview style. How do you feel about that nickname, and do you remember how that nickname started?
You surprised me there. Do people really call me that? Honestly, this is the first time I’m hearing it, but I suppose I do have a reputation as a host who doesn’t go after his guests’ throats. And to tell you the truth, I’d be glad to have it. Because if there is one thing I find repulsive, it’s inviting someone for an interview and then making them sweat – that just goes against my grain.
From a journalistic perspective, it might not be correct, but to me, the interviewee is still my guest. And when you invite someone to your house, you don’t ask them how much they made or why they got divorced so many times either.
Uma Thurman at KVIFF 2017, with Marek Eben in the far right corner, next to Jiří Bartoška, courtesy of Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary
In addition to your work as KVIFF host, you also host the Czech version of Dancing With the Stars. Is that or KVIFF more stressful for a host, and why?
Well, on the list of my biggest stressors, StarDance – as it’s called here – is definitely number one, and the festival takes the silver medal. StarDance is an immensely popular show with high ratings in our country, and that always gets to you somehow. I’ve been doing it for 20 years now. I thought it would get better over the years, but it doesn’t; if anything, it gets worse because the audience expects more from you.
And KVIFF, on the other hand, has a larger live audience. There are about 1,500 people at the opening ceremony, including many colleagues and acquaintances you care about. And when you look out into the crowd and see Michael Douglas, Johnny Depp, or Michael Caine sitting there, it doesn’t exactly add to your peace of mind.
I read you also present the talk show Na plovárně (At the Swimming Pool), in which you interview international stars. Who are stars or big names you have never met at KVIFF and never had on your show, who you would love to chat with and why?
I have been very lucky that – when it comes to guests on my show – I’ve had the chance to welcome far more great personalities than I could have ever imagined. And that is across all sorts of professions. If someone had told me that my guests would be the Dalai Lama, Bill Gates, William Styron, or Quincy Jones, I probably would have asked what kind of stuff they were smoking.
But if I could still wish for someone, it would probably be Bob Dylan or Woody Allen. But you know how it goes – someone wise once said that the worst thing that can happen to you is for your dreams to come true. I’m not sure if these two enigmatic beings would be good interview partners.
Richard Gere at KVIFF 2015, with Marek Eben, courtesy of Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary
I heard you have also played in a band. Can you tell us about your music work or career, the name of your band and what music it makes or made? And what instrument do you play, and do you also sing?
Our band is called The Eben Brothers because it really is partly a family affair. I have two brothers, and we’ve been playing together for about 45 years. We’ve released six albums, which won five Anděl Awards—the Czech equivalent of the American Grammys. We play original material; I write all the music and lyrics, and I also have to sing it all because nobody else wants to do it. I play a bit of guitar and piano, but fortunately, we have other great musicians in the band who can do it much better than I can, so I mostly just focus on singing.
Given your role at KVIFF and your TV work, have you acted in any films, and what roles did you play?
I originally studied acting and spent half my life in various theaters. I filmed a few things for television; the first was a children’s TV series. I was 12, and I played a fat, clumsy kid, which meant you couldn’t pick up any girls with that role. But my entire generation grew up on it. I hoped I would get rid of that role, but people still remind me of it.
Other than that, however, my film career is concentrated into a single scene in some detective movie, where I play a character who doesn’t even have a name.
