Zdenka Simandlova

Zdenka Simandlova
Screenwriter/Film & TV director

OVERVIEW
Zdenka is a Czech-born and raised Australian screenwriter and director.

Graduating from the International Film School Sydney in 2009, her short films "Defect" and "Thrust" both political drama/thrillers went on the world festivals' circuit in 2010, winning at Soho NYC, USA International Film Festival.

Her feature script, historical drama/political thriller "Toman" has been optioned in 2013 by Czech producer&director Ondrej Trojan, who was twice nominated for foreign Oscars ("Zelary", "Divided We Fall").

The film "Toman" premiered in Prague, the Czech Republic in October 2018. After the successful run in cinemas, winning a prize Trilobite for Audience Most Popular Feature in 2018-2019, it has been selected to screen at New York Jewish Film Festival and Palm Springs International Film Festival in January 2019 in competition, New Jewish Stories section.

Film “Toman” received 13 Czech Lion, Czech Film Academy Awards nominations and 14 Sun in a Net, Slovak Film Academy Awards nominations in 2019, including the best screenplay and best film in both major awards events.
N.B. not all of these 13 Czech Lion Awards are shown on "Toman" IMDb page

Since late 2013 Zdenka has written numerous TV and feature scripts in the fields of military investigations, war/special forces/espionage/political, psychological and action dramas, love stories and thrillers.
Zdenka’s extensive work is often based on true stories, supported by thorough research and a knowledge of those subject.

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
International Film School Sydney 2007-2009
Advanced Diploma in Screen (writing/directing/producing)

EXPERIENCE
Experienced writer and director - 11 years in the industry

FILMOGRAPHY
TOMAN / Feature film - historical drama, political thriller/2018 (released October 2018) - writer
TRUST / Short film - action, psychological drama, political thriller/2009 - writer/director/producer
DEFECT / Short film - drama-political thriller/2009 (winner “Best Film in Progress” Soho NYC IFF) - writer/director/producer

COMPETITIONS

“THOSE WHO DARE” - High-end TV Drama from our current war conflict/2017 - writer - Pilot long-listed for AWG Prime Time TV competition in 2017. The script was described by the judges as “raw, realistic, fresh, unique voice of a subject-knowledgeable newcomer”.

“PREDATOR STRIKE" - Feature - political thriller/2015 - writer - Script considered by judges of Gateway LA screenwriting competition to qualify for Australian Top 10 feature and TV scripts in 2015.

AWARDS

TOMAN - Feature Film - Period Biopic/Historical Drama
Official Selection, New York Jewish Film Festival 2019
Official Selection, Palm Springs International Film Festival 2019
13 ‘Czech Lion’ Academy Awards Nominations, including best film and best screenplay 2019 14 Slovak Film Academy Nominations, including best film and best screenplay 2019

* BREAKING BREAD - Feature film script - Political Thriller/drama
Golden Reel Award Winner, Nevada Film Festival 2009
Honourable Mention (10th-best in the world), Independent Short Film And Arts Festival Long Beach 2009
Winner, Cinema City on Line Film Festival California 2009

** DEFECT - Short Film – Drama
Winner, Best Short Film, SoHo International Film Festival NYC 2010
Winner, Jury Award for Best Short Film under 20 min, 5th Monaco Charity Film Festival, Monaco Golden Palm Award Winner, Best Short Film, Mexico International Film Festival 2010
Award Nominee, Best Short Film under 20min, Swansea International Film Festival, UK 2010 Award Nominee, Best short film, Okanagan Film Festival, Canada 2010
Royal Reel Award for Excellence in Filmmaking at the 2010 Canada International Film Festival Aloha Accolade Award for Excellence in Filmmaking at the 2010 Honolulu International Film Festival
Award Nominee, Ireland International Film Festival 2010
Official Selection, Rincon International Film Festival, Brazil 2010
Official Selection, Egypt International Film Festival 2010
Official Selection, Strasghborough International Film Festival, France 2010
Official Selection, Canberra Short Film Festival, Australia 2009
Bronze DVD (3rd place) in Annual Australian Cinematography Awards 2009

*** TRUST - Short Film – drama
Award Nominee, Swansea Film Festival, UK 2010
Award Nominee, 5th Monaco Charity Film Festival, Monaco 2010
Golden Palm Award nominee, Mexico International Film Festival 2010
Official Selection, Egypt International Film Festival 2010
Official Selection, Ireland International Film Festival 2010
Official Selection, Swansea International Film Festival 2010 TRUST/ Short Film – drama Official Selection, Coasties Film Festival Avoca Beach Australia 2009

INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL REFEREES

ROBERT MACKLIN
Author, Screenwriter, Documentary Filmmaker robert@ mobile: +61(0)407226892

To whom it may concern:

As a graduate of the AFTRS, a Full Member of the AWG and the Producer/Director of numerous documentaries for television in 32 countries of Asia and the Pacific – as well as a similar number of corporate videos in Australia - I am delighted to have the opportunity to act as a referee for Zdenka Simandlova. She is an artistic creative of extraordinary range and depth. She is a director of great sensitivity and a screenwriter of enormous talent and accomplishment. I have been collaborating with her on a few television and feature film projects for the past two years and she has brought great depth and passion to every element of our work. She is a true professional with a European sophistication rarely seen in Australian productions but which adds a new and vital dimension to her work. I thoroughly recommend her for whatever position she seeks. She is an enormous asset to our industry.

Canberra, 14/10/2017

DONALD CROMBIE
Former Directing Lecturer, IFSS, Sydney
Former Head of Directing, Australian Film, Television Radio School, Sydney. doncrom@.au

To whom it may concern:

I tutored Zdenka Simandlova in the craft of direction at the International Film School of Sydney. Ms Simandlova was an outstanding student with a mature aesthetic and a strong understanding of the art of translating a story from page to screen. Zdenka impressed me in particular with her ability to create mood, atmosphere and tension on-screen as evidenced in her excellent short film, Defect. In that film, she created 1950s Prague most believably, a considerable challenge considering it was filmed in inner Sydney, Australia with a student film budget.
That film shows that Zdenka Simandlova is a film director. She satisfied me in all aspects of her craft: preparation, storyboard to screen and post-production. She is a very good communicator and was respected by her key creative crew. She is able to give direction to actors in a manner that earns their trust and I was impressed by her approach to working with actors and the performances they achieved under her guidance.
Her short film work demonstrates that Zdenka Simandlova is capable and ready to move to longer-form filmed drama and I commend her to producers and funding organisations.

Sydney, 12/11/2016

EXPERTISE
Screenwriting/Directing

CONTACT
Mobile: +61 487 726 881 (AUS)
Mobile: +420 774 211 360 (CZ)
E-mail: twinscreenplays@
SkypeID: twinscreenplays
Face Time and WhatsApp
Mobile +61 487 726 881

URL
http://www.pubres.sk/english-summary/toman-movie
.html?lang=en


IMDb
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