In 1982 Petr Koliha graduated from the film school FAMU, majoring in film and television directing. His first experience directing was at the small avant-garde Prague theatre "A-Studio" (Anton Tschechow's "Cherry Orchard", Maxim Gorky's "Karamora"). At that time he also started cooperating with Czechoslovak Television where he made several television plays - critics and viewers particulary appreciated his "Test Results" (1987) and the two part production "The Court Case with the Murderers of Ms. Martynova" which was regarded as the best play of 1988 on Czechoslovak Television. In 1989 Petr Koliha made his first feature film at the Barrandov Film Studios with “Tender Barbar“ (1990), based on the book by Bohumil Hrabal and starring Bolek Polívka, Jirí Menzel and Arnost Goldflam. In 1994 he directed two projects. The first at Czech Television, a TV-play based on a story by Josef Topol "The Cat on the Rails". The second at Cinoherni Studio-Theatre with William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". In 1996 he directed a TV-play based on Friedrich Dürrenmatt´s play, "Play Strindberg" and a TV-play by David Jan Novotny “Guard Angels”. In 1997 he directed his second feature film based on the book of the young writer Michal Viewegh, „Bringing up girls in Bohemia“ (1997) . Since 1990 to 2002 he taught at the Prague Film School FAMU at the directing department. Petr Koliha was the Head Producer of the creative group at Czech Television from 1990 to 1995, where he produced more than fifty TV-plays, TV-films, feature films and TV-serials. From 1998 to 2000 he worked as Programme Director for TV Prima. From 2001 to 2002 he worked as Programme Director of public Czech Television. At this time he works as Artistic Director of International Film Festival for Children and Youth at Zlin. Petr Koliha is voting member of European Film Academy.
