Light it Before it Burns

synopsis

The notion of protected natural areas as an untouchable open-air museum is increasingly clashing with the reality of climate change. According to experts, one of the paradoxical tools for landscape regeneration may be controlled burning and the temporary destruction associated with it. However, in Markéta Ekrt Válková’s documentary, scientific arguments and positive examples from abroad come up against the scepticism of domestic firefighters and politicians, as well as the deep-rooted fear and ignorance of the local population. This visually captivating film explores this controversial topic through the passionate expert commentary of ecologist Ondřej Sedláček and poetic wanderings through the Czech countryside accompanied by botanist Jiří Sádlo.

“The aim of protecting forests in national parks is not simply to have a pretty forest.”

biography

Markéta Ekrt Válková (1973) is a Czech documentary filmmaker, screenwriter and graduate of FAMU. In her observational documentaries, she focuses primarily on family relationships and broader social issues. She is the creator of television projects such as Čtyři v tom (Four of Them, 2015) and Boot Camp: Yes, Sir! (2017), as well as the feature-length film Amira's Children (2025).

film details

director:	Markéta Ekrt Válková
producer:	Gordon Lovitt
script:	Markéta Ekrt Válková
photography:	Matěj Piňos
editing:	Jakub Jelínek
music:	František Chaloupka
sound:	Miroslav Červená Chaloupka
co-producer:	Martina Šantavá
executive producer:	Petra Průšová
PR:	Lucie Medková
script dramaturgy:	Ivo Bystřičan, Veronika Korčáková, Filip Novák

contact

Gordon Lovitt / NOW Productions
gl@nowproductions.cz