Our Countryside: Bedřichovice Upon Thames

Not many people know that the self-immolations of Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc were followed by the same tragic act of protest committed by Evžen Plocek in the early April of 1969 in Jihlava. What was the meaning of his deed back then and what can we see in it today? A documentary about the meaning of human sacrifice and about the incident that was long kept secret by the communists and still remains largely undiscussed.

Issues related to gender equality in the Czech society are discussed on many levels, with much stronger intensity and on a much larger scale than what was previously imaginable. Helped by growing media coverage, several recently founded associations and organizations try to raise awareness towards such issues among general public. These groups are often rejected by our society, much more often than politicians with their controversial statements. The documentary tries to stir the still waters of stereotypical attitudes through the “parades” of the male and female members of feminist groups.

This documentary analyses the quality of infowar and the effects of disinformation in the Czech Republic. It tries to find out who is behind false reports that spread mainly through social networks and so called conspiracy webs. The film also tries to answer the question whether these false reports, stories and emotions are spread as part of Russian propaganda and whether those Czechs who are for various reasons unhappy with the direction their country chose after 1989 are in on the scheme.

Rooting for something or someone has always been part of human culture. It would be hard to find a single human being who does not support anything and anyone. Sports fan form a special category, but unfortunately we mainly hear of them in the context of violence at stadiums or in the streets. But there is a poetic side to this fandom that often remains hidden to the eyes of TV news audience.

They are driven by forces we are unable to control. No one knows what they actually experience or why they are so much affected by the Moon. They live among us, entrenched in their everyday hell on earth – families and children with severe autism. This form of autism is called low-functional. It is one of the most demanding and worst manageable health impairments. Those who suffer from the disorder have great difficulties to become part of our society. The documentary portrays four families with children of various ages and their situation.

The modest intellectual Ivan M. Havel is a member of one of the most renowned Czech families of the 20th century. Director Roman Vávra spent five years following him in his personal life, at work, and at social events with the country's cultural event. In the film, he returns his protagonist to places that played an important role in Havel's life. The result is an unmediated and lively documentary look at the history and ups and downs of the remarkable Havel family through one of its distinctive members.

The path of Petr Zuska to grand dance and choreography led from the Prague Chamber Ballet, the ballet ensemble of the National Theatre, the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens to the post of the head of the National Theatre Ballet where he spent the last 15 years. This documentary maps his work during his last year as the head of the National Theatre Ballet.

A portrayal of 11-year-old Rozárka who decided to stop eating meat. She does not like that 50% of animals in factory farming are slaughtered for no reason. The film explores the subject of openness and consideration towards the planet and nature through her story. Compassion, which is the driving force behind Rozárka’s decision not to eat meat, is naturally transferred into a wider social context when the girl chooses to meet cooks from the vegan restaurant Kuchařky bez domova (Homeless Cooks).

After fifteen years, Czech Television has filmed a sequel to its successful documentary cycle Infiltration. This time around, the filmmakers focused on psychosomatic medicine in the Czech Republic. Unhappy with the quality of medical care and with doctors’ lack of empathy and time, many patients have turned to “alternative” treatments. But if “alternative” treatment is offered by academically certified doctors and psychologists, are they just as responsible for their actions in non-medical facilities as they are in regular doctors’ offices and hospitals? The documentary uncovers the scandalous medical practices at one Prague facility, shot over the course of one year using a hidden camera.

Energetically sustainable communities are unique and far between in our corner of the world. The standard situation is that the biggest chunk of money from municipal budgets reserved to pay for gas and electricity, goes to energy giants and monopolies, and other options are not even considered.

Is it possible to share your life with someone who has a different faith than you? What are the pitfalls of such a relationship, and how can it be enriching? A new series about people who show that differences don’t have to be divisive. Festival audiences will see the third episode of the series.

In December 1989, the "Iron Curtain" that separated the Soviet Bloc from the Western world fell. Cutting the wires from the previously impenetrable borders is probably the most memorable symbol of the continent’s newly acquired freedom. But how did the former Border Patrol Officers see the events at the time? Their main task was not to patrol the borders against dangers from the outside world, but rather to hunt down citizens from Czechoslovakia and other countries of the Soviet Bloc who were trying to escape into the democratic world.