28th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival
Wenders, Godard & Co.
This year, the Special Event section will introduce two great figures of world cinema. The first will be Wim Wenders, renowned for his film Wings of Desire: the festival will showcase his latest film Pope Francis: A Man of His Word (2018). It is the first film in history, in the making of which the Pope himself participated. “It’s not a film made on commission. I was allowed to do what I wanted, and that’s exactly what I did. I wanted to give him space,” says the acclaimed director about the film made on the initiative of the Vatican.
The second main star of the festival will be the classic of French New Wave, 87-year-old director Jean-Luc Godard. The festival will introduce his latest film The Image Book (2018) which won him the first ever special Palm d’Or in Cannes – “for continually striving to define and redefine what cinema can be”, said the jury in their verdict. The film will be shown in collaboration with the distribution company, Film Europe.
The section, Testimony on Politics will feature The Waldheim Waltz (2018) by Austrian director Ruth Beckerman. The film depicts the crisis that affected Austria in 1986 after it had been disclosed that one of the presidential candidates, Kurt Waldheim, had been attached to the Nazi regime. The film was named the best documentary title at this year’s Berlinale.
Testimony on Knowledge will present the French film, John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection (2018). Made by Julien Faraut, who has for many years been the manager of the film archive at the French Sports Institute. The film provides insight into the life and achievements of American tennis player – the renowned “Superbrat” John McEnroe.