Film programme 2023

Alis (2022)

Section: Competition of European Feature Documentaries for Young Audience

Directed by: Clare Weiskopf, Nicolás van Hemelryck

Colombia, Chile, Romania, 2022, 84 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4

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“Close your eyes and imagine Alis, a 15-year-old classmate. And now tell me her story…” Thus begins a documentary from a Colombian shelter for teenage girls. The directors ask a group of teenage girls to close their eyes and imagine the life story of a fictional classmate named Alis. Like them, Alisa's story begins in the ruthless streets of Bogota, where the girls struggle to survive. Alis becomes their empty screen, a projection of their past selves. In a sensitive way, the film shows how the girls' initial fiction begins to blend with reality and how this distance gives them the opportunity to step out of themselves for a bit and see their own experiences from a different perspective. A pair of acclaimed directors bring a unique insight into the world of girls who, no matter how hard life has treated them, do not give up and are ready to break the cycle of violence and fight for a better future.

We Will Not Fade Away (2023)

Section: Competition of European Feature Documentaries for Young Audience

Directed by: Alisa Kovalenko

France, Poland, Ukraine, 2023, 100 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4

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Five teenagers face the next stage of their education. They hope to become a photographer, policeman, engineer, or actor, but they have been living in a village in the Donbass among ruins, minefields, and bomb shelters since 2014. Gunfire is a part of life, as is the ubiquitous desire for a better life. They dream of leaving the war zone and exploring a world not ruled by missiles. Amid this despair, our heroes receive an unexpected offer from a Ukrainian traveler. An expedition to the Himalayas provides five Ukrainian teenagers with an opportunity to fulfill their dream for at least a little while – before Russia's total invasion in February 2022 destroys the last remnants of their hope. With a sensitive, unobtrusive gaze, the documentary portrays a touching portrait of a generation of young people surrounded by darkness, yet – or perhaps because of this – able to recognize the fragile beauty of life.

Shabu (2021)

Section: Top Teen Ten

Directed by: Shamira Raphaëla

Netherlands, Belgium, 2021, 75 min

Projection place: Zámek

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Shabu (14) lives in a colorful loving environment where everyone knows and supports each other. He needs that support, since he has a big obstacle to overcome this summer; he angered the most import woman in his life. His grandmother. He crashed her car joyriding it while she was on vacation in Surinam. So, instead of working on his music career he’ll have to pay for the damages done.

Mocný zvuk (2023)

Section: Special Mention

Directed by: Petr Záruba, Lukáš Houdek

, 2023, 29 min

Projection place: Zámek

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Futura (2021)

Section: Competition of European Feature Documentaries for Young Audience

Directed by: Pietro Marcello, Francesco Munzi, Alice Rohrwacher

Italy, 2021, 105 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 3

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Are you more afraid of the past or the future? How important is education to you? How do you view adults? Three renowned Italian directors have made an engaging and timeless reportage with young people aged 15 to 20. It explores the state of mind of young Italians and seeks to answer how they see their future. Interviewing teenagers as they cross Italy, the boys and girls talk about where they live, their dreams, expectations, desires, and fears. They interview young residents of large cities and provincial villages from north to south. A penetrating portrait of one generation has adults look in the mirror as well. It encourages us to think about our parental and social roles. The filmmakers were inspired by the large investigative television shows of the 1960s and 1970s by renowned directors Mario Soldati and Luigi Comencini, of which we will see several examples in the film.

Fearless (2023)

Section: Competition of European Feature Documentaries for Young Audience

Directed by: Luciano Toriello

Italy, 2023, 72 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4

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Pierfrancesco lives with his family in the Brazilian village of Jericoacoara, which is known not only for its beautiful beaches and sand dunes, but also for ideal weather conditions for kitesurfing. Pierfrancesco is a kitesurfing star at the age of 11. In this time-lapse documentary, we follow his childhood from the time he took his first steps into the water at the age of three to the present day, when he is competing at the World Championships at the age of eleven. Pierfrancesco travels with his father and trainer not only in Brazil, but also to Spain, France and Italy, where he has relatives. Adrenaline-filled and visually appealing documentary about the courage, ambition and fears of a little boy in a fight against the enormous power of the ocean and wind in this interesting sport.

If You Are a Man (2022)

Section: Competition of European Feature Documentaries for Young Audience

Directed by: Simon Panay

France, 2022, 76 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6

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Thirteen-year-old Opio works in a gold mine in Burkina Faso. He sings and laughs to calm himself as he ventures into the dark and dangerous depths of the mine for the first time. He is still too young to descend to the bottom of the deep pit where adult miners mine gold – and sometimes dead bodies. But tirelessly searching for tiny grains of gold in huge piles of rocks and dust and pulling heavy bags out of the mine is the only way to make money to achieve his dream and secure his future: going to school. The story of the pursuit of gold, which requires immense courage and effort, is in fact the story of the journey to basic education, a goal that is still difficult for thousands of children to achieve. A captivating and fascinating documentary portrait of a young boy living with optimism in the harshest environment.

It´s Always Been Me (2023)

Section: Competition of European Feature Documentaries for Young Audience

Directed by: Julie Madsen

Denmark, 2023, 72 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6

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Max and Bastian are Danish teenagers. Max was born a girl, but feels like a transgender boy. And Bastian, born a boy, feels more like a girl. Both are faced with the choice of whether or not to begin hormone therapy to stop their puberty. But can you trust yourself when everything is constantly changing in puberty? Are you making the right decision? They are both surrounded by friends and loving family who do everything in their power to understand them and help them make their decision. An empathetic and timely documentary about two young people who don't feel who they were born as, and the importance of an understanding family in making decisions that will change the rest of your life.

One in a Million (2022)

Section: Competition of European Feature Documentaries for Young Audience

Directed by: Joya Thome

Germany, 2022, 84 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6

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Many young people dream of becoming an influencer. The talented German director in her documentary introduces Whitney Bjerken, a promising American gymnast and world-famous YouTuber, and Yaru, a girl from Germany who is one of her fans. In private, is Whitney as strong and positive as she she is in the videos through which she tries to inspire a million other young people around the world to pursue their goals and believe in themselves? And what does Yara get out of standing in Whitney's shadow and running her own Whitney fan site? What makes Whitney unique? And what makes Yaru unique? The documentary follows two teenage girls on different continents who are connected through screens. It shows the daily lives of seemingly different girls who fight for their own path and face the challenges of success, loneliness, and first love.

Soy Niño (2022)

Section: Beyond the Childhood Horizon

Directed by: Lorena Zilleruelo

France, Chile, 2022, 62 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2

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Bastian, a young trans boy, has to face a very difficult time in life: adolescence. It becomes even harder when he has to put his best efforts into asserting his individuality. From age 12 to 18, Bastian is filmed by his dear cousin Lorena who catches every glimpse of intimacy and difficulties. We witness how social and economic obstacles can put Bastian’s transition at risk. Bastian’s journey introduces us to a newly open-minded Chile, more tolerant thanks to Chile’s new generation.

Girl Gang (2022)

Section: Beyond the Childhood Horizon

Directed by: Susanne Regina Meures

Switzerland, 2022, 98 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 5

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Fourteen-year-old Leonie is a successful teen influencer who lives on the outskirts of Berlin. Millions of followers are at her feet, and companies shower her with products. When Leonie’s parents recognize the enormous economic potential of their daughter’s online activities, they quickly take over her management. They want Leonie to have a better life than they had. But Leonie’s life, dictated by brands and pressure to produce content, has a dark side that the adrenaline, fame, and free sneakers can’t make up for.

Věra Plívová-Šimková (2023)

Section: Special Mention

Directed by: Anna Stichenwirthová

Czech Republic, 2023, 53 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2

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A documentary portrait of director Věra Plívová-Šimková, who made an indelible mark in the history of Czech cinema in the field of children's productions. In addition to the artist herself, we see not only her family, but also many filmmakers who have worked with her. She talks about her extreme commitment, talent and enthusiasm for working with children and the camera, as well as the dark side of her talent.

Shabu (2021)

Section: Top Teen Ten

Directed by: Shamira Raphaëla

Netherlands, Belgium, 2021, 75 min

Projection place: Zámek

Score:

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Shabu (14) lives in a colorful loving environment where everyone knows and supports each other. He needs that support, since he has a big obstacle to overcome this summer; he angered the most import woman in his life. His grandmother. He crashed her car joyriding it while she was on vacation in Surinam. So, instead of working on his music career he’ll have to pay for the damages done.

Zlín - the Town in the Gardens (2023)

Section: Special Mention

Directed by: Pavel Jandourek

Czech Republic, 2023, 59 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4

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A living textbook of functionalism in a secret garden city. The city of Zlín grew at the same dizzying pace and specific style as Bata, but few people know that it provides its inhabitants with the benefits of a garden city.

Eduard Štorch, the Mammoth Hunter (2023)

Section: Special Mention

Directed by: Josef Císařovský

Czech Republic, 2023, 52 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2

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Eduard Štorch (1878–1956) was the first Czech writer and one of the first in the world to set his stories in prehistory. It's quite ironic that he himself considered his books set in the Stone Age and Bronze Age to be mere accessories to his calling in life as a professional teacher. His new concepts for educating a new generation and of teaching history were completely groundbreaking. He made his idea of a healthy and natural lifestyle a reality on the island of Libeň in Prague, where he built his Children's Farm and taught children how to live and cooperate with nature.