31st Days of European Film

Competition

Best Film Debut

They are breaking down the old order and claiming their word. Bold films from the emerging generation of filmmakers make up the DEF's competition programme for the best European debut of the year. It will be selected by a jury composed of: Antonie Formanová, Joanna Łapińska, Katalin Moldovai, Jiří Konečný, and Pavel Sladký.

Jury

Films in competition

Travel Essentials

Lesson Learned

The New Year That Never Came

Poison

Bring Them Down

Toxic

Winter In Sokcho

Award

Glass cylinder decorated with engraving and sandblasting is casted from uranium crystal.

Sharp cut mark in the smooth cylinder symbolizes the author’s “first notch”. The first impression… A quality work leaves a mark.

The author of the film awards for the 32nd Days of European Film is Zdeněk Vacek.

Photo: Petra Hajská

Best Film & Music Film

The Film & Music competition section highlights the power of two artistic disciplines and their ability to appeal to human emotions and passions worldwide. Images, tones and melodies set the rhythm for the avant-garde-oriented section, documentaries and feature films in which music plays a leading role. The winner will be selected this year by a jury composed of: Jana Kománková, Anežka Horová a Milan Cais.

Jury

Films in competition

Diva Futura

The Flamenco Guitar Of Yerai Cortés

Heavier Trip

The End

The Extraordinary Miss Flower

Award

Glass cylinder decorated with engraving and sandblasting is casted from uranium crystal.

The award for experimental music film engraved with lines that refer to vinyl recordings and to an experimental era when sound was recorded in analogue matter.

The author of the film award for the 32nd European Film Days is Zdeněk Vacek.

Photo: Petra Hajská

Partners

The New Year That Never Came

Anul Nou care n-a fost

2024 138 min.

A mosaic of stories from the key revolutionary days in Romania just before Christmas 1989. Television is pre-recording a New Year's Eve show paid for by the regime, while shootings are already taking place in the streets of Timisoara.

Sections: First time

Country: Romania / Serbia

Directed by: Bogdan Muresanu

Starring: Adrian Vãncicã, Emilia Dobrin-Besoiu, Iulian Postelnicu, Ioana Flora, Răzvan Vasilescu, Manuela Harabor, Gabriel Spahiu, Mihai Călin, Nicodim Ungureanu

Language: Romanian with English and Czech subtitles

Supported by:

Side event (only for selected shows)

BALKAN DISCO PARTY

On April 7, after the Romanian film The New Year That Didn't Come screening, a unique DJ party with Ligia Keșișian will get the Edison Cinema Café dancing! The Romanian DJ, artistic director of the Balkanik music festival, poet and promoter of world music will bring wild and gentle rhythms of the Balkans, Latin America and the Orient. Look forward to a varied music set that will definitely get you dancing. The film starts at 7:00 PM, and the party begins at 10:00 PM. Admission to the party is free.

Supported by:

Mental Hygiene by Aleš Stuchlý

05.04. 6:30 p.m.

Prague - Edison Filmhub

06.04. 6 p.m.

Prague - Edison Filmhub

07.04. 7 p.m.

Prague - Edison Filmhub

08.04. 6 p.m.

Prague - Edison Filmhub

04.04. 9 p.m.

Prague - Edison Filmhub

Uncompromising film critic, music and festival dramaturg, presenter of the radio podcast Čelisti and leading psychosomatician Aleš Stuchlý has been leading a successful curatorial block of healing screenings called Mental Hygiene for the fifth year. Top films with insightful introductions and maximum side effects, the possibility of a personal therapeutic session after the closing credits in the form of heated discussions with fresh guests, all in his home theatre, Edison Filmhub.

Supported by:

Program

Bring Them Down

2024 105 min.

A harsh thriller set in a pastoral region where old family grievances bubble up. Barry Keoghan, Christopher Abbott and Colm Meaney star in this brutally impressive, low-budget debut about two feuding families.

Sections: First time

Country: Ireland

Directed by: Chris Andrews

Starring: Christopher Abbott, Barry Keoghan, Colm Meaney, Nora-Jane Noone, Paul Ready, Aaron Heffernan, Susan Lynch, Conor MacNeill, Youssef Quinn

Language: English with Czech subtitles

Supported by:

Program

Toxic

Akiplėša

2024 99 min.

A strong, uncompromising debut about two teenage girls who are trying to escape the bleakness of their hometown and dream of a future in modeling, shows the current theme of young people and their fragile relationship with their bodies.

Sections: First time

Country: Lithuania

Directed by: Saulé Bliuvaité

Starring: Giedrius Savickas, Ieva Rupeikaite, Raimondas Klezys, Jekatěrina Makarova

Language: Lithuanian with English and Czech subtitles

Supported by:

Side event (only for selected shows)

Mental Hygiene by Aleš Stuchlý

05.04. 6:30 p.m.

Prague - Edison Filmhub

06.04. 6 p.m.

Prague - Edison Filmhub

07.04. 7 p.m.

Prague - Edison Filmhub

08.04. 6 p.m.

Prague - Edison Filmhub

04.04. 9 p.m.

Prague - Edison Filmhub

Supported by:

Program

Travel Essentials

Rzeczy niezbędne

2024 105 min.

Ada, an American journalist of Polish origin, arrives in Europe and is confronted with her past. The complex narrative is an excellent starting point for a discussion of the still suppressed topic of sexual abuse of young girls in Poland.

Sections: First time

Country: Poland / Germany

Directed by: Kamila Tarabura

Starring: Dagmara Domińczyk, Katarzyna Warnke, Małgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik, Andrzej Konopka, Karol Pocheć, Piotr Żurawski, Anja Antonowicz, Peter Lohmeyer

Language: Polish with English and Czech subtitles

Supported by:

Program

Winter In Sokcho

Hiver à Sokcho

2024 104 min.

The peaceful days of a young girl, Soo-ha (Bella Kim), working at a hotel in the coastal Korean city of Sokcho, are disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious Frenchman (Roschdy Zem). Who is he? Did he come because of her? An impressive, sensitive and slightly melancholic film in which live scenes blend with animated ones.

Sections: First time

Country: France

Directed by: Koya Kamura

Starring: Roschdy Zem, Bella Kim, Park Mi-hyeon

Language: French and Korean with English and Czech subtitles

Supported by:

Program

Lesson Learned

Fekete pont

2024 119 min.

A social drama set in a Hungarian elementary school where little Palkó has moved from Germany. While Palkó has a hard time adjusting to the local regime, young teacher Juci tries to change the school's ways.

Sections: First time

Country: Hungary

Directed by: Bálint Szimler

Starring: Anna Mészöly, Attila Papp, Gábor Ferenczi, Eszter Márton, Erika Marozsán, Ildikó Lökös

Language: Hungarian with English and Czech subtitles

Supported by:

Side event (only for selected shows)

MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS

15.04. 5 p.m.

Ostrava - Minikino

After the film Černý puntík screening, a discussion for parents and teachers will take place, focusing on children's education. How does mental health affect children in the school environment and their ability to learn? How can we support children in adapting to the school regime and ensure a balanced approach to learning? The discussion will offer a space for discussion on how the educational process can support children's psychological well-being and how parents and teachers can work together to create a healthy and stimulating school environment.

Supported by:

Program

Diva Futura

Diva futura

2024 128 min.

Riccardo Schicci (Pietro Castellitto) founds the Diva Futura agency, which turns the idea of free hippie love into the golden age of Italian porn. The media influence of Schicci's activities, also thanks to the rise of private television channels, is so significant in Italian society that he gets porn star Ilona Staller, known as Cicciolina, into parliament. The brisk retro brings a sense of freedom of the eighties and nineties while raising an all-seeing finger at society.

Sections: Film & Music

Country: Italy

Directed by: Giulia Louise Steigerwalt

Starring: Denise Capezza, Lidija Kordić, Barbara Ronchi, Pietro Castellitto, Tesa Litvan, Davide Iachini, Beatrice Puccilli, Marco Iermanò, Paolo Ricci

Language: Italian with English and Czech subtitles

Supported by:

Program

Heavier Trip

2024 96 min.

Heavy metal band Impaled Rektum escapes from prison to play at a big festival. And at the same time, save their childhood home. Musical comedy and sequel to the film Heavy Trip!

Sections: Film & Music

Country: Finland / Belgium / Germany

Directed by: Juuso Laatio, Jukka Vidgren

Starring: Johannes Holopainen, Max Ovaska, Chike Ohanwe, Samuli Jaskio, Anatole Taubman, David Bredin, Martti Syrjä, Mats Eldøen, Helén Vikstvedt, Sinikka Mokkila

Language: Finnish and English with English and Czech subtitles

Supported by:

Program