Tomáš Kotas

A look at the life, work and importance of Czech filmmaker Karel Zeman (1910-89), a genius of world cinema, a wizard of special effects, revealing his sources of inspiration and his revolutionary filming techniques.

A day before Christmas Eve, a young, inexperienced doctor starts his first night shift on his own. All of his more skilled colleagues have left to spend some time with their families. There are no signs which would indicate that this calm night will change into a struggle for not only a child's life, but also a professional and personal credentialing.

Twenty-three-year-old Aneta committed suicide with 13 knife wounds. No, this is not the subject of a horror science fiction, but the official conclusion of the Czech police. It is also the story of perhaps the most controversial criminal case in modern history, the background to which the filmmakers have been documenting for five long years. What role did a love triangle, the mafia, drugs and a mysterious Lebanese man play in the case? To answer these questions, years later, both Aneta's mother and the public have built an exact replica of the crime scene in the studio. A reconstruction of the site was carried out with the participation of the world's leading experts in psychology, toxicology, pathology and biomechanics. Will the conclusions of the British, Canadian, American and French experts match those reached by the Czech police? Will the victim's mother at least get the truth after ten years?

Enrique lives with his grandmother in a small village in the “Hungry Valley,” while his mother Martina works far away, relying on Enrique to complete various tasks in hopes of saving enough money to reunite. When he’s not working for his mother, Enrique spends his summer riding mopeds with his friends. However, Martina soon becomes the subject of village gossip, as her intentions may not be as honorable as they once seemed. With the help of his friends, Enrique uncovers her true nature and must decide whether to remain loyal to his mother or forge his own path and cut ties with her.

Martina was doused with acid by her ex-boyfriend, causing third-degree burns to the upper half of her body and almost complete blindness. The documentary portrait follows her life story after this life-changing attack – coping with the loss of physical attractiveness, the fear of a world she cannot see, and her search for a new meaning in life. Martina's story bears all the hallmarks of a good biopic. It presents a strong central character going through difficult situations and finding happiness despite many pitfalls. But what sets it apart from mainstream productions is the directness with which Martina speaks to us and its potential to break through many taboos.

When the junior ice hockey team from the small town of Náchod, in the Czech Republic, sets off in a bus to Morocco to play the away game in an exchange programme, the players and their coach expect an easy victory and a cultural shock: “bring ear plugs”, the coach suggests them with a touch of undisguised condescendence, so as not to hear the call to prayer early in the morning. Both on and off the ice, Rozálie Kohoutová and Tomáš Bojar’s camera focuses on a few teenagers and their exchanges, simultaneously funny and cruel, in a clumsy English.

Once upon a time in a small village far away, the carp are preparing for a peaceful and happy Christmas eve – as required by tradition. But traditional values have been lost and Christmas has become the peak of consumption, and there are some who will lose their lives in the honour of these sacred days…

Another dreary day in a small town. Viki, Sára, and Kiki, three inseparable friends since childhood, are planning to spend their free afternoon the same way they always do: vodka, cigarettes, talking about everything and nothing. But their group dynamic is different today, more explosive: one of them has reached the second round in a casting call for a modeling job, thus raising her chances of leaving this place of dashed hopes and dreams. Her friends might be willing to support her, if only their anger, sadness, and envy weren’t so powerful… A relentless but non-judgmental look at growing up without any prospects of a brighter future.

Matys is an outsider who moved from Ukraine to Czechia with his sister in search of a better life. It turns out the situation there is not ideal either. A glimpse of hope comes when Matys manages to get a job in a cottage located in the heart of a splendid forest.

What if you got the chance to build a new society from scratch, what would it look like? Located more than 200 km above the polar circle, the Swedish mining town Kiruna is built on the world's largest and most modern iron ore mining tunnel, which created a significant income for the Swedish government. However, due to the mining the city has started to collapse and in order to save the industry, the city council together with the mining company LKAB have decided to move the town and its citizens 3 kilometres to the east. In doing so, the town has turned a potential disaster into a great opportunity. The new Kiruna will be an even more progressive, even better society for the future. But is it even possible to plan an ideal world?

Sometimes a friendship can crack under the most banal strain. Two burly men deal with such a loss in their own way – with a lot of strangely tender violence. Guided by a mysterious mentor, they finally reunite for one last round.

Filip is released on parole from a youth detention center and returns home to his mother, who is being seemingly helpful with his integration back to life. However, in a familiar environment surrounded by people from his past, Filip's frustration starts to show.

How we look is often not just our personal choice. What we should look like plays a role as well. Society likes to know who is a woman and who is a man. The ideal woman is thin and shaven, while men do not depilate their legs.