21/03/2023 - The gathering’s 25th edition will focus on security and the price we are willing to pay for it, as seen from different perspectives through the 75 selected titles

The One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival is gearing up for its 25^th edition in Prague from 22-30 March, as well as in 28 cities across the Czech Republic from 22 March-2 April. This year's festival revolves around the theme of the “Price of Safety”, which highlights the fragility and importance of issues such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the energy crisis, climate change and social insecurity. The festival will include 75 feature-length documentaries and ten virtual-reality experiences, including the opening film, Overcome the Darkness, a chilling account of the Ukrainian people's struggle against the Russian invasion by the Kinodopomiha collective.

The festival will delve into its theme through various competitive sections, such as the International Competition, the Czech Competition and the You Have the Right to Know strand. Additionally, a new category for VR films, One World Interactive, has been introduced. The programme will feature films categorised into seven themes: New Gods, Women's Power, Ukraine, Sustainability, Relationships, Uprooting and Networks.

The International Competition traditionally offers the newest and most hotly anticipated films that combine powerful themes with original cinematography, and 11 titles are included in it: A Silent Story by Anders Skovbjerg Jepsen (Denmark/Sweden), After Work [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Erik Gandini
film profile] by Erik Gandini (Italy/Norway/Sweden), Apolonia, Apolonia [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lea Glob
film profile] by Lea Glob (Denmark), Eastern Front [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Vitaly Mansky, Yevhen Titar…
film profile] by Vitaly Mansky and Yevhen Titarenko (Latvia/Czech Republic/Ukraine/USA), The Flag by Joseph Paris (France), Girl Who Dreams About Time by Hyuckjee Park (South Korea), The Longest Goodbye by Ido Mizrahy (Israel/Canada), Look What You Made Me Do [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Coco Schrijber (Netherlands), Motherland [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Alexander Mihalkovich and Hanna Badziaka (Sweden/Ukraine/Norway), Theatre of Violence by Emil Langballe and Lukasz Konopa (Denmark), and We Will Not Fade Away [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Alisa Kovalenko (Ukraine/Poland/France).

One World has introduced several new categories this year, including a special section on Ukraine, featuring five films. The New Gods thematic section looks at the new and old idols that people admire. The Women's Power category highlights the struggle for women's rights and the risks faced by activists. The Relationships strand examines the complexities of human connections from different perspectives. The festival's Sustainability section presents films related to climate change and the environment, while the Uprooting category showcases documentaries from African, Latin American and Asian countries. Additionally, One World Interactive offers six interactive projects and four 360° films that take audiences on virtual journeys to different parts of the world.

Furthermore, the festival will feature an expanded debate programme, with almost two-thirds of screenings followed by discussions or debates. The schedule includes various formats, such as confrontational panel discussions, small-group debates and film dissections, and will involve guests from around the world. Discussions will focus on themes such as collective trauma, sex work, gender inequalities and the social contract. The festival is also introducing the Abakus Foundation Audience Award for Exceptional Debate, allowing the audience to vote for their favourite debate. Post-screening talks and discussions have become a crucial aspect of the festival, providing a platform for exchanging ideas and perspectives on important issues.