One World Festival

Display Schedule

Code Completion Credits Range Language Instruction Semester
303MFEJS credit 1 6 seminar hours (45 min) of instruction per semester, 21 to 26 hours of self-study English, Czech summer

Subject guarantor

Lea PETŘÍKOVÁ, Alice RŮŽIČKOVÁ

Name of lecturer(s)

Lea PETŘÍKOVÁ, Alice RŮŽIČKOVÁ

Department

The subject provides Department of Documentary Film

Contents

Every year, One World highlights important issues that move society. In addition to the traditional competition sections, the programme of the twenty-sixth edition of the festival will offer seven non-competition categories, grouping films by theme into Family Webs, Female Gaze, Male Beings, Ecosystems, Searching for Freedom and Community Boundaries. This year, the regional focus is on Slovakia in The Slovak Journey section.

Two films by director David Borenstein, Can't Feel Nothing, which deals with the topic of emotional numbness on the networks, and Mr. Nobody Against Putin, which has just premiered and received an award at Sundance, will be shown in the International Competition.

David Borenstein, an American director working in Copenhagen, will lead his masterclass on Friday, March 14, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. in the Reference Projection of the FAMU Studio. His feature documentary Dream Empire (2016) premiered at IDFA and won the main competition at FF Thessaloniki Documentary FF. During his career as a director, he has worked with Al Jazeera English, WDR ARTE, DR2, NYTimes and other television stations. David has a doctorate in anthropology and is fluent in Chinese. His documentary Can´t Feel Nothing (2024) had its world premiere at the leading documentary film festival CPH:DOX in the F:act Award section dedicated to investigative journalism.

Annotations of both films:

Can't Feel Nothing (dir. David Borenstein, 2024, 81')

Who turned off our emotions and why? One day, director David Borenstein realised that endlessly staring at his mobile left him completely numb, neither happy nor sad – nothing. As if something had sucked all his emotions out of him. Is this really happening? And who’s responsible?

With his camera, Borenstein went searching the world over, gradually discovering that we’re all victims of professional emotional manipulators who capitalise on eliciting specific emotions. From the USA, across Europe and Russia to China. From individuals to giant corporations. From propagandistic influencing, to trolling, to extreme overeating.

He guides us through a world of bizarre phenomena, revealing the tragicomic reality of the online environment and our lives. The film, imbued with black humour, shows that the situation is bleak, but there is still hope for a remedy.

Screenings:

13/3/17:30 Edison Filmhub

18/3/19:00 Prague Municipal Library – Large Hall (with discussion with theoretician Tero Karppi)

Mr. Nobody Against Putin (dir. David Borenstein, Pavel Talankin, 2025, 90')

Pavel “Pasha” Talankin is a popular enthusiastic Russian school teacher who likes small-town life, bad weather, and even dirty panel buildings. His life is disrupted by the war, as he, an employee of an educational institution, must become its instrument.

Caught in the centre of a propaganda apparatus that is engulfing society, he is tasked with documenting everything with a camera. But he interprets this in his own way and records things as they really are, not as the military regime wants them to be.

The film, directed by Danish documentarist David Borenstein, was made using material that Pasha took out of Russia, when he realised, he was attracting too much attention and that a noose was tightening round his neck. The result is a quiet, intimate, and for that very reason devastating image of the skewed educational system, and by extension, the entire country.

Screenings:

12/3/20:30 Lucerna Cinema – Large Hall

14/3/ 20:30 Světozor Cinema – Large Hall

17/3/15:00 Evald

From Thursday 13/03 to Saturday 15/03/2025, FAMU will also host screenings of films from One World for the jury; FAMU students and teachers are welcome at these screenings - free entry:

Thursday 13. 3. Reference Projection Studio FAMU

9:30-10:45

Satan Kingdom Babylon (dir. Petr Šprincl, Marie Šprincl, 2024, 77´)

In a highly stylised documentary mystery, a novice investigator follows the trail of a missing woman. Messages found in an abandoned hotel room, thought to be her last refuge, reveal disturbing truths hidden behind the hotel walls, linked to religious movements and their followers.

The quest plays out in a unique animated video game adventure in which the hotel corridors become a maze of relative morality, good and evil twisted according to the viewpoints of sectarian prophets. Authentic footage shot on old camcorders adds to the oppressive atmosphere, and, along with video art collages, depicts religious fanaticism and a hopelessly divided American society.

Thursday 13. 3. Reference Projection Studio FAMU

11:00-12:30

Million Moments (dir. Amálie Kovářová, 2025, 89´)

This almost fairy-tale story of good vs evil offers a concise history of the Million Moments for Democracy initiative, taking us behind the scenes of the preparations for major events and the lives of its two founding members – Benjamin Roll and Mikuláš Minář.

In 2017, a group of people believed that only they could save democracy from Andrej Babiš, Czechia’s then prime minister. They decided to build on the legacy of great figures of Czech history, such as T. G. Masaryk and Václav Havel, and founded an activist group. In the following months, they managed to initiate a public discussion, mobilise citizens, and fill Wenceslas Square and Letná.

Friday 14. 3. Reference Projection Studio FAMU

14:00-15:30

Volver a Volver (dir. Valerio Mendoza Guillén, Jorge Sánchez Calderón, 2025, 85´)

Venezuela’s long-term economic and political crisis has caused millions to leave the country. Most have gone to neighbouring countries (Colombia or Brazil), while others have chosen Spain or the USA.

The Sykoras, born Venezuelans, decide to return to their roots and turn to Czechia’s repatriation program for citizens and their descendants. For the first time in their lives, this family of 4 travels to a country known only from stories.

In addition to prospects of greater stability, in Czechia they face crippling culture shock. As they struggle to find housing and work, their last savings quickly dwindle, each day bringing a new challenge. Will they ever be able to fully integrate into a society far removed from that of Venezuela?

Friday 14. 3. Reference Projection Studio FAMU

16:00-17:00

Pit Stop Reporter (dir. Zora Čápová, 2024, 54´)

Seeking the roots of disinformation in Czechia, journalist Ivana Svobodová is mocked and faces personal attacks at anti-government protests when she confronts people who share a hatred of traditional media and spreading disinformation.

Determined to track how unverified news, popular blogs and alternative media are thriving, Ivana travels from Respekt’s editorial office to meet the founder and author of the blog Vidlák’s Kydy. Trying to understand his views only leads to more insults. The story about the futility of mutual dialogue takes us among disgruntled citizens and, together with the reporter, we see what the price of professional journalism is in the age of misinformation.

Saturday 15. 3. Projection of FAMU Lažan

10:00-11:20

Revolution 3.0 (dir. Reza Bird, 2024, 78´)

Filmmaker and editor Reza Bird fell out of favour with the regime due to his political and social activism and in 2016 fled Iran with his family, finding refuge in Los Angeles.

As he builds his career, the unrest in his homeland persists. He gradually joins the revolutionary movement, continuing to reflect on and support the anti-government demonstrations in Iran, at least from a distance. Revolution 3.0 tells about the revolutionary changes in his life and his country.

In a brisk collage-like film, Bird’s autobiographical narrative is interspersed with footage of recent protests in Iran, which people have been sharing en masse on social media. On both a personal and political level, modern technology is becoming a tool to bridge great distances and gain control over the story and its interpretation.

Saturday 15. 3. Projection of FAMU Lažan

11:30-13:00

Doctor on a Trip (dir. David Čálek, 2025, 82´)

Is there any human community that doesn’t have a word for depression, sadness or anxiety? How does Western culture deal with mental illness, its acceptance, and its treatment?

Filmmaker David Čálek charts psychedelic use as an alternative way to treat mental illness. Interviews with people with depression are interspersed with footage from an international expedition of psychiatrists who study the traditional ritual use of ayahuasca among the Amazonian Huni Kui.

Reports from the encounter between two different cultures are a scientific record but also tell of the roots of modern civilisational disorders, leading to a search for lost rituals, solidarity and shared spiritual experience in today’s European society.

You can find other film screenings (annotations and screening times) – https://www.oneworld.cz/

Learning outcomes

To introduce students to contemporary foreign documentary production through the One World Festival.

Prerequisites and other requirements

none

Literature

https://www.oneworld.cz/

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jan/25/mr-nobody-against-putin-review

https://variety.com/2025/film/global/mr-nobody-against-putin-kremlin-sundance-1236283374/

https://variety.com/2024/film/global/cant-feel-nothing-journeyman-cphdox-1235949477/

Evaluation methods and criteria

100% participation in Masterclass David Borenstein and proof of participation in at least 3 screenings of One World Festival (tickets or signature on the attendance list at FAMU Projection 13-15 March, 2025).

Note

KDT FAMU module

Lecturer: David Borenstein (guarantor Alice Růžičková, Lea Petříková, Andrea Petrovičová)

Date and time: Friday 14. 3. 18-20h in the Reference Screening Room Studio FAMU masterclass David Borenstein and visit at least 3 screenings as part of the One World festival (March 12-20, 2025)

Assignment: zá/1 – 100% attendance at David Borenstein´s masterclass and proof of attendance at at least 3 screenings of the One World Festival (tickets or signature on the attendance list at FAMU Projection 13-15 March 2025)

Capacity: 50 / Optional for: AMU / Language of teaching: english and czech

Further information

This course is an elective for all AMU students

Schedule for winter semester 2024/2025:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

Schedule for summer semester 2024/2025:

Date Day Time Tutor Location Notes No. of paralel
13.03.2025 09:30–10:45 Alice RŮŽIČKOVÁ
Satan Kingdom Babylon parallel1
13.03.2025 11:00–12:30 Alice RŮŽIČKOVÁ
Million Moments parallel1
14.03.2025 14:00–15:30 Alice RŮŽIČKOVÁ
Volver a Volver parallel1
14.03.2025 16:00–17:00 Alice RŮŽIČKOVÁ
Pit Stop Reporter parallel1
14.03.2025 18:00–20:00 Alice RŮŽIČKOVÁ
masterclass David Borenstein in the Reference Screening Room Studio FAMU parallel1
15.03.2025 10:00–11:20 Alice RŮŽIČKOVÁ Projection Room
Lažanský palác		 Revolution 3.0 parallel1
15.03.2025 11:30–13:00 Alice RŮŽIČKOVÁ Projection Room
Lažanský palác		 Doctor on a Trip parallel1

The subject is a part of the following study plans