National Competition 1

For the past several years, the National Competition has presented audiences the best that domestic cinema has to offer. This year’s three blocks contain a total of fifteen films – live-action, documentary, and animated.

The first block of films includes two world premieres. Piotr Jasiński’s Gone is a poignant portrait of a father who has failed as a parent and a husband, while Sarah Slavíčková’s My Homeland takes a lighter tone as its director playfully reflects on various stereotypes associated with images of village life. Rounding out the block is a trio of animated films: Anastasiia Falileieva’s harrowing documentary I Died in Irpin, shown in competition at the prestigious Annecy Festival; Julie Černá’s Stone of Destiny, recently screened at this year’s Berlinale, and You Are My Light, a surprising (and thus all the more truthful) look at motherhood by Hana Stehlíková.

The three-member international jury will present an award for Best Czech Film, which comes with a financial reward of 2,000 euros. The jurors can also choose to present a Special Jury Mention. The director of the winning film will receive in-kind post-production services from Beep and PFX for his or her next project.