Jakub Wagner

Artistic endeavour isn’t about competing; even so, applicants still have to be placed in order of merit at the academy’s entrance exams. But how do you assess artistic talent? And what role can art play in today’s world? A layered, observational documentary which presents a portrait of an institution and a light generational statement in one.

A documentary portrait of a legendary Czech jockey, Josef Vána, reveals his inner world of thoughts. His unique way of life can't be described in words, and this is a first, really original view into his daily life around horses, terrifying accidents, and also stories about his family.

Childlike imagination, naive playfulness and an enchanted view of the world are at the centre of this poetic film. The child protagonists talk about their dreams, fantasies and experiences while touching on metaphysical questions of body and soul, life and death. Magic permeates every frame of this colourful collage.

In his provocative mosaic of opinions from different sides of the political spectrum, Martin Kohout reflects on where the ideals of November 1989 and the former sense of community have disappeared to. He tries to understand the progressive fragmentation of Czech society through two recent events. Both the parliamentary elections in 2017 and the subsequent direct election of the president made it clear that there is no consensus in the country today on even the most basic concepts such as "freedom" or "democracy". Sources of concern, ideas about the country's future direction, and the national myths on which cultural and political figures and disaffected voters rely all vary.

The five-year relationship between older Michal and Veronika has reached a crossroads. While he is already planning children and a family, she feels that she has not experienced anything yet and wants to have fun. They live side by side without really being together. Under pressure from arguments and fear of breaking up, Michal comes up with a mysterious vacation for Veronika. From the beginning, however, everything is different from what the meticulous Michal had planned, and Veronika shows her disappointment. The trip through Scandinavia and the situations it puts them in hold up a mirror to themselves and their relationship. Everything seems to confirm that they should no longer be together. An encounter with Šimon, an adventurer and petty thief who is always on the road, gives their lives and their relationship an unexpected reflection and moves them forward.

The feature-length feature documentary combined with animation is inspired by the famous collection of short stories by the Czech writer and poet Jan Neruda (July 9, 1834 - August 22, 1891). She returns to the Lesser Town of Prague to confront her current state with the spirit of the place in a collage of speeches and often tragicomic scenes, which is stored deep in the Czech subconscious thanks to school reading. Thanks to this, the film is not just about memory, but grows into an image of social changes inscribed in old houses. Samples from the films were used: A Week in a Quiet House (dir. Jiří Krejčík, 1947), The Morality of Mrs. Dulská (dir. Jiří Krejčík, 1958), A Story of Love and Honor (dir. Otakar Vávra, 1977).

Artistic endeavour isn’t about competing; even so, applicants still have to be placed in order of merit at the academy’s entrance exams. But how do you assess artistic talent? And what role can art play in today’s world? A layered, observational documentary which presents a portrait of an institution and a light generational statement in one.

A documentary portrait of a legendary Czech jockey, Josef Vána, reveals his inner world of thoughts. His unique way of life can't be described in words, and this is a first, really original view into his daily life around horses, terrifying accidents, and also stories about his family.

A documentary portrait of a legendary Czech jockey, Josef Vána, reveals his inner world of thoughts. His unique way of life can't be described in words, and this is a first, really original view into his daily life around horses, terrifying accidents, and also stories about his family.

Childlike imagination, naive playfulness and an enchanted view of the world are at the centre of this poetic film. The child protagonists talk about their dreams, fantasies and experiences while touching on metaphysical questions of body and soul, life and death. Magic permeates every frame of this colourful collage.

In his provocative mosaic of opinions from different sides of the political spectrum, Martin Kohout reflects on where the ideals of November 1989 and the former sense of community have disappeared to. He tries to understand the progressive fragmentation of Czech society through two recent events. Both the parliamentary elections in 2017 and the subsequent direct election of the president made it clear that there is no consensus in the country today on even the most basic concepts such as "freedom" or "democracy". Sources of concern, ideas about the country's future direction, and the national myths on which cultural and political figures and disaffected voters rely all vary.

The feature-length feature documentary combined with animation is inspired by the famous collection of short stories by the Czech writer and poet Jan Neruda (July 9, 1834 - August 22, 1891). She returns to the Lesser Town of Prague to confront her current state with the spirit of the place in a collage of speeches and often tragicomic scenes, which is stored deep in the Czech subconscious thanks to school reading. Thanks to this, the film is not just about memory, but grows into an image of social changes inscribed in old houses. Samples from the films were used: A Week in a Quiet House (dir. Jiří Krejčík, 1947), The Morality of Mrs. Dulská (dir. Jiří Krejčík, 1958), A Story of Love and Honor (dir. Otakar Vávra, 1977).

Documentary portrait of Karel Köcher, supposedly the most important communist agent to infiltrate the CIA.

Documentary portrait of Karel Köcher, supposedly the most important communist agent to infiltrate the CIA.