International competition
The International Competition presents the most original films that have appeared on the world’s documentary scene over the past few months. Three quarters of this year’s selection consists of films that will have their European, international, or world premiere at One World; the rest comprises the most notable films from recent festivals, such as Sundance and the Berlinale. The mix of essay and narrative films covers diverse themes from the world over, such as China’s air pollution, Bhutan’s discovery of the internet, women’s emancipation in Africa, imprisonment, and anorexia.
Films in category International competition
Acasa, My Home
A 20-year escape from Romania's growing capital is now coming to an end. A modern family of hermits must integrate into the system and accept all its pros and cons.
Collective
On 30 October 2015 fire broke out in a Bucharest nightclub during a concert, claiming 64 lives. But more than half the victims didn’t die till they reached hospital. How can that be?
Eye to Eye
A Finnish organisation helps the families of victims of violent crime to mourn. But a key point on the agenda is meeting the person who caused the death of the loved one.
Mrs. F.
In Nigeria, it's as if women are not even part of public life. An activist known as "Mrs. F." organises workshops and public appearances at which she tries to help women claim the respect of their community.
Ninosca
In Nicaragua’s mountains, one woman decides to defy a fate that is to a great extent defined by machismo culture.
Scars
Vetri decided to find her fellow former child soldiers. They, like her, fought for the independence of the Tamil state in northern Sri Lanka. Talking together, they open up the traumas of war and reveal stories that were meant to be forgotten.
Sing Me a Song
What impact can digital technologies have on the integrity of the ancient spiritual tradition of Buddhism? A time-lapse portrait of a young monk from a monastery in a remote corner of the mountains of Bhutan explores one of the less discussed risks of the digital revolution.
Smog Town
China, long plagued by smog, has declared war "for the defence of the blue sky." An important battle is underway in the city of Langfang near Beijing.
The Earth Is Blue as an Orange
For one mother and her children, making a film together is a way of coming to terms with the trauma of war in Donbass, Ukraine.
The Painter and the Thief
A documentary double-portrait of the marvellous friendship formed between a Czech painter living in Oslo and a Norwegian felon convicted of stealing her paintings from a gallery.
The Reason I Jump
How do children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders experience the world? An illustrative example is provided in a book by Japanese author Naoki Higashida, whose reflections on his own experience with autism led to the making of a film of the same name.
The Self Portrait
She is fascinated by human faces – but she hid her own for a long time. In an effort to stop time, Lene became enchanted by photography, but also the desire never to grow up and to have total control over her own body.
This Train I Ride
Riding freight trains as a nomadic lifestyle, a negation of contemporary society or an escape from the family. Against the background of the passing landscape, the documentary presents a portrait of women who have completely fallen into this (in)dependence.
Other Thematic Categories
International competition
The International Competition presents the most original films that have appeared on the world’s documentary scene over the past few months. Three quarters of this year’s selection consists...
Right To Know
The films competing for the Václav Havel Jury Award have strong themes. They cast light on major human rights violations, give the oppressed a voice, and support the battle against oppression and undignified...
Czech competition
The fourth year of the Czech Competition presents the newest locally produced films worthy of attention. This section aims not only to show films making their world premiere but also to give space to...
UnEarthed
The climate crisis is today’s hottest topic. While media present the views of scientists, politicians, deniers and activists, icebergs melt, the Australian bush burns, ocean temps rise and Czech...
One World Interactive: UnEarthed
This year the UnEarthed category’s interactive offshoot offers several virtual reality documentaries. Like last year, it’s divided into two parts. The Brainz VR Cinema will show the best 360°...
Diagnosis
Apart from this year’s main theme focused on the health of our planet, one of this year’s annual sections looks at the health of its inhabitants, particularly healthcare systems that are in...
Masculinity and Femininity
Last year the festival looked at the broader issue of identity in general. This year the focus is on the narrower theme of gender identity. After women’s emancipation, the masculinity crisis is...
Gaps in the System
Every system – political, social and judicial – has deficiencies and gaps. Some people look for them and use them to climb the social ladder, others fall through to the very bottom. We find...
China: Powerful and Powerless
China is a key world player and we must count on its influence increasing further. But despite excellent economic results and great technological advances, various population groups remain disadvantaged....
Journeys To Freedom
The films in this category are devoted to the regions where People in Need has long been active and to other non-democratic regimes. This year, in addition to capturing life in the middle of a war or...
One Zero
Ones and zeroes. We spend increasingly more time on social networks and in other cyberworlds. The films in this category draw attention to the unrealistic expectations we often have of new technologies,...
Long Live Life
Human diversity and the will to live in one’s own way, often against the expectations of majority society, are the focal point of this category. Become inspired on a Greek tomato eco-farm or with...
Panorama
The Panorama category presents the best documentaries of the past two years. The hits of the Sundance, Berlinale, IDFA, and CPH:DOX festivals are notable for their high-quality, unique themes and stories....
Short and Apt
Short documentaries have an advantage over feature films – they capture current events faster, thus leaving more room for discussion. Our activists’ section covers the protests in Venezuela,...
Retrospective: Nanfu Wang
She is one of today’s most progressive filmmakers. Her last documentary, One Child Nation, was on the Oscar shortlist and won the U. S. Documentary Competition at Sundance. Although Nanfu Wang has...
Docs For Kids
One World doesn’t ignore the youngest filmgoers and this category is for them. Short, dubbed films introduce children to their peers from around the world. This year, they will see how children...
