Endless possibilities, a torrent of worlds, signals from the cosmos; but also accelerated consumerism, online threats, and a loneliness that kills. The Vision of Today section paints a vivid portrait of the contemporary technological landscape and its impact on our lives.
The intimate film Dear Tomorrow explores the emotional weight of the post-digital world and the growing isolation of its inhabitants, as the loneliness of two characters unfolds against the poetic rhythms of Tokyo’s everyday life, shimmering with color and technology. Even in today’s hyper-connected world, there are still places beyond the reach of signal—a reality captured in The End of Quiet. Around one of the world’s most sensitive telescopes, which waits for messages from space, lies a deliberately disconnected zone. Here, we encounter a kaleidoscope of American lives, shaped by anxiety about the future and a faith in a present defined by poverty, guns, and national pride.
The hard-hitting Elon Musk Unveiled – The Tesla Experiment takes an investigative dive into the mounting scandals surrounding Tesla’s failing technology and the techno-fascist ideology of its founder. This inquiry continues in White Gold: Elon Musk and the Race for Argentina’s Lithium, where the film confronts the expansion of lithium mining in Argentina—the mineral crucial for producing electric-car batteries. The Shadow Scholars exposes the hidden labor underpinning the academic success of Western youth, often dependent on the work of anonymous Kenyan intellectuals, revealing the injustices behind everyday comforts. And the idol of today’s dreams—the promise of artificial intelligence—is shown to play a central role in the exploitation of the planet in In the Belly of AI. In short, the vision of tomorrow is already here, and we are living it today.
Full-length documentary
The gaming platform Roblox is a digital world primarily designed for children. But beneath its playful surface lie extremism, racism, and sexual predators. Three teenage girls take it upon themselves to expose these risks and fight for greater safety in this digital environment.
Full-length documentary
Japan has recently become a hot tourist destination—a place everyone wants to be. But behind the neon lights of its big cities lies a major loneliness epidemic.
Full-length documentary
Are Tesla cars really that safe? Their fully autonomous, self-driving systems have already caused a number of serious accidents in the U.S., and the company is currently under investigation by various federal authorities. Meanwhile, Europe is still hesitant to approve them.
Full-length documentary
AI tools are used daily by hundreds of millions of people. Many see them as a beacon of hope for a brighter future. But what is the true cost of this technological progress? The film uncovers the dark side of artificial intelligence.
Full-length documentary
This atmospheric film tells the story of Vietnamese women working in giant electronics factories. Their testimonies reveal lives shattered by capitalist exploitation and their marginalized position within a patriarchal system.
Full-length documentary
The residents of Green Bank, West Virginia, must live without Wi-Fi or mobile phones. Since the 1950s, a giant telescope has stood here, monitoring signals from outer space that must remain undisturbed.
Full-length documentary
Many educated people in Kenya are unable to find qualified work in their own country. As a result, they often make a living by writing essays for students at Western universities. How does this secretive plagiarism ecosystem function, and why does it reach even the most prestigious institutions?
Full-length documentary
Lithium is found in almost every electronic device, from mobile phones to computers. It’s, thus, no coincidence that it has earned the nickname “white gold.” But what is the true cost of its extraction, which takes place primarily in countries of the Global South?
Competition section
Refined cinematic explorations of challenging human-rights themes—this, in essence, is the vision behind the International Competition. The selection features films that have recently captivated audiences at the world’s leading festivals, showcasing—and often expanding—the possibilities of audiovisual storytelling in documentary cinema.
Competition section
Ten films in the Right to Know section offer an insider’s view of the lesser-known corners of global affairs, told through the stories of people who have dared to defy regimes, traditions, or the everyday absurdities of power. Whether their David-and-Goliath struggles unfold at a prestigious American university, in autocratic Russia, or under decades-long Ugandan dictatorship, these stories inspire courage and empathy.
Competition section
The competition highlighting domestic documentary filmmaking in the context of human rights has long been a cornerstone of the One World Festival. This year’s selection brings together premiere screenings and films that have made an impact at Czech and international festivals, offering above all a showcase of diverse and inventive approaches to complex social issues. Audiences can look forward to ten compelling titles, presented in world, Czech, and distribution premieres.
Competition section
The competitive Virtual Reality section offers an immersive experience of both unprecedented imaginary worlds and pressing real-world themes that resonate with society: from the anti-capitalist fairytale The Sad Story of the Little Mouse Who Wanted to Become Somebody, to the captivating visual epic Revival Roadshow, which deconstructs Dutch colonialism in Australia, and finally to the delicate essay on mental health in Japan, If You See a Cat.
Thematic section
In his loose film series, the remarkable Norwegian filmmaker Gunnar Hall Jensen embarks on an uncompromising exploration of life’s complex questions and his own dark inner landscapes. Through brutally honest, self-revealing documentary films, he constructs a constantly evolving self-portrait, offering a raw insight into the pressing issues he and society grapple with—whether sexuality, relationships, personal crises, escape from Western society, the challenges of parenthood, or contemporary, often toxic masculinity.
Thematic section
What defines a dignified life? Is it our abilities, or the environment that surrounds us? This year, the One World for All category presents stories that challenge conventional notions of disability, portraying it not as an individual “handicap” but as the product of systemic, communicative, and mental barriers. The selected films invite us to see the world through the eyes of those whose voices are often overlooked in debates about autonomy.
Thematic section
Climate issues are increasingly intertwined with social and political questions—a trend that is clearly reflected in contemporary environmental films. These works rarely settle for merely highlighting ecological problems; instead, they embrace complexity, mirroring the multifaceted challenges society faces in the wake of climate change. Together, they confront us with a pressing task: to imagine constructive narratives that offer not only potential solutions, but above all, hope.
Thematic section
An unconventional approach to life’s journey unites nine films about people who, despite the pressures of their time, family, or society, choose to move against the grain of accepted norms. Through intimate personal stories and wider social conflicts, these films show that crossing boundaries can be both painful and liberating, and that freedom sometimes begins the moment we dare to question what is usually considered normal.
Thematic section
This section maps the intense movement of society between community and spirituality, whether it takes the form of a turn toward esotericism, new religious movements, or communities bound by tradition, faith, or shared life experiences.
Thematic section
Open dialogue is the foundation of democracy. In today’s highly polarized climate, people are increasingly retreating into echo chambers, reinforcing their own truths without the willingness to explore the perspectives of others. The section Fault Lines examines the forms of today’s divided society and presents ways in which people can understand one another across diametrically opposed beliefs.
Thematic section
In a world flooded with devastating news on a daily basis, repeating the mantra “courage every day” can be what helps us get out of bed each morning. Finding the inner strength to face what we, as ordinary people, have zero control over is often a superhuman feat, even in places untouched by war or natural disasters. Nine films exploring the ways people cope with the weight of reality seek to illuminate how we can find meaning in turbulent times, when the certainties we rely on seem to be crumbling.
Thematic section
At a time when the world is changing far more rapidly than ever before, generations perceive reality in strikingly different ways. What once unfolded over twenty-five-year cycles now comes and goes in the blink of an eye. Building mutual understanding in this fast-paced world is especially challenging, as each emerging generation shapes its own political, technological, and social landscape—and develops unique ways of forming relationships and identities. Yet society’s fragmentation need not be permanent; fostering dialogue often begins simply by listening to what each generation cares about and believes in.
Thematic section
One World also caters to younger audiences, presenting films that share stories of children from around the world and help young viewers better understand themselves and others.