Full-length documentary
Endless Cookie
A mischievous animated family portrait that entertains with a humorous look at the commotion in an Indigenous household, while also exposing Canada and its social inequalities.
Community Vortex
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.
The film Children of the Cult offers a shocking look at the Rajneesh religious movement. The director grew up in this seemingly free-spirited community; now she exposes its dark inner workings, rife with lack of freedom and abuse. An equally dangerous group is explored in Soldiers of Light. This chillingly suggestive portrait of contemporary wellness evangelism takes us into an unsettling German community that blends self-empowerment rhetoric with conspiracy theories and brainwashing. The film takes a subtler, more poetic approach in SPI, where the director embarks on a quest in search of ancestors from the original community—a journey guided by dreams, breathtaking landscapes, and encounters with local customs.
How painful the exclusion of an entire community can be is powerfully shown in the provocative film Endless Cookie. Through bizarre animation, this distinctive film builds a proud manifesto of the lived reality of Canada’s Indigenous peoples, swirling together memories, thoughts, and desires of one chosen family from a reservation. That nothing is black and white—and that escaping the grip of faith and tradition is difficult—is again recalled by the hypnotic film Kabul, Between Prayers. The film offers an unexpected view of the situation in Afghanistan by portraying the everyday routine of a Taliban supporter and his teenage brother. Another reflection on the ambiguity of life outside the mainstream unfolds in the sensitive coming-of-age film Sleepless City, which vividly captures both the gifts and the pitfalls of life in a marginalized Roma settlement near Madrid.
Films in section Community Vortex
Full-length documentary
Children of the Cult
An investigative film that uncovers the disturbing inner workings of one of the world’s most notorious cults: Rajneesh, founded by the controversial guru Osho, who remains recognized by parts of society to this day.
Full-length documentary
Kabul, Between Prayers
What’s it like to live as a member of the Taliban? Samim must balance patrolling Kabul, managing disputes with his wife, helping out on his father’s farm, and guiding his younger brothers in the faith.
Feature film
Our Father
Serbian priest Branislav Peranović runs a centre for drug addicts using controversial methods. This ambivalence-filled film poses the age-old question of whether inhumane methods leading to a seemingly positive result can ever be justified.
Feature film
Sleepless City
Life in an illegal Romani settlement in Spain is under the imminent threat of demolition. Through the eyes of an adolescent boy, an unstable home is transformed into a colorful kingdom where reality blends with magic.
Full-length documentary
Soldiers of Light
From raw diets and dietary supplements to building one’s own empire. Where does one draw the line between a wellness lifestyle and dangerous conspiracy?
Full-length documentary
SPI
Dreams of her late grandfather bring director Sayun back to her native village, where she seeks to reconnect with her family legacy and traditional way of life.
Other Programme Sections
Competition section
International Competition
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
Right to Know
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
Czech Competition
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
Virtual Reality
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
The Gunnar Myth
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
One World for All
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 in Need
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
Vision of Today
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.
Thematic section
Against the Tide
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
Fault Lines
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
Everyday Courage
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
Among Generations
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 for Families
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.