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.
The ability to help others even in situations of personal risk unites the journeys of the titular protagonists in Devi and Carmela and The Walkers. In Nepal, activist and politician Devi bravely organizes emotional support services for survivors of sexual violence while seeking justice against their perpetrators. Carmela, in turn, dedicates her life to caring for Venezuelan refugees, even as it distances her from her own family. In Sunshine, a young Filipina must rely on her own resourcefulness to navigate an unexpected pregnancy within a rigidly religious environment. The moral dilemmas of responsibility and accountability are further explored in the Iranian drama It Was Just an Accident, which raises unsettling questions about confronting a repressive system through the very people who serve it faithfully.
Films from three continents speak to the preservation of humanity amid the dehumanizing machinery of war, whose longed-for end still lies beyond reach. Pacifism is powerfully embodied in Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, a portrait of a Palestinian photographer imprisoned alongside millions of others in the besieged Gaza Strip. The chaos of combat in the trenches is captured in 2000 Meters to Andriivka, which conveys the personal experience of reclaiming every meter of lost Ukrainian territory. The animated journey among child soldiers in Allah Is Not Obliged, though set in Africa at the turn of the millennium, addresses the ongoing phenomenon of recruiting minors. Its sensitive perspective and cartoon format make this difficult subject accessible even to younger audiences.
Full-length documentary
The small Ukrainian village of Andriivka, destroyed by Russian aggression, represents a crucial strategic point. A Ukrainian military unit is tasked with a single mission: to reclaim an occupied target two kilometers away.
Feature film
Birahim is only ten years old, yet he must embark on a journey across West Africa, an area plagued by armed conflict. His search for relatives leads him through bands of child soldiers where compassion is non-existent. This animated tale of lost innocence and found hope is an adaptation of the renowned literary masterpiece.
Full-length documentary
Carmela helps thousands of Venezuelan refugees, bravely doing so often at great personal cost. This black-and-white documentary shows how exhausting it can be to do good while trying to keep your own life in one piece.
Full-length documentary
Once at the forefront of the fight for equality and justice, her voice has now become inconvenient for the regime. Nepali politician Devi Khadku is one of thousands of women who were subjected to violence during the country’s civil war.
Unknown
Chum-Chum’s parents were killed by the Islamic State. To survive as an orphan on the streets of politically turbulent Baghdad, he retreats into the world of his favorite hero, Gilgamesh.
Feature film
A chance sound drags Vahid back into haunting memories of a sadistic torturer. His heart swells with the desire for revenge, yet his conscience quietly urges him to gather more proof. Jafar Panahi’s sharply crafted drama confronts urgent questions of guilt and responsibility.
Full-length documentary
What is the price of political activism in Russia? Putin’s regime labels any criticism of the state a terrorist act and sentences thousands to many years in prison.
Full-length documentary
Fatima photographs life and death in a besieged Gaza. Her docu-diary comes to life through video calls with an Iranian director, creating an intimate bond between two women bound by helplessness but connected through hope.
Feature film
A young gymnast unexpectedly falls pregnant before her Olympic selection trials. Her dilemma reflects the stifling reality of Philippine society and the possibility of deciding her own bodily autonomy despite external pressure.
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
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
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
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.