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.
Through the lens of a younger generation refusing to passively accept mounting repression, When I Get Jailed captures the suffocating atmosphere of contemporary Russia. In A Free Daughter of Free Kyrgyzstan, a portrait of singer and activist Zere becomes a powerful reflection on women’s rights in a society where domestic violence and bride kidnapping remain a grim reality. Female solidarity—here forged in the context of war—also forms the emotional core of the Ukrainian film Traces, which follows survivors of sexualized violence on their journey from trauma toward mutual support.
Power relations form another key thematic thread of this section, revealing how domination extends beyond individuals or communities to encompass entire nations. Eyes of the Machine manages to penetrate the heavily guarded internment camps for Uyghurs, offering, through the testimony of a local teacher, a powerful corrective to official Chinese propaganda about their treatment. The fact that modern-day slavery is happening in plain sight is laid bare in Driving Europe. Premiering worldwide, the film follows the exploitation of truck drivers who transport goods for multinational chains that we all rely on.
Full-length documentary
Zere is a rebel, stirring the stagnant waters of Kyrgyz patriarchy. Through her music and public performances, she exposes the alarming state of girls’ and women’s rights in a country where they are expected to sit quietly in the corner.
Full-length documentary
In 2023, a massive strike by lorry drivers took place in Germany. Their goal was to demand proper pay and justice, as their working conditions could be compared to modern-day slavery.
Full-length documentary
They forced her to teach Mandarin at a Uyghur internment camp. Now, safely abroad, this eyewitness to Chinese tyranny exposes the oppression that also struck her own family.
Full-length documentary
During Argentina’s military dictatorship in the 1970s, hundreds of children were abducted. Many of them were born in secret detention centers and are now searching for their true identities.
Full-length documentary
An activist fights against slavery, which is still a living practice on the Indonesian island of Sumba. The struggle against it clashes with a system of ideology and faith in which not all lives are of equal value.
Full-length documentary
An Iranian activist who survived political persecution and the brother of a murdered dissident, now living in Sweden, decide to confront a powerful regime and seek justice. What begins as a personal and investigative documentary unfolds into a gripping courtroom drama.
Full-length documentary
The largest protest movement since the Vietnam War era emerged in the spring of 2024 on the campus of Columbia University in New York. Hundreds of students were responding to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
Full-length documentary
A tender yet radical portrait of the struggle of a Ugandan activist, where arguments are no longer enough. Poetry and the exposed female body become instruments of resistance.
Full-length documentary
Iryna is haunted by recurring dreams of being back in her beloved garden in Donbas. Among the garden beds and structures, dark memories of wartime trauma emerge. Yet despite the violence she has endured, she finds the strength to help others.
Full-length documentary
Alyona Gribkova faces prison. The reason? A peaceful protest against a police raid during a memorial for the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny
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
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
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.