2011 One World Film Festival

Now in its 13th year, Prague's One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival is more popular than ever.

One World is the largest documentary festival of its kind in Europe, and attracted more than 10,000 viewers last year, according to festival programmer Scott Hudson. Not only have audiences grown since the festival was inaugurated in 1998, but the number of entries has steadily increased, topping 1,600 this year, Hudson says.

"We're getting more entries than ever, and from further afield, especially as digital technology becomes more prevalent," he tells The Prague Post.

As in previous years, festival organizers have chosen a set of human rights issues they feel need to be explored. Two of One World's categories this year are focused on these issues explicitly, while others take more subtle approaches. Films in the "Portraits of Corruption" category challenge the ranks of financial oligarchy, while films in the "I Want to Break Free" category open a window onto the lives of people whose freedom has been curtailed by war, autocratic regimes or poverty.

Kicking off One World March 8 will be Autumn Gold, a warm and inspiring film from the "Age is Just a Number" category, which follows the plight of a group of elderly athletes competing at a track-and-field championship in Finland.

"We're branching out with what 'human rights' actually means," Hudson says. "This category is looking at the concept of old age, and the challenges we face with it in the future."

Always looking to address prevailing, ever-shifting issues, Hudson says recent world events will undoubtedly affect entries for the 2012 festival.

"Next year, I imagine we will see a lot of films about what's happening at the moment in the Middle East."

Picks

Autumn Gold Five athletes, including a Viennese centenarian who likes to paint nudes, compete in a special senior citizen's track-and-field world championships. Fighting against the physical constraints of an aging body, each strives to preserve a healthy spirit and beat their previous record. "Age Is Just a Number," Lucerna, March 8 at 8, March 9 at 7:15; Světozor, March 8 at 7:30; Atlas, March 13 at 6, March 16 at 10

Skateistan: To Live and Skate Kabul Murza and Fazilla are two young men living in Kabul. "Skateistan," a skateboard park located amid the ruins of destroyed buildings, is a place where both come to escape the bleak reality of their lives and dream of a better future. "Short Films," Divadlo Archa, March 13 at 4:30; Ponrepo, March 14 at 5:30

Once Upon a Hill A playful film following the everyday lives of four children living in a Chilean slum. Together, they create comic-book stories about the things that concern them, compiling these in their own magazine. "One World for Children and Teenagers," Municipal Library, March 13 at 2

Draquila - Italy Trembles A searing yet humorous exposé of Silvio Berlusconi and his allegedly corrupt manner of dealing with the 2009 earthquake crisis in Aquila. The Italian culture minister boycotted Draquila's Cannes premiere. "Portraits of Corruption," Světozor, March 11 at 5:15, March 14 at 8; Divaldo Archa, March 13 at 9:15

Poster Girl At the age of 19, Robynn Murray posed for the cover of a U.S. Army magazine in order to inspire women to enlist. After signing up herself, Murray would become disillusioned by her wartime experience. Today, she is an anti-war demonstrator, embittered by the propaganda machine. Nominated for an Oscar at this year's Academy Awards. "Women's Voices," Divadlo Archa, March 13 at 4:30; Ponrepo, March 14 at 5:30

Men Who Swim A tip from Scott Hudson himself. When director Dylan Williams and his family moved to Sweden, the Brit had difficulties settling in. Seeking solace in an amateur synchronized swimming group, Williams comes to terms with his midlife crisis. Dry British humor in a wet surrounding. "Panorama," Evald, March 9 at 9:30; Lucerna, March 11 at 11:15; Atlas, March 15 at 6

Eyes of a Tiger The story of the Oči tygra (Eyes of a Tiger) boxing club, which was opened by former champion boxer Stanislav Tišer. His "surrogate father" personality trains the young people of Žižkov not only how to box, but to be strong emotionally. But will a district-funded overhaul see the end of Tišer's boxing haven? "Czech Films," Světozor, March 10 at 7:30; Atlas, March 13 at 9:30; March 15 at 8

Granito Another tip from Hudson. American filmmaker Pamela Yates' engrossing film maps the history of genocide in Guatemala. Having shot her first film When the Mountains Tremble on this subject back in 1982, Yates returns to use this as evidence against a Guatemalan Army general on trial. "Main Competition," Atlas, March 9 at 9:30; Divadlo Archa, March 12 at 2; Lucerna, March 16 at 7:15

Bastoy A prison with no cells, cameras or fences. This is the Norwegian island of Bastoy, home to more than 100 convicted men. Bastoy prompts the viewer to question what is most effective in "rehabilitating" prisoners: repressive punishment or making them take responsibility for themselves? "I Want to Break Free," French Institute, March 9 at 6; Evald, March 12 at 9:30; Světozor, March 14 at 10

I Bought a Rainforest Twenty years after being involved in a rainforest appeal collection, Jacob Andrén heads out to Latin America to see if the financial resources he helped gather ever reached their destination. "Environmental Challenges," Atlas, March 9 at 4; French Institute, March 11 at 6; Evald, March 15 at 7:30

Baghdad Film School "If you lose your creativity, you're dead," explains an independent Iraqi filmmaker to students at the Baghdad Film School. The school was established after Saddam Hussein's fall and is a place where a young generation of filmmakers can find their voice. "Right to Know," Municipal Library, March 11 at 6; Atlas, March 14 at 8; Divadlo Archa, March 16 at 6:30

All films at the festival are accessible to English-speaking filmgoers

Will Noble can be reached at
wnoble@praguepost.com