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Film
European BOO: Memory of Testimony
The four films in this section are linked by the question of how to preserve and share what has happened – personally, collectively, and historically. The Fountain of Memory follows a couple searching for lost memories and the very essence of memory in a border forest. In the raw personal account I Died in Irpin, the everyday reality of the Russian invasion turns into a mosaic of fragmented memories that the mind refuses to accept. The documentary Confession opens up the taboo subject of sexual harassment in the church and the search for the courage to speak about painful experiences. Being John Smith ironically shifts the focus to identity and self-perception – to what it means to live with the most common name and how it shapes one's view of the world and oneself. Together, the films show that memory is not only a personal trace, but also a testimony that transforms our relationship to history and to each other.
Being John Smith (dir. John Smith, 2024, 27 min, Great Britain)
Confession (dir. Rebeka Bizubová, 2024, 29 min, Slovakia)
I Died in Irpin (dir. Anastasia Falileieva, 2024, 12 min, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine)
The Fountain of Memory (dir. Jordi Sanz Angrill, 2025, 24 min, Spain)
Total duration is 92 minutes.
Films are screened in original language version with Czech and English subtitles.
Award for European short film (feature, documentary, experimental, animated). A European film is defined as a film by a European director or a film primarily produced in at least one European country. A short film is defined as a film with a running time of 30 minutes or less. The winners are selected by a professional jury composed of international experts. The competition selection combines professional films and exceptional student works – some of which resonate at major international festivals, while others are our fresh discoveries from places where bold short films are created. We focus on films intended primarily for adult audiences, but we also specifically select titles that appeal to seniors, children, or teenage audiences. The key criterion for us is quality and the search for the best films that resonate across generations and borders.
