Film Delegations Bring Their Stories to Zlín – Part 1

The delegation from Australia travelled the greatest distance, while the largest delegation attended the world premiere of the Czech family film When Parents Turn Divine.

One of this year's new initiatives was the expansion of the school programme through "Window to the World," which gave school groups the opportunity to meet visiting film delegations. Guests shared stories about the countries they come from and call home, allowing students to broaden their knowledge of Thailand, Australia, the United States, Ireland, Romania, Denmark and Estonia.

The Zlín Film Festival is dedicated to films for children and young audiences. That is why one of our greatest joys is welcoming young actors and actresses to the festival, where they can meet peers of their own age and share what goes on behind the scenes of filmmaking, as well as the experiences that have shaped their careers. Among those who thoroughly enjoyed their stay in Zlín were Ellen Edith Pultz-Hansen from the Danish film Mira, Romanian child actor Matei Calin Donciu from Atlas of the Universe, and the energetic Daria Kalinchuk, who represented the cast of the Polish film The Altar Boys.

In this article and the next, we invite you to look back at a selection of memorable moments from Zlín's cinema auditoriums – experiences that help create the unique atmosphere of our festival.

Neapolitan Rap Brings the Cinema to Life

On the very first day of the festival, audiences experienced an unforgettable moment following the international premiere of the Italian competition film Malavia. Although director Nunzia de Stefano was unable to attend in person, she sent Giuseppe Sica – better known by his stage name PeppOh – the real-life rapper who portrays the protagonist's musical mentor in the film. During the post-screening discussion, one young audience member asked him to perform one of his songs. In an instant, the Q&A turned into an impromptu concert as the cinema echoed with rap inspired by the streets of Naples, while the audience spontaneously clapped along to the beat. Deeply moved by the warm reception in Zlín, PeppOh summed up his experience by saying:

Thank you a lot for all, I was so honored to be part of it and it was a really amazing experience.

   

  

A Film That Opened Hearts

Australian films have long been among the favourites at the Zlín Film Festival. Recent highlights include John Sheedy's H Is for Happiness and Shawn Seet's remake of the Australian classic Storm Boy, which opened the festival in 2019 and 2022, respectively. This year, it was once again an Australian film that left a lasting impression on the hearts of our audiences.

   

  

Young filmmakers and longtime friends, director Zane Borg and editor Liam Kelly, travelled to Zlín to present the world premiere of the drama River. The sensitive story of loss, grief, love and hope resonated so deeply with audiences that some felt compelled to share their own personal experiences with the director. In that moment, a unique and intimate space emerged – one where film and life became deeply intertwined. Both young filmmakers were captivated by the atmosphere in Zlín.

I love Zlín! It’s a very friendly place and very much alive during the festival,

said director Zane Borg. Editor Liam Kelly shared his enthusiasm, adding,

This festival is beyond anything I expected.

The Australian Filmmaker Who Fell in Love with Czech Animation

Australia also features in the story of David Johnson, director of the animated film The Naughty Seat. While growing up in his native Australia, he discovered Czechoslovak animation and became so captivated by it that he later moved to the United Kingdom, where he began his filmmaking career. His stop-motion film about a mischievous penguin earned both the Children's Jury Award and a Special Mention from the Professional Jury in Zlín. Johnson could hardly believe he had found himself in the birthplace of animated filmmaking and the home of the Baťa shoe empire. As he revealed in an interview for the festival's television channel, one of his favourite childhood memories was wearing Bata Explorer shoes.

As a young boy, Bata even got to our little Australian village. All of us were excited about the Bata Explorers with animal prints on their soles and a compass in the heel. How on earth did I ever think I'd end up in Zlín, where those awesome shoes came from?

the director said with a smile.

The festival atmosphere and the warm welcome from Zlín audiences left a lasting impression on him.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to participate in the festival. It has certainly been the highlight of my year so far. I feel that my first visit to Zlín will not be my last,

David Johnson added enthusiastically.

   

  

A Quiet Heroine

The German animated short Timosha, which introduces young audiences to the experience of losing one's home as a result of war, was presented in person by its director, Elena Malenkina. Quiet and unassuming at first, she soon revealed herself to be one of the many people who have devoted themselves to helping Ukrainian refugees. Among the experiences that shaped her was the story of a small hedgehog, which she later transformed into this deeply moving film. Her introduction captivated not only the children in the audience but left a profound impression on everyone present. Elena reminded us of the importance of continuing to tell the stories of children whose lives have been devastated by war.

   

  

Read Part 2 HERE