28TH PRAGUE IFF – FEBIOFEST: DAY 5

This year’s Prague IFF – Febiofest entered its second half with an opening night ceremony for the first ever Swiss-Czech co-produced film Lost in Paradise. The partly autobiographic feature debut by Fiona Ziegler, who appeared on the red carpet alongside other members of her team, is inspired by her own experience of living “between two worlds”.

Iranian film director and women’s rights activist Mahnaz Mohammadi held a Masterclass after the screening of her award-winning drama Son-Mother at Edison Filmhub. Norwegian cinematographer Sturla Brandth Grøvlen was the honoured guest of the second Masterclass held on Tuesday, after the screening of Shirley, one of the many films he has worked on. Estonian director Lauri Randla (Goodbye Soviet Union!) and Gary Lennon, one of the director duo behind the documentary Castro’s Spies (Docs section) also presented their films in person. Actress Vica Kerekes, who is very well-known to Czech audiences, came as a guest to the screening of the Hungarian romantic comedy Cream (written and directed by Nóra Lakos), where she portrayed the female protagonist Dóra.

The rich Industry Program also took place on Tuesday, as did a meeting of the referees judging this year’s amateur short film competition You Are the Filmmaker: Jan Faltus (IG Lepší mesto – Better City) and the famous duo Janek Rubeš and Honza Mikulka (Honest Guide) sat on the panel judging the submissions, this year under the theme of “My City”.

And finally, the Febiofest Regions Tour has offered screenings to viewers in České Budějovice and Olomouc.