25th International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival One World

One World is the largest international documentary film festival focused on human rights and has long ranked as one of Europe’s greatest events of this kind. The festival is organised by the People in Need non-profit organisation.

Over the twenty-five years of its existence, One World has shown that the exceptional artistic experiences encountered at film festivals are only the beginning of the path towards discovering and understanding the world we live in. It has become somewhere for people to meet in an open and friendly atmosphere – people who are sensitive to the world around them, to its diversity and brightness as well as to its complicated and troublesome aspects. A festival is a place where discussions with interesting guests take place in the auditoriums, and where visitors exchange and refine their opinions in the cinema foyers and on the streets. No less importantly, it is also a platform for filmmakers, who often premiere their work at the international level, make new contacts, and receive much-appreciated feedback.

After two turbulent years, in 2022 the festival returned not only to its original March timeframe but also, most importantly, to the cinemas – not only in Prague but also in other towns throughout the Czech Republic. After a long time, it was once again possible to hold high-quality discussions with filmmakers, screen the premieres of several Czech and foreign films, and create a space for meeting, discussing, and learning about the situation concerning human rights specifically through the films introduced at the festival.

Additionally, the screening of selected films in the virtual environment via the One World Online VOD platform has become a fully integrated part of the festival. Here, viewers can watch the twenty best films of the current year’s festival. Unfortunately, the theme of Journeys of Freedom became extremely topical in association with the peak of Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, but this made the presentation of stories of injustice from around the world even more important.

The festival’s dramaturgy strives to create a balance between powerful stories that introduce real issues and a focus on high-quality artistic and well-crafted cinematic works. We look at human rights within a broader context and draw attention to their violation even in places where it is not apparent at first glance. This is why a programme that initiates such discussions is an integral part of the festival, whether in the form of post-screening discussions with guests and experts, the accompanying series of lectures and talks, or resolving accessibility issues.