This year, as in years past, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic has supported the significant cultural event in the calendar of the local Czech and wider community, in the form of funding as part of the program to cultural heritage overseas.

The five-day showcase will kick off on Wednesday March 20th with a festive Opening night with drinks on arrival and Matěj Chlupáček's superbly shot film, We Have Never Been Modern /Usvit. Set in pre-war Czechoslovakia in 1937 the story is a riveting drama revolving around a discovery of the dead body of a newborn intersex baby. Helena, an aspiring doctor and wife of factory director Alois Haupt is about to give birth and is eyeing a rosy future in a modern city. However, grappling with societal norms and her own biases, all her illusions soon vanish as she finds herself in the midst of a mysterious and disturbing discovery.

We Have Never Been Modern / Úsvit

Without a doubt, another highlight of the program is the Slovak-Canadian co-production by Michal Kunes Kováč, Réveillon/A máme, čo sme chceli. The film explores the themes of love, betrayal, loyalty, and the search for redemption while dealing with the shadows of the past and the consequences of collaboration with the secret police in a politically tumultuous era. The story unfolds through one family's life journey, highlighting the moral ambiguities and emotional turmoil they face as they confront their past actions and their impact on their relationships and lives.

While both films look into the past, the sci-fi crime thriller Restore Point/ Bod Obnovy (dir.Robert Holz) is a story of a dystopian future where technological advancements have enabled the resurrection of victims of violent crimes through a revolutionary procedure that backs up their brain. The film's plot delves deep into the societal and ethical implications of this new technology. It raises questions about the nature of humanity, the value of life, and the consequences of manipulating life and death.

Restore Point / Bod Obnovy

On the other hand, #annaismissing (dir. Pavel Soukup), a loose sequel to the successful 2020 International Emmy Award-winning series #martyisdead, is a gripping thriller set against the backdrop of social media platforms that explores the complexities of the impact of today’s modern technology on our personal lives.

The black comedy All About the Little Things/O malých věcech (dir. Denis Šafařík), set in a single apartment building, touches on living and life-sharing. Through a collection of short stories, the film presents a tapestry of life's absurdities and the oppressive sense of hopelessness that often permeates everyday life.

Last but not least, the film Absence/Absence (dir. Ali Mosaffa) is an engaging mystery drama about an Iranian man who leaves his troubled family life in Tehran and travels to Prague to trace the path of his father, a young expatriate. Yet each clue he finds deepens the mystery of the idealised image of the man he thought he knew. Iranian actor and director Ali Mosaffa's film sheds light on the chequered past of many foreign expatriates living and studying in the former Czechoslovakia.

Many of you will also enjoy the closing night romantic comedy Never Say Never/Nikdy nehovor nikdy (dir. Braňo Mišík) - a witty look at the chaotic and intertwined lives of two divorcing people.

Aside from feature length films, each year the festival also brings a collection of short films, many of which are decorated by international awards www.csfilmfest.sydney/shortfilms2024

And of course, the festival would not be complete without the very popular accompanying program of shorts and fans or a children’s fairy tale. Showcased at 1:30 on Saturday, this year’s unmissable story is the wonderful fairy tale about the iconic folklore character from Giant - Krkonoše Mountains, Krakonoš’s Secret (dir. Petr Bejbak).

For more information about the program and to purchase tickets, visit: www.csfilmfest.sydney/home