The Academia Film Olomouc (AFO) international popular science film festival, organised by Palacký University, has just come to an end. Since April 28, it has literally energised the entire city and attracted over 8,000 visitors. Filmmakers from around the world visited Olomouc, and the public had a unique opportunity to see documentaries that best reflect current trends in how scientific research is popularised in today’s audiovisual media.
For 61 years, AFO has been presenting science as a natural part of life. This year, 600 titles were submitted to the festival under the theme “A Common Ground.” Sixty-one documentaries competed for the original prize—a kaleidoscope by glassmaker Martin Hlubuček.
“It was wonderful to see how our ideas and plans became reality, such as the experiment with the spring cinema on Horní náměstí, whose screenings were ultimately a great success with our visitors. I am also incredibly happy that completed films that once went through our workshop for film professionals are returning to the festival, and that these films are so good they are winning awards from international juries and the audience itself. “And of course, I’d like to thank the entire AFO team, which this year consisted of over 350 people—it’s a joy to watch the fantastic work they do, with such passion and enthusiasm,” said AFO Director Eva Navrátilová.
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Porota Mezinárodní soutěže zvolila za nejlepší mezinárodní populárně-vědecký film snímek Medvěd otravný (Nuisance Bear). Vítěz velké ceny poroty za dokumentární film na Sundance je fascinující sondou do nelehké koexistence lidí a medvědů, který spojuje navýsost moderní formální zpracování a důležité téma.
„Film přináší působivý vhled do toho, jak politické systémy a útlak překroutily naše pojetí ‚soužití‘ s přírodou. Odhaluje, že tyto názory jsou hluboce zakořeněny v historii ničení, koloniálním dědictví a pokračujícím útisku inuitských komunit. Niternou kamerou a strhujícím zvukem film vyzývá k zamyšlení nad tím, co je vlastně ‚otravnost‘, a vykračuje z hranic převládajících narativů o vymírání,“ zdůvodnila rozhodnutí porota festivalu.
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A Special Mention goes to the film Sešlo z očí (Out of Plain Sight), whose creators follow an investigative case involving the dumping of toxic nuclear waste on the California coast. As part of the Science Communication Awards, the jury awarded the prize to the film Phenomena: When Elements Dance (Phenomena). It explores the world of chemical reactions and invisible physical phenomena, vividly demonstrating how the film medium can bring us closer to what we wouldn’t otherwise have full access to. Australian filmmaker and director Josef Gatti was not at AFO for the first time; in the past, he participated in the festival’s gathering for creators—Camp 4Science.
“I’m incredibly grateful that I was able to return to AFO and take home two awards. It means a lot to me; I share your vision of what science should look like. It’s truly wonderful that this festival exists. “I’ll probably use the prize money to buy a microscope so I can film smaller forms of life,” said the filmmaker, who succeeded at AFO this year with his feature-length debut.
The Czech and Slovak competition also offered a wide range of diverse topics
The award for Best Czech and Slovak Film went to Tomáš Elšík’s documentary Při zemi (Resilience). This environmental ballad, with its unique audiovisual approach, tells the story of people who have dedicated their lives to caring for the Czech landscape. Robin Kvapil received a Special Mention for his film Smoke, whose title alone alludes to its theme of penalties for growing marijuana.
The Science Communication Award goes to another film produced by Czech Television—Stone Age Voyagers. This archaeological-historical film explores the experiment of Czech archaeologist Radomír Tichý and his attempt to reconstruct the voyage of farmers across the Aegean Sea.
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“I was here two years ago with Masters of Ancient Crafts, when I met Associate Professor Tichý. He then invited me on an expedition, during which this winning film was made. What fascinates me about it is that it’s not about borders or the Czech Republic; it’s a European theme. We filmed in Greece, Italy, and the Czech Republic, and everywhere people were interested and enthusiastic because it connects us. And it shows that humanity is one,” revealed director Tomáš Kratochvíl.
In the short film competition, the top prize went to the film Karin and Lennart: The Last Observers. Director Maja K. Mikkelsen follows her parents, Sweden’s last weather observers, in a loving portrait that captures their mutual affection and passion for their specific field of science.
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“We selected the Best Short Film of AFO 61 from 21 entries. This winning film is a tender portrait of the dedication, precision, and conscientiousness of people who observe and record the natural world, and it is characterised by fragility, humour, and joy. At a time when many of these values are becoming increasingly rare, this work shows a way of life without pretence and without a desire for publicity or recognition from others,” the jury decided.
The Immersive Media Competition promotes the popularisation of science through interactivity
The project MAMLAS-1 received an honourable mention in this competition section. It is an interactive game/puzzle in which you must learn to drive a vehicle across the surface of a distant planet and collect mineral samples. To play it, you have to adapt to something completely new. The award for best immersive work went to the project Zčistajasna (Out of Nowhere). In it, we find ourselves in the shoes of a woman living in a picturesque town in the Austrian Alps.
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The award for Best First or Second Scientific Documentary went to the film Snow Leopard Sisters. In the Dolpo region of Tibet, a trio of directors follows two women who represent a clash of generations and views on the predatory snow leopards, of which only a few dozen remain here. The Student Jury Award went to the documentary Menopause Mystery, a film that breaks the taboo surrounding the subject, which was part of both the festival’s International Competition and the non-competitive section Diagnosis: Unknown. Another new addition this year is the award in the European Spotlight category. The section explored trends and methods of contemporary science communication in film within the context of European documentary, and the award went to the film Killing Time: Science of Boredom.
And how did the audience vote?
The Audience Award, sponsored by Czech Television, went to the film Phenomena: When the Elements Dance!, which also won the award for science communication in the International Competition.
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“This year, Sandbox Films once again recognised the best projects participating in the Camp 4Science program. The winning projects are Near Life and The Great Seagull Film. The first deals with near-death experiences and touches on the boundary between science and spirituality, while the second explores the relationship between humans and nature through the coexistence of seagulls and people,” added program director Dominik Vontor.
The award for exceptional contributions to the popularisation of science is presented by AFO to the Czech Ornithological Society, which beautifully correlates with the winner of the Czech and Slovak competition—the society collaborated closely on the film Při zemi.
Academia Film Olomouc (AFO) is today the largest popular science film festival in Europe. Since 1966, it has been connecting scientists, filmmakers, students, and the general public, creating a space for sharing knowledge and open debate about the world we live in. More on www.afo.cz.
