“COMRADES” WIN SPECIAL MENTION AND “FAKIR” WINS BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD AT JI.HLAVA FESTIVAL
Outstanding attendance and jury acclaim marked this year's Ji.hlava IFF, with Joanna Janikowska's documentary securing a special mention. Meanwhile, the Polish-Slovak-Czech co-production Fakir, directed by Roman Ďuriš, captivated audiences with its masterful cinematography.
The Ji.hlava International Film Festival, one of Eastern and Central Europe's premier documentary film festivals, annually draws industry professionals and cinephiles to the Czech city of Jihlava, all eager to experience remarkable documentary cinema. Comrades by Joanna Janikowska, which received a special mention in the category of best film from the Visegrad Group 2024 (Visegrad Award), celebrated its world premiere at the festival's First Lights competition. The film follows Simone, Francesca and Olivia, three young people from Bologna who are members of the Communist Refoundation Party. Full of life, they participate in demonstrations and party meetings, believing they can change the modern world dominated by ruthless capitalism. That is, until it becomes clear that changing the minds of older party members is almost impossible, and failed attempts to attract new supporters intersect with difficulties in their personal lives. Comrades is an empathetic portrait, showing how today's young generation loses its illusions under social pressure and internal transformations, and how difficult it is to keep faith in one's beliefs.
The cinematography award went to Michaela Hošková for her work on Fakir. Roman Ďuriš's documentary tells the story of Dalibor, a 23-year-old who is released from prison after two years. He returns to his dysfunctional family, only to find that his 12-year-old brother Kevin is living with their abusive, alcoholic father. Dalibor confronts his father and helps his mother fight for the right to raise Kevin, aiming to save the boy from further harm. Entangled in a vicious cycle of suffering, the protagonist finds refuge in a destitute, travelling circus. He becomes a fakir in an attempt to heal his wounds.
The list of all awarded films can be found here.