FF40: Fun + Q&A From the perspective of cultural anthropology

The screening of short films and following discussion will be part of the festival FAMUFEST 40.

Emotions can sometimes completely overwhelm us. In moments when our reason takes a back seat, they can build us up to performances we might not expect, but they can also bring us to our knees. It is precisely because of the difficult moments that we sometimes forget that our life is also in many ways fun – whether you are standing in front of a sold-out O2 arena as a doppelganger of the legendary Freddie Mercury, preparing for the Olympics or simply walking on a hallucinogenic Ostrava sidewalk.

Trippin' on The Sidewalk / Radek Barták / 6 min / original language: CZ, subtitles: EN – Walking down the sidewalk to one of Ostrava’s train stations can be a real trip for some. Locals and visitors both embrace and curse its supposed hallucinogenic effect.

Trigger warning: Flashing lights in film may cause epileptic seizures.

Will We See? We Will See… / Adam Koloman Rybanský / 10 min / original language: CZ, subtitles: EN – A film about a tennis linesman who loves his job. One day, however, he gets into a situation that shakes up his life, and not only his professional one. His selfishness and self-absorption also upset his relationship with his girlfriend. Do we even know what the real values are? What really matters? Will we wake up? Will we see? We'll see…

Mantra / Karolína Brabcová / 1 min / original language: no dialogue, subtitles: no dialogue – What goes through an Olympic athlete's mind before the medal fight?

Anna, Seeking Room / Jules Roux / 14 min / původní znění: CZ, subtitles: EN – Tomorrow Anna has a very important job interview that could change many things for her if successful. She heads home, where she hopes to have a quiet evening to rest and prepare herself properly. But…

Where The Dreams Are Born / Samuel Urbančík / 9 min / original language: CZ, subtitles: EN – Do you want to make your most secret dream come true? Come to us and we will make it happen!

Like a Fish Out of Water / Pavel Šolín / 3 min / original language: no dialogue, subtitles: no dialogue

Closer Led / David Šourek / 10 min / original language: CZ, subtitles: EN – This is the story of a vagabond and a soldier, two observers and narrators. Entering through fragments of light, we accompany them on their difficult journey through the woods and rocky mountains. The final destination seems closer and closer in their mind, yet the path leads them astray. The moments spent around the bonfire allow for fragments of momentary enchantment to leave their lips. Their thoughts emerge aloud during the tramp as they tread through the wandering terrain.

Trigger warning: Flashing lights in film may cause epileptic seizures.

Comes and Goes / Adéla Kelbichová / 12 min / original language: CZ, subtitles: EN – A portrait of Michal Kluch, frontman of the tribute band Queenie. The documentary follows the singer's distinctive attitude towards the music icon against the backdrop of his transformation into Freddie Mercury.

Dancing in The Light / Julie Petríková / 29 min / original language: EN, subtitles: CZ – Video camera was Nelson Sullivan’s best friend. Sharing twenty years worth of his life with it, he recorded every moment of his life, everything from grocery shopping to the death of his friends, which had a deep impact on him. Nelson Sullivan was a part of the New York underground scene, witnessing the birth of such stars like the legendary RuPaul. His diverse life, however, isn’t the central theme of the film. The most invaluable quality of the film is Nelson’s relationship to video camera and how ahead of time was his perspective on the potential of “daily vlogs” as we know them today.

Theren and Lerak: Treasure of the Bat Mountain / Tomáš Hájek / 6 min / original language: CZ, subtitles: EN – Where are the bounds of child imagination? Where does the game end and the reality begins? The story of two brothers tells us even games have boundaries and that heroes don’t always have to be proud of their behavior.

Total screening time: 101 min.