International Competition of Short Films

Short Film A

Carface

Claude Cloutier | Canada | 2015 | 5 min

This rhythmical and biting musical satire by the renowned Canadian director Claude Cloutier takes a ironic look at our automobile civilisation via a brilliant version of the American song Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be). Its protagonists are, however, not dancers and actors but cars of various brands and eras. Their carefree attitudes contrast sharply with the danger our planet is in.

Tu 03/05/2016
17.00-18.19

Fr 06/05/2016
10.00-11.19

Su 08/05/2016
14.00-15.19

Světozor Cinema

The Tree

Lucie Sunková | France, Czech Republic | 2015 | 15 min

The Tree, a captivating film made with the animation technique of paint-on-glass, is a metaphor about the similarities between people's lives and trees. It can also be perceived as a lyrical poem about birth and death, about the flow of time for people and nature, and a parable of parenthood and crossing the boundaries of a single life. There is an extraordinary resonance between the technique employed and the method of narration, giving the film a touch of wistfulness.

Tu 03/05/2016
17.00-18.19

Fr 06/05/2016
10.00-11.19

Su 08/05/2016
14.00-15.19

Světozor Cinema

Candide "Home Sweet Home"

Olivér Hegyi, Zsuzsanna Kreif | Hungary | 2015 | 8 min

This Hungarian adaptation of the Enlightenment satire by Voltaire Candide, or Optimism is an entirely reappraised and modernised take on the classic work, transformed into an extraordinary stream of metamorphoses and artistic shortcuts. By gradually revealing the conflicts within one baroque noble family via a peculiar artistic style, the author points out certain issues of today.

Tu 03/05/2016
17.00-18.19

Fr 06/05/2016
10.00-11.19

Su 08/05/2016
14.00-15.19

Světozor Cinema

Very Lonely Cock

Leonid Shmelkov | Russia | 2015 | 6 min

An animated slapstick by a graduate of Moscow's SHAR studios, Leonid Shmelkov. Short, but full of great ideas, Very Lonely Cock is a series of absurd situations as experienced by a cock and its owner. A simple initial situation gets more and more complicated and the cock, not having a good day, only makes it worse by dealing with incoming problems.

Tu 03/05/2016
17.00-18.19

Fr 06/05/2016
10.00-11.19

Su 08/05/2016
14.00-15.19

Světozor Cinema

My Ms. Rain

MirTohid Razavi | Iran | 2015 | 8 min

A gloomy and captivating film by young Iranian director Mir Tohid Razavi. It tells the story of a young couple full of hope that decides to move to a secluded place. As time goes on, however, their seemingly cosy home becomes a prison for the girl, and her increasing phobias and attacks of depressive anxiety, combined with the man's indifference, start to wear at their relationship.

Tu 03/05/2016
17.00-18.19

Fr 06/05/2016
10.00-11.19

Su 08/05/2016
14.00-15.19

Světozor Cinema

Sunrise

Vít Pancíř | Czech Republic | 2015 | 7 min

An animated comeback from Czech director Vít Pancíř, who has long focused on experimental films combining animation with live action, and now offers this entirely animated film full of absurd situations. Sunrise is a metaphor for the diversity, complexity and fragility of life projected onto a white circle covered by the sun in its orbit.

Tu 03/05/2016
17.00-18.19

Fr 06/05/2016
10.00-11.19

Su 08/05/2016
14.00-15.19

Světozor Cinema

By the Name of Boston

Grant Kolton | United States | 2015 | 3 min

Little William Boston is none too interested in the goings-on of the world around him, but his is very taken with his one and only friend – a scorpion named Chester. He spends all his free time with him in defiance of his mother, who thinks being friends with a scorpion is dangerous and forbids it. But nothing lasts forever... especially in a briskly narrated, two-minute slapstick.

Tu 03/05/2016
17.00-18.19

Fr 06/05/2016
10.00-11.19

Su 08/05/2016
14.00-15.19

Světozor Cinema

Not Just Another Commute

Lisa Matuszak | France, Belgium | 2015 | 9 min

Three animals are waiting at an abandoned railway station in the countryside for a train that is clearly delayed. Their gradual interactions help them forge bonds that will hopefully make the endless wait a little more bearable. The author uses subtle humour and stages various situations with delicacy.

Tu 03/05/2016
17.00-18.19

Fr 06/05/2016
10.00-11.19

Su 08/05/2016
14.00-15.19

Světozor Cinema

Ernie Biscuit

Adam Elliot | Australia | 2015 | 20 min

Another original claymation film by the famous author of the Academy Award winning feature film Mary and Max. Once again Adam Elliot uses black humour, hyperbole and irony to focus on an outsider. This time, the hero is a hearing-impaired Parisian taxidermist who moves abroad to start a new life. But nothing turns out the way he pictured...

Tu 03/05/2016
17.00-18.19

Fr 06/05/2016
10.00-11.19

Su 08/05/2016
14.00-15.19

Světozor Cinema

Short Film B

zobrazit

Missing One Player

Lei Lei | China | 2015 | 5 min

An original new collage by Chinese director Lei Lei who is known for his nostalgic relationship with old textures and materials. This time we observe an awkward situation when three mahjong players wait for a fourth, who simply never arrives. Their only hope is to look up to heaven and expect a miracle. Will they see one? You will find out in this artistically original film full of little gags.

We 04/05/2016
13.00-14.17

Světozor Cinema

Th 05/05/2016
11.30-12.47

Schwarzenberg Hall

Fr 06/05/2016
12.00-13.17

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Sa 07/05/2016
14.30-15.47

Zlatá Hvězda

Peripheria

Coquard Dassault David | France | 2015 | 12 min

The unusually atmospheric film Peripheria explores the life of an abandoned French suburb that gradually changes into an urban wasteland roamed by packs of stray dogs. The film reflects on the current hopeless situation of desolate French housing estates decaying at the outskirts of big cities.

We 04/05/2016
13.00-14.17

Světozor Cinema

Th 05/05/2016
11.30-12.47

Schwarzenberg Hall

Fr 06/05/2016
12.00-13.17

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Sa 07/05/2016
14.30-15.47

Zlatá Hvězda

Gyros Dance

Piotr Loc Hoang Ngoc | Poland | 2016 | 15 min

At the beginning of this peculiar story we see a pair of mice running a gyros shop in a hot city. The work is boring and hard. While the man is used to his everyday routine, the woman dreams of becoming a TV star. And when her chance comes, she cannot resist... This absurd film suddenly brings even more peculiar situations.

We 04/05/2016
13.00-14.17

Světozor Cinema

Th 05/05/2016
11.30-12.47

Schwarzenberg Hall

Fr 06/05/2016
12.00-13.17

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Sa 07/05/2016
14.30-15.47

Zlatá Hvězda

Jukai

Lissot Gabrielle | France | 2015 | 10 min

Jukai depicts the incomprehensible actions of a young pregnant woman searching for an answer to an unknown question in the infamous Japanese Suicide Forest. The excellent and stylized 3D animation may leave many wondering if it isn't real puppetry, and will definitely captivate with both its colour and non-colour.

We 04/05/2016
13.00-14.17

Světozor Cinema

Th 05/05/2016
11.30-12.47

Schwarzenberg Hall

Fr 06/05/2016
12.00-13.17

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Sa 07/05/2016
14.30-15.47

Zlatá Hvězda

Piano

Kaspar Jancis | Estonia | 2015 | 11 min

Another absurd film by the successful Estonian director Kaspar Jancis. Several characters – Marta, Albert, Paula, the Police Commissioner and Mirjam are all desperately trying to reach a goals within a single afternoon. They are all close to success, but things tuirn out a bit different in the end. Their stories link together, bringing unexpected twists full of typical Estonian humour.

We 04/05/2016
13.00-14.17

Světozor Cinema

Th 05/05/2016
11.30-12.47

Schwarzenberg Hall

Fr 06/05/2016
12.00-13.17

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Sa 07/05/2016
14.30-15.47

Zlatá Hvězda

Parade

Digna van der Put | Netherlands | 2015 | 5 min

This playful hand-drawn animation full of colours and metaphorical metamorphoses depicts the atmosphere of a military parade. An inconspicuous beginning with details of uniforms suddenly morphs into an undulating landscape, and we are lucky if we manage to catch everything that's going on on the screen.

We 04/05/2016
13.00-14.17

Světozor Cinema

Th 05/05/2016
11.30-12.47

Schwarzenberg Hall

Fr 06/05/2016
12.00-13.17

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Sa 07/05/2016
14.30-15.47

Zlatá Hvězda

Vigil

Rita Cruchinho Neves | Portugal | 2015 | 13 min

This Kafkaesque black and white horror film with a chilling atmosphere takes us into a mechanized world. Our main hero, Vigil, is on his way to work when he decides to get out of line and follow his own path. The question is whether this decision will bring freedom, or simply prove that he will never be more than a small part of a huge whole.

We 04/05/2016
13.00-14.17

Světozor Cinema

Th 05/05/2016
11.30-12.47

Schwarzenberg Hall

Fr 06/05/2016
12.00-13.17

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Sa 07/05/2016
14.30-15.47

Zlatá Hvězda

United Interest

Tim Weimann | Germany | 2015 | 9 min

A pulsating tram ride through San Francisco starts at the beginning of the 20th century and in a single shot takes us to the present. During the ride, the film tries to uncover the perversity of eternal economic growth. The viewers can see a continuous stream of symbols of ruthless capitalism and financial markets leading the world into perdition.

We 04/05/2016
13.00-14.17

Světozor Cinema

Th 05/05/2016
11.30-12.47

Schwarzenberg Hall

Fr 06/05/2016
12.00-13.17

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Sa 07/05/2016
14.30-15.47

Zlatá Hvězda

Short Film C

zobrazit

Arcmas

Marcell Jankovics | Hungary | 2015 | 5 min

An elaborate and graphically elegant film by one of the greats of Hungarian animation, Marcell Jankovics, the author of the feature opus The Tragedy of Man, depicts an actor who sets aside his mask after his performance. This short and flowing, traditionally animated study is a reflection on the true identity of a performer. Will he find his own face or will he need to keep changing masks?

We 04/05/2016
15.00-16.14

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
12.30-13.44

Světozor Cinema

Fr 06/05/2016
17.00-18.14

Schwarzenberg Hall

One Hell of a Plan

Alain Gagnol, Jean-Loup Felicioli | France, Belgium | 2015 | 6 min

The creators of the feature film A Cat in Paris, French duo Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol, use their original graphic style in a film full of humorous criminal plots. This time the authors came up with a short film with two burglars and an overly complicated hell of a plan that includes dozens of cats.

We 04/05/2016
15.00-16.14

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
12.30-13.44

Světozor Cinema

Fr 06/05/2016
17.00-18.14

Schwarzenberg Hall

Bird Flu

Priit Tender | Estonia | 2016 | 10 min

This new film by the renowned Estonian animator Priit Tender once again shows the boundlessness of his surreal imagination and his sense of black and absurd humour. The film features a nest box, an apple tree, a snake, an alcoholic penguin and vanishing birds. But, on a different level, the film deals with the issues of roots, and being uprooted.

We 04/05/2016
15.00-16.14

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
12.30-13.44

Světozor Cinema

Fr 06/05/2016
17.00-18.14

Schwarzenberg Hall

Erlking

Georges Schwizgebel | Switzerland | 2015 | 6 min

Another captivating film by one of greats of traditional animation, Georges Schwizgebel. His suggestive animated ride is based on Goethe's poem, Erlking (Erlkönig), and the music of Franz Schubert and Ferenc Liszt. A man and his sick son ride through the forest and the delirious child thinks that they are following the Erlking.

We 04/05/2016
15.00-16.14

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
12.30-13.44

Světozor Cinema

Fr 06/05/2016
17.00-18.14

Schwarzenberg Hall

A Coat Made Dark

Jack O'Shea | Ireland | 2015 | 10 min

A dark horror but also a comic and graphically captivating film. We meet two thieves who get hold of a magical coat with bottomless pockets of money. The two thieves – an anthropomorphic dog and his human servant – eventually fight for power. The submissive servant at first fulfils his master's wishes but gradually starts longing for wealth and freedom.

We 04/05/2016
15.00-16.14

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
12.30-13.44

Světozor Cinema

Fr 06/05/2016
17.00-18.14

Schwarzenberg Hall

Mercury

Ege Okal, Melis Balcı | Turkey | 2015 | 6 min

This imaginative animated film takes us into the snobbery-filled world of art. A young artist working as a gallery assistant goes to a dinner with her boss. They meet "important celebrities" from the world of art. Their absurd conversation however only confirms the corrupted hierarchy of this world and the young girl experiences and endless disappointment.

We 04/05/2016
15.00-16.14

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
12.30-13.44

Světozor Cinema

Fr 06/05/2016
17.00-18.14

Schwarzenberg Hall

Counting Sheep

Frits Standaert | France, Belgium | 2015 | 7 min

A humorous French-Belgian film full of subtle gags depicting a very hard night for a young boy and his father. The poor child cannot fall asleep and the father advises him to count sheep, with unforeseen consequences. With its unexpected turn of events, the film will certainly entertain both children and adults.

We 04/05/2016
15.00-16.14

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
12.30-13.44

Světozor Cinema

Fr 06/05/2016
17.00-18.14

Schwarzenberg Hall

In the Distance

Florian Grolig | Germany | 2015 | 8 min

This German film, minimalistic in terms of its editing and semantics, depicts a current issue – fear of war and attempts to ignore its very existence. The main character is a man living his peaceful life in the top floor of a high-rise block of flats without any contact with the outside world. But the war, though distant, becomes more and more intense.

We 04/05/2016
15.00-16.14

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
12.30-13.44

Světozor Cinema

Fr 06/05/2016
17.00-18.14

Schwarzenberg Hall

He Who Has Two Souls

Fabrice Luang-Vija | France | 2015 | 18 min

An interesting reflection on the search for one's sexual identity, taking place among the Eskimos. Among them, they say, is one who has two souls – he as beautiful as a woman, but effortlessly handles the work of a man. But he is not sure who he is... The film by the experienced French director Fabrice Luang-Vija has a very surprising conclusion.

We 04/05/2016
15.00-16.14

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
12.30-13.44

Světozor Cinema

Fr 06/05/2016
17.00-18.14

Schwarzenberg Hall

Short Film D

zobrazit

Fruit

Gerhard Funk | Germany | 2016 | 7 min

Fruit, by independent German filmmaker of Russian origin Gerhard Funk, uses an abstract form to portray the ever repeating cycle of life. It is, in fact, a story of birth, growth, maturation and decline. A game of shapes and colours – black, white and red – illustrates the dialogue between two mythological forces.

We 04/05/2016
19.00-20.19

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
16.00-17.19

Světozor Cinema

Sa 07/05/2016
19.30-20.49

Schwarzenberg Hall

Before Love

Igor Kovalyov | Russia | 2015 | 20 min

This new film by the co-founder of the legendary Moscow studio Pilot, renowned director Igor Kovalyov, portrays several characters searching for love. The film deals with the loneliness, misunderstanding and indefiniteness of our lives. The characters' imperfections push the story to a bizarre and absurd level.

We 04/05/2016
19.00-20.19

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
16.00-17.19

Světozor Cinema

Sa 07/05/2016
19.30-20.49

Schwarzenberg Hall

Trial & Error

Antje Heyn | Germany | 2016 | 6 min

Over its five-minute running time this humorous and lively film plays on the insolubility of a banal situation. A shirt button is lost, and we see various, very original alternatives for replacing it. A minimalistic film about a pedantic auntie, scared parrots and a long-lost friend.

We 04/05/2016
19.00-20.19

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
16.00-17.19

Světozor Cinema

Sa 07/05/2016
19.30-20.49

Schwarzenberg Hall

My Home

Phuong Mai Nguyen | France | 2015 | 12 min

A sensitive story about family relationships from the point of view of a little boy made by a Vietnamese filmmaker based in France. A mother living alone with her son brings home a suitor one day. But Little Hugo cannot cope with it, his fantasy kicks in and turns the intruder into a dangerous monster.

We 04/05/2016
19.00-20.19

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
16.00-17.19

Světozor Cinema

Sa 07/05/2016
19.30-20.49

Schwarzenberg Hall

Lucens

Marcel Barelli | Switzerland | 2015 | 7 min

Young but experienced Swiss director Marcel Barelli has made a comic parody film about actual attempts to harness nuclear energy in Switzerland. This documentary-toned, detached and ironic film depicts the first and also the last Swiss nuclear power plant and its confused staff.

We 04/05/2016
19.00-20.19

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
16.00-17.19

Světozor Cinema

Sa 07/05/2016
19.30-20.49

Schwarzenberg Hall

Sunday Lunch

Devaux Celine | France | 2015 | 14 min

This artistically exquisite and inventive film uses intense metaphors and rapid narration to depict the feelings of an adult son at a Sunday family lunch. As always, his family bombards him with questions without even listening to his answers, and gives him useless advice to such extent that the man nearly has a stroke.

We 04/05/2016
19.00-20.19

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
16.00-17.19

Světozor Cinema

Sa 07/05/2016
19.30-20.49

Schwarzenberg Hall

Bingo!

Patrick Schoenmaker | Netherlands | 2015 | 3 min

A film full of black humour taking place at the most depressing location of all – an old people’s home where patients wait to die. But one of the patients, Gerda, has a hobby that brightens up her life – regular bingo games. But this time everything goes wrong, the last ball with the number gets lost and our lovely spry granny triggers a series of absurd events.

We 04/05/2016
19.00-20.19

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
16.00-17.19

Světozor Cinema

Sa 07/05/2016
19.30-20.49

Schwarzenberg Hall

Sexy Laundry

Izabela Plucińska | Canada | 2015 | 13 min

The erotic comedy Sexy Laundry, based on a Canadian play of the same name, was made by renowned director Izabela Plucińska in the studio of the National Film Board of Canada. The film contemplates how to reignite passion after twenty five years of stereotypical marriage. The story of a couple in their fifties retreating to a luxury hotel is told via outstanding claymation.

We 04/05/2016
19.00-20.19

J. K. Tyl Theatre

Th 05/05/2016
16.00-17.19

Světozor Cinema

Sa 07/05/2016
19.30-20.49

Schwarzenberg Hall