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Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival

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Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival
Jihlava IDFF Logo
LocationJihlava, Czech Republic
Founded1997
AwardsOpus Bonum, Testimonies, Czech Joy, Short Joy, Fascinations
No. of films376 in 2022
Websitewww.ji-hlava.com

Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival (Czech: Mezinárodní festival dokumentárních filmů Ji.hlava), also known as MFDF Ji.hlava or Ji.hlava IDFF, is a documentary film festival that takes place annually in Jihlava, Czech Republic, typically in late October. The 28th edition of the festival is scheduled to run from 25 October to 3 November 2024.[1][2]

The festival was established in 1997 by a group of high school students in Jihlava, led by Marek Hovorka, who has directed the festival since its inception. Since 2001, it has been organized by the Jihlava Association of Amateur Filmmakers, which rebranded as DOC.DREAM - the Association for the Support of Documentary Cinema in 2015.[3] Ji.hlava IDFF is a founding member of Doc Alliance, a coalition of seven European documentary film festivals.

During the 2022 festival, over 86,000 attendees viewed films, with more than 36,000 attending screenings in cinemas and nearly 50,000 viewing films online.[4] The festival featured 376 films in 2022, and over 1,000 film professionals participated in the Ji.hlava Industry Programme, which includes initiatives such as Emerging Producers, Festival Identity,[5] and Conference Fascinations.[6]

Programme

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Competition sections

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The festival features six competition sections:

  • Opus Bonum - Best World Documentary Film

In addition to the main award, jurors of Opus Bonum also recognize achievements in best cinematography, editing, sound design, and outstanding formats, including categories for best film essay, best debut, and best film from Central and Eastern Europe (Between the Seas).

  • Czech Joy - Best Czech Documentary Film
  • Fascinations - Best World Experimental Documentary Film
  • Fascinations: Exprmntl.cz - Best Czech Experimental Documentary Film
  • Short Joy - Best Short Documentary Film
  • Testimonies - This section focuses on documentaries addressing politics, nature, and knowledge, and includes films with historical and political themes or ecological and environmental topics.

The festival annually nominates one film for pre-selection for the European Film Academy (EFA) award for Best Documentary Film of the Year. Winners of the Short Joy award may also be eligible for pre-selection for the Documentary Short Subject category at the Academy Awards.

Opus Bonum Award for Best World Documentary Film
Year Film title Director Country of origin
2007 731: Two Versions of Hell James T. Hong China, United States, Taiwan
2008 Iraqi Short Films Mauro Andrizzi Argentina
2009 Bassidji Tamadon Mehran Iran, Switzerland, France
2010 48 Susana de Sousa Dias Portugal
2011 Lost Land Pierre-Yves Vanderweerd Belgium
2012 Kuichisan Maiko Endo Japan, United States
2013 The Uprising Peter Snowdon Belgium, United Kingdom
2014 I Am the People Anna Roussillon France
2015 Dead Slow Ahead Mauro Herce Spain, France
2016 Spectres are haunting Europe Maria Kourkouta, Niki Giannari France, Greece
2017 The Wall Dmitry Bogolubov Russia
2018 Vacancy Alexandra Kandy Longuet    Belgium
2019 Fonja Lina Zacher and collective Madagascar, Germany
2020 White on White Viera Čákanyová Slovakia, Czech Republic
2021 Lines Barbora Sliepková Slovakia
2022 07:15 – Blackbird Judith Auffray France
2023 Ship Elvis Lenić Croatia
2024[7] Ms.President[8] Marek Šulík Slovakia, Czech Republic
Between the Seas Award for Best Central and Eastern European Documentary Film
Year Film title Director Country of origin
2003 66 Seasons Peter Kerekes Slovakia
2003 Sentiment Tomáš Hejtmánek Czech Republic
2004 The Ring Angus Reid Slovenia
2005 Snail Fortress Deszo Zsigmond Hungary
2006 All day together Marcin Koszalka Poland
2007 Artel Simon Semtov, Sergei Loznitsa Russia
2008 The Flower Bridge Thomas Ciulei Romania, Germany
2009 Border Jaroslav Vojtek Slovakia
2010 Autobiography of Nicolae Ceausescu Andrei Ujica Romania
2011 Bakhmaro Salomé Jashi Georgia, Germany
2012 Mirage Srđan Keča United Kingdom, Serbia
2013 Winter / Miracle Gustavo Beck, Zeljka Sukova Croatia, Denmark, Brazil
2014 We Come As Friends Hubert Sauper France, Austria
2015 Under the Sun Vitaly Mansky Czech Republic, Russia, Germany, North Korea
2016 The Dazzling Light of Sunset Salomé Jashi Georgia, Germany
2017 Opera About Poland Piotr Stasik Poland
2018 Timebox Nora Agapi Romania
2019 TEKSTY Michał Marczak Poland
2020 The Last of the Righteous Khaled Jarrar Palestine
2021 Sons of the Forest Agustina San Martín Argentina, Chile, United States
2022 Stepne Julius Taminiau The Netherlands
Short Joy competition for Best Short Film Awards
Year Film title Director Country of origin
2024 Only if the Baby Cries... Shadab Farooq India

Special Sections

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The festival also includes special sections dedicated to thematic selections and various styles of documentary filmmaking, such as:

  • Spotlight - Features notable filmmakers or documentary movements.
  • Retrospective - Showcases significant films from previous years or influential directors.
  • Masterclasses - Educational sessions led by industry professionals.
  • Theatrical Showings - Public screenings of selected films outside of the competition.

Awards

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In addition to the competition awards, Ji.hlava IDFF presents several other recognitions, including:

  • Audience Awards
  • Best Czech Documentary Film by a Student
  • Special Mention awards

The festival aims to promote documentary cinema and facilitate discussions on contemporary societal issues through film.

References

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  1. ^ "Úvod". Mezinárodní festival dokumentárních filmů Ji.hlava. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival". Festagent. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  3. ^ "DOC.DREAM – Association for the Support of Documentary Cinema". DOKweb.
  4. ^ "The 26th Ji.hlava IDFF – both live and online part – is now over. The festival reached 90,000 viewers". Mezinárodní festival dokumentárních filmů Ji.hlava. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  5. ^ "Festival Identity". Mezinárodní festival dokumentárních filmů Ji.hlava.
  6. ^ "Conference Fascinations". Mezinárodní festival dokumentárních filmů Ji.hlava.
  7. ^ "Impossibility named best Czech documentary at Ji.hlava film festival". Radio Prague International. 2024-11-03. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  8. ^ Sulík, Marek (2024-10-31), Ms. President (Documentary), Pope Francis, Zuzana Caputová, Michal Kovacic, Aerofilms, Czech Television, Filmotras, retrieved 2024-11-03
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