The International Academia Film Olomouc Festival of Science Documentary Films (AFO) is again choosing the best films science has to offer. Now in its 54th year, UP will again introduce significant personalities from the worlds of science and film from April 23–28. And Richard Dawkins, the famous evolutionary biologist, will return to Olomouc after a four-year hiatus.
Each year, AFO does its best to bust myths and get to the truth of the matter. This year, however, “myths” will become ubiquitous as a theme of the overall programme and the focus of a special section aimed at the principles of how myths operate and their influence on human perception of the world. Also new findings and interesting facts will be presented on the origin mythologies of ancient civilisations.
Truth? Lies? Fiction?
The principle of questioning truth and bending truth into the form of myths has also become the subject of this year’s festival graphics. Festival posters and publicity will call truth into question. The posters are meant to attract attention and the programming sections can be misleading; the organisers themselves are creating myths and letting the fans find out the truth for themselves… or not, in the case of the gullible.
The conceptual approach will continue with graphic elements. “We want to continue with the principal of myth busting or penetrating layers/information in other ways, to keep our fans on constant alert. Similar as in today’s world when gathering information, one must determine what is a myth and what is the truth. The expressive, even aggressive visual aesthetic is not only eye-catching, but it also relates to one of the programme sections of the festival: Propaganda. We’re now establishing the cult or myth called #AFO54,” says graphic artist Radim Měsíc.
Egyptologists, Vikings, and the Moon landing
The festival will be a year of anniversaries and tributes. Czech Egyptology celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and where else but at AFO? In addition to the famous archaeologist and Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, former Egyptian Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs, Mostafa Waziri, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt will also be in attendance. And Czech Egyptologists Miroslav Verner and Miroslav Bárta will be on hand to celebrate the anniversary.
Another important anniversary is the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing. The Apollo 11 crew first set foot on the surface of the Moon on 20 July 1969. And the Moon will therefore be one of the thematic programming sections of this year’s festival. Visitors can look forward to the selection of documentary and fictional films with a Moon theme. In cooperation with the Brno Planetarium there will be a debate panel which will introduce the past and future of Moon expeditions. And cosmonauts Vladimír Remek and Ivan Bella will be on hand to share their experiences.
The world of the television serial Vikings will be introduced in person by its creator, Michael Hirst. With him will be his daughter, actress Georgia Hirst, who created the role of Torvi in the series.
Dozens of films in competition
In addition to its own programming themes, the festival annually tries to present the best documentary films from around the world to its audience, thanks to the AFO competition. Unique films introducing contemporary themes in science which cannot be seen anywhere else in Czechia will be competing in several categories.
“We’ve chosen 83 films in total this year for the competition categories. The main international competition alone will introduce 40 unique films to viewers, which is more than twice as many as last year. We made that decision because the quality of the films submitted gets better every year. It would be a shame if such excellent films did not find their way to the Czech viewing public,” explains festival director Jakub Ráliš, adding that the final competition selection, which went through a jury of experts, was created from more than 4000 films submitted. Viewers also get a chance to vote after each screening, with an audience prize for the most popular film.
One of the films in competition which viewers will get a chance to vote for is The Most Unknown by director Ian Cheney, a Motherboard production. This documentary is a filmed experiment which brought nine scientists to places new and unknown to them. They travel around the world to their colleagues, who delve into the mysteries of their fields. Together they search for answers to the biggest questions regarding our planet, the cosmos and humanity. How did life begin? What is consciousness? The film’s producer, Greg Boustead, a professional in the field of popularising science, will accompany the film to the festival.
Boustead is also behind another unique documentary which viewers can look forward to. After festivals in Austin and Copenhagen, Olomouc will host the world’s third public screening of the film Human Nature. The film explains one of the most significant discoveries in biology – CRISPR. It introduces a method of modifying the basis of DNA to treat diseases, create “designer babies”, or even change the biosphere.
New projection sites, huge accompanying programme
The festival is growing every year: last year’s saw 7105 accredited viewers, 112 films in competition, and 415 guests to introduce films. In order for this year’s viewers to enjoy greater comfort, several new projection sites will be added and there will be repeated screenings of competition films. There will also be an extensive accompanying programme for children and adults, which will bring art and science to the streets of the city.
One big event will be an exhibition by Czech artist Marie Tomanová, who mainly operates in the USA. She will prepare an installation directly in the festival centre in the Konvikt Arts Centre. Visitors will also experience virtual reality, with a programme curated by Tom Millen from the UK studio Crossover.
Accreditation for the festival is free and is possible via the festival’s web pages or in person during the festival itself.