Czech documentaries disappoint at International Documentary Film Festival Jihlava

The jury at the International Documentary Film Festival Jihlava decided not to pick out a best Czech documentary this year in spite of the 16 entries for their consideration. The jury said on Saturday night that many of the entries did not go beyond works for television and the maker’s statement was not convincing. Two special mentions were made in the section. The best documentary award for Central and Eastern Europe was awarded to Vialy Mansky’s Under the Sun, which tracked the lives of a North Korean family for a year. The world documentary award went to Mauro Herce’s Dead Slow Ahead, which follows a freighter travelling through a barren landscape. The audience award went to Matrix AB, a documentary looking at Czech politician and ANO leader Andrej Babiš, by Vít Klusák.

Author: Chris Johnstone