Films

Lots of kids want to be astronauts when they grow up but most of them eventually lose interest: not so Jim, an engineer working for a space travel company. The reclusive Jim has devoted himself to a secret project: he is building his own rocket to finally fly among the stars. In order to come even close to fulfilling his lifelong dream, he must open the door of a well-sheltered workshop and let a few like-minded dreamers into it and into his mind. Nicolas Giraud’s atmospheric film gives a glimpse into the determined soul of a man who refuses to give up. The film’s gradual pace handles the subject matter sensitively and movingly with the help of modern visuals and a minimalist soundtrack.

The director of the film Nicolas Giraud will be a guest of the screening in Prague. After the screening, you can look forward to a Q&A with him.

British director Sophie Barthes’ romantic sci-fi comedy The Pod Generation tells the story of New York couple Rachel (Emilia Clarke) and Alvy (Chiwetel Ejiofor). In a society madly in love with technology, everyone longs for an even more comfortable life. But there are some things that just inherently can’t get more comfortable… or can they? Rachel and Alvy’s wild journey to parenthood is just beginning.

Stubborn private investigator Aline has a problem not only with alcohol: together with her android partner Carlos, she sets out to find a young hacker named June. But Aline and Carlos aren’t the only ones interested in the girl on the run. Director Jérémie Perin’s film is inspired by classics such as RoboCop and Ghost in the Shell. This suspenseful sci-fi noir, full of unexpected twists and turns, has an action-packed pace but is not afraid to reflect on serious and topical existential themes such as the colonisation of space or the slowly dying planet Earth. An impressive peek into contemporary French animation, which is still a major force in cinema.

Step into the twisted mind of director Eddie Alcazar – with producer Steven Soderbergh holding your hand on the journey. Divinity is their collaborative effort that will thrill fans of experimental bizarro and actress Bella Thorne. The indie film, with its sci-fi elements reminiscent of early David Lynch, demands the viewer’s full attention: behind a jumble of brutal black-and-white images that include sex, violence and mutated monsters, lies a sharp critique of a society obsessed with youth and beauty, which fetishises physical appearance and places it above all other values.

Mysterious symbols, sweltering L.A., two friends with video cameras and a penchant for unraveling mysteries. This mystery thriller with mockumentary elements was directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead who are behind sci-fi films such as Synchronic. This time the creative duo offers viewers a quality slow burn. Something in the Dirt is primarily a psychological study of conspiracy theory fans and asks the question of how far this predilection can go. The film, which will remind experienced filmgoers of genre films such as Nope or Under the Silver Lake, handles a topical subject and builds on a solid atmosphere. Will you succumb to paranoia or can you maintain your sanity in the face of the unexplainable?

Budapest, 2123. The earth is fast approaching extinction but scientists have come up with a solution: they have developed special plants that can only grow in the human body. That’s why anyone who reaches the age of 50 must sign up as a host and turn into a life-giving tree. According to psychologist Stefan, this is an effective way to save humanity from extinction but he changes his mind when his young wife Nora volunteers to be transformed without having to. Stefan has only a few days to save her and find out why she made this decision. Hungarian animated sci-fi entices with an original theme that will make you want to start recycling properly and turning off the water while brushing your teeth.