Programme

The Student Sci-Fi Film Competition is already an integral part of the Future Gate programme. The festival wants to give a platform to young filmmakers and introduce their works to the general public. This year, you can also look forward to a collection of the best work by emerging directors in Czechia and Slovakia.

After the inexplicable explosion of Earth, the surly worker Andriy becomes the last surviving human in the universe – until a tender voice emerges from his radio, that of French scientist Catherine. An intimate romantic drama set amidst the vast emptiness of space.

A comic triptych set on a run-down housing estate, where one day a black hole suddenly appears. This Estonian-Finnish film unleashes the worst the universe has to offer: from nosy aliens and giant spiders to Austrians in lederhosen.

Jeff Goldblum delivers one of the defining performances of his career as an ambitious scientist who slowly transforms into a human–fly hybrid. David Cronenberg’s cult body horror – and, in its own way, a romantic drama – leaves you reflecting on the unsettling truth that life itself is little more than gradual decay.

The new film by versatile creator John D. Boswell is an audiovisual spectacle made for the big screen. Engineering Earth presents futuristic concepts for the future of humanity.

In a world where people have traded immortality for the ability to dream, one woman ventures into the mind of a sacred creature in search of the truth. In this visually breathtaking odyssey, acclaimed director Bi Gan guides audiences through the history of China – and of cinema itself.

The Thinking Game is a documentary dedicated to Google DeepMind and its vision of achieving artificial general intelligence. The film traces the life journey of founder Demis Hassabis, from his childhood as a chess prodigy to the creation of DeepMind.

Paul Verhoeven’s cult classic may be an archetypal 1980s B-movie brimming with action and one-liners, yet today it feels frighteningly relevant: ravenous corporations, drugs, cyborgs patrolling the streets. Beneath the guise of entertainment lies a powerful tale of morality, memory, and the search for identity.

Thirteen-year-old Alpha is navigating the classic torments of adolescence. In a rebellious gesture, she gets a tattoo – only to discover it may have infected her with a disease that slowly turns people into marble statues. The latest work from leading body-horror auteur Julia Ducournau is not to be missed.

A fascinating portrait of artist and musician Neil Harbisson, recognised as the world’s first official cyborg.

When his beloved dog Sandy mysteriously disappears, the solitary Conor Marsh is drawn into a surreal rescue mission inside a mysterious computer game. A gently artful metaphor for loneliness, OBEX captivates not only through its likeable protagonist.

More than a decade after Edge of Tomorrow, the story inspired by the Japanese novel All You Need Is Kill returns to cinemas. This new animated feature from Warner Bros. follows Rita Vrataski in her battle against the Mimics, offering a take that stays closer to the source material while exploring themes of free will and self-sacrifice for the greater good.

iShorts has again prepared for you a selection of the best from the world of short sci-fi films of recent times.

Sonic and his friends must once again face an evil force threatening to destroy the planet. This time, the danger comes in the form of Sonic’s powerful dark twin – a menace so great it even forces him to ally with his arch-enemy, Doctor Robotnik.

The documentary unveils the fascinating world of intelligent sex robots and explores how they could reshape our understanding of intimacy, love, and relationships in the digital age.

Director Robert Stone delivers a portrait of a man who devoted his life to answering the question of whether we are alone in the universe. This film is a celebration of human curiosity, creativity, and the longing to touch the stars.

Czech Trekkies Film.

Occupy Cannes follows Lloyd Kaufman and The Troma Team on what could be their last trip to the Cannes Film Festival. The film dives into the underbelly of the glamorous event and offers a window into a vibrant subculture.

When timid janitor Melvin falls into a vat of toxic waste, he transforms into the Toxic Avenger – a fearless protector of the defenceless. A classic outsider-turned-hero tale, wrapped in gloriously outrageous B-movie form.

Spielberg’s legendary film that continues to move audiences decades later, unmatched in the realm of family science fiction. Brilliant child performances, John Williams’s score, and above all, a lovable, melancholy alien whose greatest wish is simply to return home.

A picture can say more than a thousand words – and Mamoru Oshii´s Angels Egg´s is a breathtaking proof of it.

The metaverse is a digital Wild West, where children face dangers their parents often know nothing about. This documentary exposes the risks, and shows that right now, we still have the chance to shape its safer future.