FOFR Festival of Student Films: for students, by students
The International Student Film Festival FOFR returns for its third edition, running from October 9-11 at Kino Kavalírka in Prague - a rather special revitalized cinema dating back to the 1930s. The festival itself is just as distinctive. Radio Prague International spoke with the festival’s co-director, Matyáš Lada, to learn more about what makes FOFR special.
“The FOFR Film Festival is an international film festival of student films - this means that about a quarter or half of all films come from foreign countries. This year, we have films from Ukraine, Poland, and even one from South Korea. We are trying to show a selection of student and independent films from around the world and from across the Czech Republic.”
Film selection and highlights
The showcased films are all independent films by people aged 15 to 30. How do you select the films?
“We received around 200 film submissions through FilmFreeway and through our website, from which we selected around 42 to 45. We search for films that are interesting or distinctive, and for films from film schools. We are trying to build a kind of overview of current fiction, animation, documentaries, and experimental films.”
Is there a film that you are especially excited to show audiences here in Prague?
“Yes. We have a really interesting and special film from Ukraine made by high school filmmakers.
We also have a feature film by the Czech director Luboš Kučera, which is called Šváby (Cockroaches). His film is special because it only cost around 40,000 Czech crowns (1,600 Euros) and it was shot in 60 hours. So, it is truly very independent and a nice example of how to shoot low-cost feature films, which can be really interesting for young filmmakers who want to shoot their first film.”
Organisation
A lot of the films are by students. Is the festival also organized by students?
“Yes, that's right. The festival was founded at Panská High School and is organized by its students, in collaboration with students from FAMO (The Film Academy in Písek), FAMU (The Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague), the Palacký University in Olomouc, and other Czech film schools. We also try to attract audiences from these schools.
I think what makes this festival special is that, while there are other festivals for student filmmakers, this one is truly by students, for students.”
"I think there are a lot of student and independent films being made today, but we still have to try and find the ones that are truly interesting or unique within this mass of visual content.”
Matyáš Lada
Developments in student filmmaking
How do you see the future of independent or student filmmaking in the Czech Republic?
“I think it's still much easier to make films than it was maybe 10 years ago, because technology is more accessible. You can shoot your film on an iPhone or another mobile phone. Then you just write a script and find some young or non-professional actors. So I think it’s much easier now.
But with social media, there are so many videos around us. And maybe we are starting to feel overwhelmed by all this content.
I think there are a lot of student and independent films being made today, but we still have to try and find the ones that are truly interesting or unique within this mass of visual content.”
