During the two-day Iron Sky Film Festival you will see films by Czech and Slovak documentary makers. They show the difficult democratic development in their country after the fall of the Iron Curtain and the challenges facing both countries. After the films, you can talk to experts.

In November it is 29 years ago that the Iron Curtain fell in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Despite the fact that three decades have passed, corruption is still shockingly large and press freedom is increasingly restricted. What goes wrong in these young democracies? Can we still speak of democracy, or do the politicians have a different understanding of this? Where does the attraction of authoritarian leaders come from? And what has to happen to turn the tide?

On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 November, several films will be shown by Slovak and Czech documentary makers. On Saturday the focus is on the Slovak, on Sunday on the Czech Republic.

16:30 – 17:00

WELKOMe & introduction

• The organizers of the festival give you a short introduction to the current situation in Slovakia. What is going on and who are the most important players?

17:00 – 18:00

Nemoc tretej moci (Disease of the Third Power)

• Zuzana Piussi, Slowakije, 2011, 52 min.
  A political documentary about the black holes in the Slovakian judicial system and the rule of law in Slovakia. Documentary filmmaker Zuzanna Puissi films behind the scenes of the Slovakian judicial system and shows the mechanisms of (dis) functioning, the search for justice and the forms of power and rule of law in Slovakia a year after its founding.

19:00 – 20:30

Mečiar

• Tereza Nvotová, Slowakije / Tsjechië, 2017, 89 min
  Mečiar is a documentary about Vladimir Mečiar, the former Slovak Prime Minister, and his impact on Slovak society, including the personal life of the documentary maker. The documentary not only shows a chapter in Slovak political history. It raises universal and very topical questions because Meciar-like political archetypes pop up all over the world. Do we ever find out why we tend to put blind trust in authoritarian leaders?

20:30 – 22:00 

discussion & drinks

After the film there wille be a conversation with experts:

• Ivo van de Wijdeven. Historian and political analyst at the Ministry of General Affairs.
• Gabriel Šipoš. Director of Transparency International Slovakia.

• Michal Vašečka. Sociologist with a focus on issues of ethnicity, race, and migration studies. Besides other academic activities, Michal serves as a representative of the Slovak Republic on the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), human rights body of the Council of Europe.

Tickets & more information
A one day ticket (€7,50) gives access to both films, you can also buy a ticket for the whole weekend (€15) For more information about the festival, visit the website.

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