About Festival
One World Festival 2024 showcased a rich array of cinematic experiences, including 96 feature-length films, 10 captivating virtual reality projects, and engaging short films tailored for children. An exciting addition to this year's lineup was the inclusion of narrative films exploring human rights themes, adding depth and diversity to the program. Drawing an international crowd, the festival welcomed over a hundred esteemed guests from around the globe, representing not only Europe but also vibrant cultural landscapes from India, Brazil, Colombia, and the United States.
The Prague segment of the festival witnessed an impressive turnout with 21,000 attendees.
For more than a quarter of a century, the One World Festival has been an integral part of the activities of the Czech humanitarian and human rights organization People in Need. Since the festival was established in 1999, it has brought documentaries on human rights from around the world to local audiences, screening them in dozens of towns throughout the country and also at Czech primary and secondary schools. UNESCO has acknowledged One World for its efforts in raising awareness of human rights.
Today, One World is the largest festival of its kind in the world.
Dozens of guests from all over the world participate every year – not only filmmakers but also protagonists and human rights defenders. Discussions with them are one of the pillars of the program.
The One World organising team also strives for openness and accessibility to all, including the blind and visually impaired, the deaf and hard of hearing, people with reduced mobility, and those with mental disabilities.
Ondřej Kamenický has been the festival director since 2017.
People in Need was founded in 1992, and we are now one of the largest non-profit organisations in Central Europe helping people in 40 countries around the world. In addition to organising One World, we also educate and help people living in social exclusion in the Czech Republic.
Screenings for schools
Because we know that human rights impact all ages, we have something for our youngest viewers. Every year, we select documentary films adapted for school-age children and for those a bit older, we have a special offer from the festival programme. In addition, moderated discussions are held within the school screenings. The selected offer for schools is accessible all year round and after the festival on the JSNS.CZ portal.
Go to One World in SchoolsImmersive films
One World has been involved in interactive projects since 2014 and has become the first Czech festival to introduce a separate annual category focusing on virtual reality films. Every year, the festival showcases about a dozen projects that innovatively draw attention to the threats faced by contemporary society.
Debate programme
The debates with directors, film protagonists, human rights activists and Czech experts are as crucial for One World as the screenings themselves. After most screenings, the audience can participate in these discussions (Q&A).
One World in Brussels
Each year in Brussels, we also screen selected films for European politicians and representatives of international organisations. Screening in Brussels is core to our advocacy as these audiences can influence decisions on critical human rights issues.
This year's festival will be held from the 7th to the 11th of April 2025.
Sensitive language
As well as the whole of society, One World evolves and strives to respect and reflect the world we live in as much as possible. The language we use must also closely reflect the world we want. It is a reflection of society and people. And because we try to include and be considerate of everyone, we try to be sensitive and inclusive as much as possible in official festival communication.
Homo Homini Award
The festival also includes the awarding of the only Czech international human rights award Homo Homini. It is awarded to individuals or groups that have made a significant contribution to the promotion of human rights and democracy and to the non-violent resolution of political conflicts. Since 2021, the general public can nominate candidates, which has resulted in a record number of nominations.
The Homo Homini Award has been awarded by People in Need since 1994 and is now one of the world's most prestigious awards of its kind. Its aim is to raise the profile and recognise the work of brave individuals and, in the case of persecution, to help improve their personal situation.
One World in one hundred ways throughout the year with Get Your Audience
Get Your Audience is a platform through which you can screen One World films free and legally to smaller or larger audiences outside the festival season. Licensing of film rights is arranged and paid to rightsholders by One World. Thus, you can download and screen all films easily and without worry, anywhere and to anyone you want – to neighbours in your garden, to friends in a café, or a library, wherever and with whoever you want really.
I want to screen!
Cooperation with foreign partners and sister festivals
One World is a founding member of the Human Rights Film Network (Association of Human Rights Festivals - www.hrfn.com). It provides assistance to emerging human rights film festivals around the world through consultation and support (most recently in Nicaragua, Hong Kong, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia).
One World has a long history of helping human rights film festivals emerge abroad and provides advice to sister festivals, in particular on film programming, production and logistics, media and fundraising strategy, supporting activities and post-film debates.
Sustainability
The One World International Human Rights Film Festival has set out to achieve sustainability of the festival organisation, and to make critical environmental topics available to the public. When preparing and holding the festival, we try to minimise our negative environmental impacts. Our efforts range from the separation of waste, through the reduction of unnecessary waste, to support for local producers and organisations.
At One World, we are also a member of the Green Film Network, bringing together film festivals that address environmental issues and seek to minimise negative impacts on the environment.
Go to GFN website