First up is My Memory is Full of Ghosts, which invites viewers to visit the former Syrian "city of laughter" Homs, now scarred by years of war. It will be just one of the films in a programme that manages to chillingly illustrate the impact of armed conflict on civilian life. Others include Khartoum in Sudan and From Ground Zero in Gaza.

The other film that will be screened tonight is Mr Nobody Against Putin. It was one of the most viewed films of the festival, and it had a successful premiere at the prestigious Sundance festival a few weeks ago. The Danish-Czech co-production, directed by American-born documentary filmmaker David Borenstein, puts the camera in the hands of small-town Russian teacher Pasha. He watches in horror as the propaganda machine devours his beloved primary school pupils. The film was made at the cost of the young teacher having to leave his country, perhaps forever, after handing over the footage.

During the opening ceremony, former Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová will also present two Homo Homini awards to individuals who have greatly contributed to the promotion of human rights and democracy. One will be awarded to the Nigerian journalist Philip Obaji, who fought against the crimes of local paramilitary groups and the second will be awarded in memoriam to the Ukrainian journalist Viktoriya Roshchyna, who was kidnapped and murdered by Russian officials for her reporting. Later in the festival, The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos will teach viewers about the realities of life in Nigeria. While the Russian invasion of Ukraine will be covered by a range of films, including Mr Nobody Against Putin, but also Everything Needs to Live which tells the story of a Ukrainian bodybuilder, Anna Kurkurina, who strives to protect animals threatened by war. Anna uses her exceptional physical strength and empathy to try “make the world at least a little more sensitive to all living things.”