The official selection

After an eventful festival run starting at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award, Jan Saska´s Hurikan has bowed at DOK Leipzig, Sitges International Film Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival, or Melbourne International Film Festival among others before landing in the International Competition in Clermont-Ferrand. Following the success of his Oscar-shortlisted Happy End (2016), Hurikan ventures into the hard-boiled genre with a uniquely Czech sensibility. The film follows its pig-headed protagonist on a chaotic, action-packed night as he attempts to deliver a keg of beer to a shop run by a barmaid he hopes to impress. Rendered in monochrome with a 2D, comic book-inspired noir aesthetic, Hurikan reflects influences from Katsuhiro Otomo, Hayao Miyazaki, and Sylvain Chomet. Produced by Martin Vandas of MAUR film and Kamila Dohnalová of Last Films, in collaboration with partners from France, Slovakia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, French sales company Miyu Distribution handles the international rights to Hurikan.

Another film selected for the International Competition is I Died in Irpin, an autobiographical ani-doc by Ukrainian animator Anastasiia Falileieva. This compelling 11-minute film presents a true story of survival and escape from the Russian-invaded city of Irpin. Falileieva incorporates a wealth of archival materials from her childhood, enriching the narrative’s authenticity and emotional depth. Crafting the story through a blend of photographs, video footage from her time in Irpin, and stop-motion and cut-out animation, the director succeeds in drawing viewers into a deeply personal journey of love, loss, and survival. Her unique utilization of the rare technique of charcoal animation on paper, paired with her long-standing passion for collage and traditional animation, enable her to skillfully navigate and articulate the turmoil and absurdity of war. The Czech Film Fund provided support for the project, prepared by MAUR film in collaboration with the Slovak production outfit Artichoke.

Lab Competition devoted to experimental films features Medical Field Guide or Rules of Engagement with Native E-Girls by Andran Abramjan and Jan Hofman, which premiered at Ji.hlava IDFF and will aslo be screened at the upcoming Rotterdam IFF. The 21-minute film delves into the consciousness of a drone pilot on a peacekeeping mission in a desolate landscape. As he monitors strategic targets, he encounters psychological operations (psyop) e-girls who tempt him into unauthorized actions, leading to unforeseen consequences and internal conflicts. The film employs footage captured primarily with a depth camera, later processed through 3D animation software, resulting in a heightened sensorial quality that feels distinctly inhuman. The narrative is inspired by the poem "Three Economic Units" by Tomáš Čada, which serves as the source material for the film. The film is produced by Hana Blaha Šilarová of Frame Films.

In addition, Yound Audience program scheduled another two MAUR-produced films: Weeds by Polina Kazak and Hello Summer by Martin Smatana and Veronika Zacharová. Weeds employs the distinctive technique of oil painting on glass to tell a story without dialogue. As a gardener works her small plot in an overgrown field of weeds, what starts as a peaceful activity escalates into a desperate struggle to maintain the status quo against encroaching forces. Conceived by the young Kazak during the height of the 2015 refugee crisis, Weeds explores the universal fear of change and the unknown, symbolized by a myth in which chaos challenges the ordered world, suggesting that embracing the new can enrich society. 2D animated short Hello Summer, a vibrant film merging stop-motion with hand-drawn animation techniques to tell the story of a family vacation that unfolds in unexpected ways. The choice of mixed media and the exploration of family dynamics in less-than-ideal circumstances showcase Smatana’s continued innovation and ability to connect with audiences through relatable narratives as he did in his previous film, The Kite. The film is produced by the director’s Slovak company Studio Bororo, Kamila Dohnalová (Last Films), and Martin Vandas (MAUR film), together with the French firm Vivement Lundi !.

The Mermaid Effect at the Euro Connection

VR project The Mermaid Effect, directed by visual artist and filmmaker Markéta Magidová and produced by Jiří Pecinovský of MAUR film, will be presented at the Euro Connection platform for the coproduction of short films. Pitches, including the new XR projects section in which The Mermaid Effect participates, are taking place on Tuesday, February 4, and Wednesday, February 5, at Oceania Hotel, Clermont-Ferrand. The Mermaid Effect is the first VR project in MAUR film's growing animated portfolio. It combines 3D animation with stop-motion techniques to tell the story set in a world where historical sea creatures live alongside humans from a town that thrives due to a popular film production about mermaids.

2025 Czech Short Films collection

The representative collection of recent Czech short films produced in 2024 and 2025, selected by a jury of renowned film professionals, is ready to be explored by film industry players worldwide. Film curators, distributors, sales agents, broadcasters, and VOD representatives can find the best short films from the Czech Republic in one place. Films that have already premiered at big festivals like Rotterdam, Annecy, Cannes, and others, including those selected for the 2025 Clermont-Ferrand program, as well as those waiting for their international release. Experience fiction, documentary, animation, or experimental shorts among these 13 carefully curated films in our video library for film professionals upon registration. The collection will be presented in Clermont, among other means, via market screenings for film professionals on Monday 3 February at 2 pm at the Georges Conchon Theater. More about the collection HERE.