Shortly after the four simultaneous “Jewish short films from the Visegrad region” screening events, a two day-long, in-person seminar will be organized for the directors of the screened short films, the film experts being part of the Committee of Curators, as well as film students keen to learn more about the creation of these films. Following an online application process, 5-5 students from each country will have already been selected by a jury based on their previous experiences, motivation, interest in the topic, and intention to participate in the later stages of the project as well. The seminar will take place in Budapest, and JCC Budapest – Bálint Ház will provide the venue.

The program will include:

– a panel discussion where film directors share how they approached and researched their topic and how they composed, executed and promoted their short films;

– a panel discussion with film experts of the Committee of Curators about Jewish-themed short films from the Visegrad region

– a workshop where film students can think about, discuss their own interests and ideas for creating Jewish-themed short films

The main goal of this seminar is to bring together, on the one hand, already established filmmakers and experts with young, aspiring filmmakers, and on the other, cinema-related professionals from the four Visegrad countries. What we hope to achieve is to give space to learning, inspiration and new connections for everybody involved, in addition to a reinforced appreciation of Jewish culture and our shared heritage and common ground in the Visegrad region.

Art, including cinematography, is unquestionably among the best channels to connect people to realities different from their own, and through it, spark their curiosity, expand their horizons and foster an appreciation of both similarities and differences that exist between us. The project “Four countries, one heritage – Jewish short films in the Visegrad region” aims to take steps in filling the void that currently exists between Jewish filmmakers and cinephile audiences of the Visegrad countries. The project wishes to promote the shared heritage and numerous cultural ties between the Jewish communities of the Visegrad counties by acquainting movie enthusiasts and film students with valuable Jewish-themed short films created in the Visegrad countries, and to foster the emergence of personal and professional connections between film students and filmmakers of the region.

Project Partners

The Camera of David Foundation WJFF.PL – website 
Jewish Community Center Prague (JCC Prague) – website
TACHLES – website

The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.