From October 7-11, Prague will host Press Play Prague 2025 – a five-day celebration of powerful storytelling and independent journalism in film.
Launched in 2024 by Project Syndicate, Kino Atlas, and Deník Referendum, Press Play Prague was born out of a simple but striking realization: Europe did not have a film festival dedicated entirely to journalism. What began as a simple idea to screen classic feature films quickly grew into a festival that also includes powerful documentaries and a competition highlighting new films about journalism. Today, Press Play Prague brings together a selection of journalism-focused documentaries and narrative films, triggering conversations about the media’s role in society, and how storytelling shapes public understanding.
This year’s theme, Journalism Under Pressure, highlights the growing challenges facing independent media worldwide. Through films that explore censorship, disinformation, and resilience in the face of political and social pressure, the Festival provides space to reflect on what it takes to keep journalism honest and alive.
Press Play Prague builds conversations around every screening. Each film is paired with a live discussion, a masterclass, or Q&A with the director. These in-person moments are the heart of the Festival and make cinema not only seen, but felt and questioned.
The Festival takes place at Kino Atlas, a historic Prague cinema located just steps from Masarykovo train station and Florenc metro station. Housed in a functionalist building from the 1940s, the venue features original marble interiors and an adjoining café, creating an intimate yet vibrant atmosphere for film and conversation. Reopened in 2023 by a collective of Czech filmmakers, Kino Atlas has quickly emerged as a key cultural space in the city, dedicated to curated programming, public dialogue, and community engagement.
The Festival brings together a diverse international audience, with guests including journalists, filmmakers, students, civil-society actors, and the general public. With both competitive and non-competitive sections, the program welcomes emerging talents alongside established voices – and offers space not just to watch films, but to meet the people behind them.
More information, including program updates, is available at www.pressplayprague.cz.