About 4Science

Industry 4Science plays a crucial role at AFO since 2013. Within Industry 4Science, Czech experts and world leaders in science popularization focus on how to communicate science in  the most entertaining and attractive way. The programme section systematically addresses not only new technological trends, inventions in documentary narrative or new media tendencies, but also the role of scientific popularizers and their methods of science communication. Our goal is to create a platform for sharing experiences, enhancing the interaction of science and the audiovisual industry, enforcing science as an important social theme, and last but not least, raising awareness of the potential of science and television formats for entertainment and communicating science to the public.

CONFERENCE 4SCIENCE

AFO Festival launched its first edition of Conference 4Science in 2019. The main theme was “Representing History”. This two-day event brought together experts from the film and television industries with leading scientists from various fields. The guests debated about the narratives that make up our ideas about the world, the scientific knowledge that changes our view of the past and therefore the present, and the innovative approaches of the film medium that convey these scientific shifts to the public.

During the conference, participants met with filmmakers, festival programmers, representatives of the television program sections, film producers and distributors. They shared their knowledge and experience with projects designed not only for TV, but also Internet platforms such as YouTube, VR and interactive media. Conference 4Science offered participation in inspiring lectures, panel discussions, lessons based on case studies or workshops.

Our ambition is to build on the successes of this format in future years in a live form, to open new dialogues and thus create an international platform for sharing ideas and establishing cooperation.

CAMP 4SCIENCE

Camp 4Science is a unique training event for filmmakers focusing on popularizing science through not only scientific and factual documentary films but also other multimedia forms and projects in development. Selected participants have the opportunity to improve their projects under the supervision of experienced international mentors, to develop a unique story, visual style, film techniques, themes, and production and distribution strategies.

Science-themed documentaries use a specific style of narration, often involving the presence of a presenter (called a “host”) or various types of animation. Through these narrative devices, filmmakers are able to explain complex scientific phenomena. A science documentary project also requires a special approach in terms of the actual film production, funding and research into the issues that the documentary explores. Participants will also explore the specifics of the international film market, thematic television slots, alternative funding sources and distribution platforms. They will also be given a unique chance to expand their network of contacts in both the scientific field and the film industry.