Industry 4Science

Industry 4Science has been an integral part of the AFO Festival since 2013. Each year, leading Czech and international experts in science communication gather to explore how to present scientific discoveries and insights in the most engaging and accessible ways. This section highlights emerging technological trends, innovative documentary storytelling, and the evolving landscape of new media. At the same time, it examines the role of science communicators and the methods and strategies they use to make complex topics understandable and inspiring for diverse audiences.

Our goal is to create a platform for sharing experiences and fostering collaboration between scientists and the audiovisual industry. We emphasize the importance of promoting science as a vital social topic and highlight the potential of film and television to both entertain and communicate scientific ideas to the public.

Camp 4Science

Camp 4Science is a training and networking workshop for filmmakers focused on the development of science documentary film projects. The program now takes place in a two-residency format, allowing for deeper and more continuous project development – with a fall residency dedicated to creative development, and a spring residency held within the AFO festival, focused on presenting projects and positioning them within the international industry context.

Under the guidance of experienced international mentors, participants develop their projects across all key areas – from narrative and visual style to production and distribution strategies.

Throughout both residencies, filmmakers gain insight into the dynamics of the international science film market, explore funding opportunities, and discover new distribution pathways. The program also offers valuable opportunities to build connections within both the global scientific and film communities.

The workshop culminates in a public pitching session in front of international industry professionals. Thanks to the support of Sandbox Films, the best-presented project receives a financial award of USD 25,000 (Sandbox Best Pitch Award). In addition, the CPH:DOX Industry Prize will be awarded, including festival accreditation to CPH:DOX (CPH:FORUM or INTRO:DOX, depending on the stage of the project).

The application deadline is in June 2026. You apply here!

Films Finished under Camp 4Science

  • RETRIEVAL

    USA 2026
    Director: Tracy Jarrett
    Producer: Tracy Jarrett, Rebecca Stern, Emma Moley

  • HUMBOLDT USA

    USA 2026
    Director: G. Anthony Svatek
    Producer: Elijah Stevens

  • AMOOSED: A MOOSE ODYSSEY

    CZ, SK 2026
    Director: Josef Gatti
    Producer: Rob Innes, Jessica Harrop, Caitlin Mae Burke, Jad Abumrad & Josef Gatti

  • PHENOMENA

    Australia 2026
    Director: Josef Gatti
    Producer: Rob Innes, Jessica Harrop, Caitlin Mae Burke, Jad Abumrad & Josef Gatti

  • DAUGHTERS OF THE FOREST

    Mexico 2026
    Director: Otilia Portillo
    Producer: Paula Arroio, Elena Fortes & Otilia Portillo

  • THE HEALING POWER OF PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS – A RENEISSANCE

    Germany 2022
    Director: Caroline Haertel, Mirjana Momirović

  • HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE

    UK 2025
    Director: Eleanor Mortimer
    Producer: Jacob Thomas

  • MY CHEMICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

    Hungary 2025
    Director: Márton Vizkelety
    Producer: Julianna Ugrin

  • HOLLOW TREE

    USA 2023
    Director: Kira Akerman
    Producer: Monique Walton

  • WILD PRAGUE

    CZ 2022
    Director: Jan Hošek
    Producer: Radim Procházka

  • INTERSPECIES ROBOT SEX

    USA 2022
    Director: Miriam Simun

  • MISSION A

    CZ 2022
    Director: Martin Smékal, Jiří Šlofar

  • HELIOS

    CZ 2020
    Director: Ondřej Sovík
    Producer: Milan Kýr

Conference 4Science

The Conference 4Science has been an integral part of the AFO Festival since 2019. Each year, leading Czech and international experts in science communication gather to discuss how to convey scientific knowledge in the most engaging ways, not only through film. The conference is open to the general public as well as festival guests  from filmmakers to scientific professionals and offers a behind-the-scenes look at filmmaking, scientific research, new methods of science communication, and the many forms of documentary production. One of the program’s highlights is the project pitching session, during which participants present film concepts developed within the Camp 4Science workshop.

The event regularly hosts some of the most influential figures in the field acclaimed filmmakers such as Greg Boustead, Gabo Arora, and Janet Tobias; world-renowned science communicators including Lee Constable, Jan Lukačevič, James Kakalios, and Susan Schneider; as well as distinguished scientists, among them Walter Greenleaf, Tomáš Mikolov, and Richard Dawkins.