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True Story

True Story

By Institute of Documentary Film

True Story: a documentary video and podcast interview series; almost everything you ever wanted to know about Central and Eastern European documentary film.

In-depth interviews with your curious and enthusiastic hosts, Ivona Remundova and Nicole Jennifer Adelman.

This series is brought to you by the Institute of Documentary Film (dokweb.net).
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Currently playing episode

True Story, episode 36: Mariia Ponomarova

True StoryMay 01, 2022

00:00
44:04
Episode 56: Magic Mountain with Mariam Chachia and Nik Voigt

Episode 56: Magic Mountain with Mariam Chachia and Nik Voigt

Ivona Remundová talks with Mariam Chachia and Nik Voigt directors of the documentary film Magic Mountain.

After recovering from tuberculosis Mariam has a recurring nightmare about being kept high up in the mountains, in the middle of the forest in an old palace where outcasts live. One day, Mariam goes to meet the secret community to overcome her fear.
In becoming friends with the tuberculosis patients of Abastumani and sharing joy and pain with them, Mariam finally overcomes her fear. But Abastumani shares a forgotten story that was never told, the ghosts of the past reveal something much more sinister than Mariam’s personal nightmare, they expose the nightmare of a whole country.

Mar 04, 202430:51
Episode 55: Kumjana Novakova about her award-winning film Silence of Reason

Episode 55: Kumjana Novakova about her award-winning film Silence of Reason

Nicole Jennifer Adelman talks with Kumjana Novakova about her new powerful film - Silence of Reason. The film focuses on one case of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, known as the Foča Rape Camps trial.

Silence of Reason celebrates the strength of the women survivors and amplifies their voices. 

Listen to the latest True Story episode and learn how significant was the court case in the fight against sexual slavery, violence against women and war crimes, and what led Kumjana to work on such a hard but important topic.


Dec 12, 202322:15
Episode 54: 20 years of Ex Oriente Film with Ivana Pauerová Miloševičová and Mikael Opstrup

Episode 54: 20 years of Ex Oriente Film with Ivana Pauerová Miloševičová and Mikael Opstrup

International expert in project development who left a considerable mark on the global documentary industry, tutor and visionary entrepreneur Mikael Opstrup and experienced director, Ex Oriente tutor and one of the founding members of the Institute of Documentary Film Ivana Pauerová Miloševičová set down with our host Ivona Remundová to talk about the two decades of documentary film training. What did they learn by teaching others? What are the issues of the industry they see over and over again? How did the Central and Eastern European documentary industry change?

Oct 05, 202344:15
True Story, episode 53 - Alisa Kovalenko and Stephane Siohan about the film We Will Not Fade Away

True Story, episode 53 - Alisa Kovalenko and Stephane Siohan about the film We Will Not Fade Away

Listen an interview with Alisa Kovalenko and Stephane Siohan, the producer and director of the documentary We Will Not Fade Away. 

This film focuses on a group of teenagers from the Donbas region of Ukraine as they train to go on an expedition of the Himalayas. Kovalenko and Siohan talk about the devastation caused by the full scale invasion of Ukraine, how the meaning of the film has changed since the invasion, and the role of art in times of war.

Jul 28, 202328:08
True Story, episode 52: Eluned Zoë Aiano and Alesandra Tatić about the film Flotacija

True Story, episode 52: Eluned Zoë Aiano and Alesandra Tatić about the film Flotacija

Eluned Zoë Aiano and Alesandra Tatić discuss in our podcast their approach as filmmakers, based on the bonds of intimacy and trust established with the protagonists over the years.

Throughout the filming process of the film Flotacija, the directors have strived to portray the protagonists and their culture in an ethical and respectful manner, while also showing how the privatization of the mine and real estate has affected their lives.

The story of the film started almost 9 years ago, initially focused on the topic of dragon hunting in the Serbian Vlach community. As filmmakers grew closer to the protagonists, they realized that the people of Majdanpek themselves and the social context they are embedded in are what truly make the situation interesting and relevant to the wider world.

“Flotacija”, in English literally “froth flotation”, is a process used in industrial mining to separate minerals from ore, which produces otherworldly black bubbles that simmer in pits.


May 15, 202323:45
True Story, episode 51: Ana Maria Vijdea about her short May the Earth Become the Sky

True Story, episode 51: Ana Maria Vijdea about her short May the Earth Become the Sky

With director Ana Maria Vijdea about her short documentary film May the Earth Become the Sky, portrait of 48-years old woman who is trapped between two worlds, awarded by the Institute of Documentary Film at Ji.hlava IDFF 2022.  The interview was conducted by Ivona Remundová.




Apr 24, 202322:52
True Story, episode 50: The Hamlet Syndrome

True Story, episode 50: The Hamlet Syndrome

With Piotr Rosołowski, co-director of The Hamlet Syndrome, about a generation of Ukrainians confronting their war trauma and tackling the painful past.

Jan 30, 202332:14
True Story, episode 49: Emilia Mazik and Mathieu Janssen

True Story, episode 49: Emilia Mazik and Mathieu Janssen

With Emilia Mazik (Kaboom Animation Festival) and Mathieu Janssen (Go Short) about short films, festivals and current trends.
Jan 23, 202318:07
True Story, episode 48: Avitaminosis

True Story, episode 48: Avitaminosis

With director Kateryna Ruzhyna about her short documentary Avitaminosis, a self-portrait of a young Ukrainian filmmaker searching for liberation in Georgia, awarded by the Institute of Documentary Film at Ji.hlava IDFF 2022.

Jan 16, 202325:02
True Story, episode 47: Invisible Landscapes

True Story, episode 47: Invisible Landscapes

Director Ivo Bystřičan talks about the "field-recording" of his film Invisible Landscapes in which he focuses on "future critical infrastructure and breaking points through sound".

Dec 19, 202224:03
True Story, episode 46: Pongo Calling

True Story, episode 46: Pongo Calling

With director Tomáš Kratochvíl about his new film Pongo Calling about Štefan Pongo, a Roma lorry driver.
The film was premiered at Sheffield Doc/Fest and was awarded at Ake Dikhea? Festival of Romani Film.

Dec 07, 202218:42
True Story, episode 45: A Date in Minsk

True Story, episode 45: A Date in Minsk

With Nikita Lavretski, "an abrasive and indelible comedic voice from Belarus", about his film A Date in Minsk, a one-take documentary which re-stages director's first date. The film was awarded at doclisboa 2022.

Nov 29, 202216:47
True Story, episode 44: Too Close

True Story, episode 44: Too Close

With director Botond Püsök about his process of creating Too Close, a documentary about Andrea, a single mother living in Romanian village, whose 10-year-old daughter was sexually abused by none other than Andrea’s partner, the stepfather of the girl.
The film was developed within the Ex Oriente Film 2019 workshop and premiered at Sarajevo IFF 2022.

Nov 22, 202225:41
True Story, episode 43: Scarecrows

True Story, episode 43: Scarecrows

"Sometimes we have to be frightening to be safe." Director Laila Pakalnina and producer Uldis Cekulis talk about their new project Scarecrows, following people working at the airports who make sure birds do not cross paths with the planes.

Jul 24, 202217:08
True Story, episode 42: Pianoforte

True Story, episode 42: Pianoforte

With director Jakub Piątek and producer Maciej Kubicki about their new project Pianoforte, an intimate coming-of-age portrait of young pianists taking part in the legendary International Chopin Piano Competition, a unique chance of the lifetime portrayed from the backstage.

Jul 03, 202218:18
True Story, episode 41: 5 Pills Away

True Story, episode 41: 5 Pills Away

Ivona Remundová discusses with director Karolina Domagalska and producer Anna Stylinska their documentary 5 Pills Away about four women friends from Abortion Dream Team who step in and lead a revolution when Polish government introduces a near-total abortion ban.

Jun 26, 202221:40
True Story, episode 40: Up in the Air

True Story, episode 40: Up in the Air

Ukrainian director Oksana Syhareva and producer Nataliia Pogudina talk about their documentary project Up in the Air which follows youg Ukrainian aerial artists from Kharkiv before and after the Russian invasion.

Jun 12, 202214:39
True Story, episode 39: Shut the Fuck Up!

True Story, episode 39: Shut the Fuck Up!

With Ukrainian filmmaker Taisiia Kutuzova about her new project Shut the Fuck Up!, following a shy Ukrainian young man Serhiy, outraged by corruption and injustice in his village near Kyiv, who becomes a whistleblower.

Jun 01, 202214:43
True Story, episode 38: Ivars Zviedris

True Story, episode 38: Ivars Zviedris

Latvian director Ivars Zviedris talks about his film Latvian Coyote, in which he follows smugglers and illegal immigrants, and reveals interesting information about his new project - a documentary musical.

May 22, 202217:55
True Story, episode 37: KIX - The Story of a Street Kid

True Story, episode 37: KIX - The Story of a Street Kid

Director and producer Bálint Révész discusses with True Story host Ivona Remundová his recent project KIX - The Story of a Street Kid (co-directed by Dávid Mikulán). For ten years, Bálint Révész has followed a troubled street kid, Sanyi, a public enemy facing involuntary manslaughter charges at the age of 16.

May 08, 202221:32
True Story, episode 36: Mariia Ponomarova

True Story, episode 36: Mariia Ponomarova

In March 2022, Ivona Remundová talked to Ukrainian producer and director Mariia Ponomarova about the need to listen to Ukrainian voices, her Ex Oriente Film workshop experience with documentary project Nice Ladies, and much more.

May 01, 202244:04
True Story, episode 35: Marianna Kaat

True Story, episode 35: Marianna Kaat

In November 2021, we talked to Marianna Kaat, Estonian director and producer, about her upcoming film The Last Relic, which won the East Doc Doc Platform Award in 2018, Marianna explains how she combines her directing and producing work, and much more.

Apr 10, 202223:15
True Story, episode 34: Judgment In Hungary

True Story, episode 34: Judgment In Hungary

With documentary filmmaker Eszter Hajdú, an episode on Hungary’s restrictive government, normalized racism against the Roma community, and generational differences when speaking out on injustice.

Mar 13, 202220:16
True Story, episode 33: Darya Bassel

True Story, episode 33: Darya Bassel

Ivona Remundová talked to the Ukrainian producer Darya Bassel in October 2021 about her new film Outside (directed by Olya Zhurba), which will have a World Premiere at CPH:DOX 2022. It is a story of a street boy Roma, known as the Child of Maidan in 2014, who 5 years later got back on the streets with nothing in his pocket but a lighter and a knife. Darya also discusses the Ukrainian documentary scene, financing and Docudays UA, where she works as a Programmer and a Head of DOCU/PRO Industry Platform.

Mar 06, 202222:32
True Story, episode 32: Vlad Ketkovich

True Story, episode 32: Vlad Ketkovich

Producer Vlad Ketkovich talks about the current situation in Russia, his successful film Life of Ivanna (dir. Renato Borrayo Serrano), recent project Shaman VS Putin (dir. Beata Bubenec) and much more.

Feb 20, 202231:52
True Story, episode 31: Ksenia Okhapkina

True Story, episode 31: Ksenia Okhapkina

Russian filmmaker Ksenia Okhapkina discusses the beauty and challenges of making her films Come Back Free (2016) and Immortal (2019), and her upcoming project about three revolutionary women in Russia, The Manifesto of Tenderness.

Feb 13, 202224:06
True Story, episode 30: When the War Comes

True Story, episode 30: When the War Comes

When the War Comes (2018) invites us into the world of a burgeoning leader who passionately recruits young men to protect the Slovakian homeland. From who? From what? Nicole and director Jan Gebert discuss populism, xenophobia, the leadership and ideology behind a paramilitary organization in Slovakia. Watch When the War Comes on HBO GO/Max.

Feb 06, 202230:36
True Story, episode 29: Common Language

True Story, episode 29: Common Language

Producer and director Volia Chajkouskaya discusses her short film Common Language (2019) about a visit to her parents and asking them daring and tough questions.

Jan 30, 202222:14
True Story, episode 28: In Praise of Nothing

True Story, episode 28: In Praise of Nothing

Boris Mitić, documentary director, writer and producer from Serbia, discusses his absurdist and poetic exploration of "Nothing" in his collaborative film achievement In Praise of Nothing (2017), narrated by Iggy Pop. In Praise of Nothing is available on Vimeo.

Jan 20, 202235:30
True Story, episode 27: Holy Father

True Story, episode 27: Holy Father

Romanian director, editor and cinematographer Andrei Dascalescu discusses his personal film Holy Father about becoming parents and relationship to his long-lost father. Andrei also talks about how covid changed the release of the film and his upcoming project. Holy Father is available on HBO GO Europe.

Jan 12, 202225:39
True Story, episode 26: Veton Nurkollari

True Story, episode 26: Veton Nurkollari

In this episode we talk to Artistic Director & Co-founder of Dokufest Veton Nurkollari about beginnings, discoveries and curating for children.

Dec 29, 202126:33
True Story, episode 25: Alina Gorlova

True Story, episode 25: Alina Gorlova

In this episode of True Story documentary podcast, we talk to Alina Gorlova, the director of No Obvious Signs (MDR Film Prize at DOK Leipzig) and This Rain Will Never Stop (IDFA First Appearence Award), about being on frontline, bravery and traumas.

Dec 15, 202125:36
True Story, episode 24: Anna Zamecka

True Story, episode 24: Anna Zamecka

True Story ep. 24 is focused on Anna Zamecka's film Communion (2016), which got the European Film Award 2017. Anna describes the origins of the project, working with children during the shooting and also discusses her new short film, which is part of the series W domu, shot in Spring 2020 by 16 Polish filmmakers about unexpected experience of isolation caused by pandemic.

Dec 09, 202125:17
True Story, episode 23: How I Became a Partisan

True Story, episode 23: How I Became a Partisan

Director Vera Lacková talks about the origins of her film How I Became a Partisan. Her search for and revealing of the stories of Romani partisans is based primarily upon the life story of her great-grandfather; Romani partisan Ján Lacko. The autobiographical quest brings the director closer to the previously unpublished facts concerning our history and discovers stories about people, who regardless of their different ethnic origin, stood united against evil.

Dec 01, 202122:19
True Story, ep. 22: Museum of the Revolution

True Story, ep. 22: Museum of the Revolution

Listen to ep. 22 of the True Story podcast with director Srdjan Keča and producer Vanda Jambrović, where they talk about their film Museum of the Revolution, a fable about a little girl, an old lady and an abandoned utopian project set for demolition. Srdjan and Vanja discuss the origins of the project and their collaboration, different layers of the film, pitching experiences and editing process. Museum of the Revolution has the World Premiere at IDFA on November 23 in Luminous competition section.

Nov 23, 202128:42
True Story, ep. 21: Davis Simanis

True Story, ep. 21: Davis Simanis

Davis Simanis talks about his new project exploring immortality, Death of Death (formerly known as Frankenstein 2.0), which will be pitched at IDFA Forum 2021, as well as about his previous films, such as D is for Division and Escaping Riga, his approach to filmmaking and society in Latvia.

Nov 17, 202125:28
True Story, episode 20: Peculiarity of Fisherman's Soul

True Story, episode 20: Peculiarity of Fisherman's Soul

Ivana Pauerová Miloševičová talks about her new film Peculiarity of Fisherman's Soul. A group of six good-natured men embark on a fishing foray to distant Norway. They are united by long-term friendship and desire for male adventure. Like another 20,000 Czechs, our heroes pack their fishing rods, waterproof jackets, lunch boxes and cartons of beer again and, as every year, they leave their partners, pubs, and homes behind...

Oct 25, 202119:44
True Story, episode 19: Personal Life of a Hole

True Story, episode 19: Personal Life of a Hole

With humor and inspiration, Ondřej Vavrečka and Nicole J. Adelman explore Ondřej's unique art film about personal relationships with holes. Song, silliness and a focus on the uncertain and unstable elements in life leads the discussion to find perfection in imperfection itself. How can we fall into and in love with the holes of the world.

Oct 06, 202121:18
True Story, episode 18: A New Shift

True Story, episode 18: A New Shift

Ivona Remundová talks to Jindřich Andrš about his award-winning documentary A New Shift.

Tomas has been working underground as a coal miner for 25 years. When the mine has to close due to the general decline of coal mining, he is offered a new career as a computer programmer. He enrolls in a state-funded re-education programme, preparing him for one of the most in-demand jobs. Tomas takes up the challenge and gets ready to transform his life radically. But will a forty something long-haired, subterranean punk rocker who has spent his whole life performing hard physical labour ever fit in with the young and trendy digital crowd?

Sep 29, 202114:47
True Story, episode 17: The Good Death

True Story, episode 17: The Good Death

Janette is terminally ill and wants to die in a dignified way but British laws do not allow it. She gets in touch with Dr. Erika in Switzerland, who is willing to help her. Muscular dystrophy, the illness that Janette suffers from, has affected her family for generations. Janette's mother was wheelchair bound for decades, becoming a prisoner in her own body. Janette refuses to wait for death in unbearable pain so she opts for physician-assisted suicide. Before leaving on her last journey from England to Switzerland, she has to explain her intention to her family members and close friends.

Sep 22, 202121:23
True Story, episode 16: Two Roads

True Story, episode 16: Two Roads

Ivona Remundová talks to director and producer Radovan Síbrt about his film Two Roads (East Doc Platform 2017 & 2019), which follows the members of The Tap Tap band and their director Šimon Ornest on tour.

The Jedlička Institute music class currently known as The Tap Tap band was founded 21 years ago by Šimon Ornest to give people with handicaps an opportunity to succeed outside of their daily institutional care. An observing and attentive camera captured the evolution of the personalities of several of the musicians over the course of several years.

Sep 15, 202121:27
True Story, episode 15: Grief

True Story, episode 15: Grief

Andrea Culková's documentary Grief openly explores the feelings experienced when we see the balance between the planet and human beings threatened by imminent climate collapse. The first film in the documentary series “Love&Rage” is mostly about members of Extinction Rebellion and mainly about women: director Andrea Culková finds that it is often women who perceive and experience climate change in a more immediate, pressing way.

Sep 08, 202119:19
True Story, episode 14: Once Upon a Time in Poland

True Story, episode 14: Once Upon a Time in Poland

Nicole J. Adelman talks to Filip Remunda about his and Vít Klusák's film Once Upon a Time in Poland. An epic journey and discovery of two nations and two worlds where religion does or does not play a part.  Another name for the film might be "When God looked for Karel" as it's also a coming-of-age and personal evolution story of one man exploring what religion, as a Czech, means for him. A must-watch and listen-to!

Sep 03, 202124:15
True Story, episode 13: Reconstruction of Occupation

True Story, episode 13: Reconstruction of Occupation

A look into what was, could be, and may still be. The banality of the simple perfection of our everyday lives and how it was used against a nation in order to occupy and control. Director Jan Šikl and producer Alice Tabery talk with Nicole J. Adelman about the archives used in the film, and about hope, open borders, peaceful protest and more...

Aug 21, 202125:07
True Story, episode 12: Every Single Minute

True Story, episode 12: Every Single Minute

Director Erika Hníková and producer Jiří Konečný discuss their film Every Single Minute, which follows Hanuliaks, a couple from Slovakia, who have decided to bring up their son according to Kamevéda, a complex approach to developing the child’s motor abilities and intellect. Erika and Jiří talk with Ivona Remundová about the process of filmmaking, parenthood, expectations and much more.

Aug 18, 202133:24
True Story: Episode 11: Living Water

True Story: Episode 11: Living Water

Water is everything. Pavel Borecký and Nicole J. Adelman discuss his work, the story of Jordan's groundwater, water for wheat and people over profit. What personal responsibility in these worlds mean and how sensory ethnography can help in sharing these stories. A beautiful film and an important message.

Aug 11, 202123:05
True Story: Episode 10: Salt from Bonneville

True Story: Episode 10: Salt from Bonneville

Two Men, a Bike and a Goal. Competition from Ukraine heads west to America to explore the landscape and the inspiration of bringing salt, and a world record for speed, on a Soviet refurbished motorcycle, back from the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, to the homegrown hunger for the sport found in the Ukraine. An invigorating, joyful and expansive film by Simon Mozgovyi.

Jan 15, 202119:54
True Story: Episode 09: Acasa, My Home

True Story: Episode 09: Acasa, My Home

In the wilderness of the Bucharest Delta, nine children and their parents occupied an off-grid homestead for 20 years until being chased out and forced to live in the big city. In his newest film, Radu Ciorniciuc documents the family as they face life in the system for the first time. Many difficult questions arise about the freedom and choice to: be illiterate, live off nature, ignore private property, not participate in the society, and many more...

Jan 08, 202121:24
True Story: Episode 08: An Ordinary Country

True Story: Episode 08: An Ordinary Country

When footage from the archives of the Polish Secret Service were revealed to filmmaker Tomasz Wolski, his passion for Polish history awakened the need to create An Ordinary Country; a haunting and important rememberance about surveillance, our current behaviors and how to frame, and possibly protect, our privacy and our abilities to improve our lives.

Jan 02, 202123:03
True Story: Episode 07: Merry Christmas, Yiwu

True Story: Episode 07: Merry Christmas, Yiwu

A gorgeous multi-layered narrative of factory and family life in Yiwu, China. How we consume, how we live, and a beautiful exploration of values, culture and questions regardin our global economy are raised in this True Story conversation.

Dec 18, 202030:22