In fashion of the idiotically bragging claim that officially promoted the 2009 Czech EU Presidency (“We will make it sweet for Europe”), this year’s midnight section will focus on one trend which bridges Europe's diverse viewpoints and ethnicities. After decades of exploring the depths of edgy genres, which suited lovers of genre and trash films, we will delve into an area unfairly neglected by the fans of decadence, even despised by some, although (or perhaps because) being the most visible one. We will focus on stupid mainstream comedies.

Folk entertainment is the core pillar of any local cinema. It generates a crucial part of the domestic film industry turnover, and it also plays a key role in forming and defining national identity. This is done through thematizing the resistance to external influences, exaggeratedly prejudiced depictions of foreigners and reinforcing domestic values that are just stupid, successfully implanted stereotypes.

So what is it that unifies Europe, at least across popular film production? Unsurprisingly, it’s boozing, bonking and glorification of genial nature or savvy over wiseacres or annoying local authorities. Each film of our modest but all the more intense excursion into Euro-boorishness will take us to a different country. We will present some of the most sophisticated, but also the most down-to-earth, bizarrely cloddish and fecally depraved local hits. This year’s midnight screenings will be encumbered with sweat and stale air as well as shame, embarrassment, perverse fun and alarmingly infectious rowdiness.