The legendary Lucerna Cinema in Prague will host the finals of the student film showcase Mission: Film on Wednesday, October 22. Young filmmakers will present not only their creative talent on the big screen but also the unique perspective of a new generation on the opportunities offered by space, modern technologies, and their own visions of the future. The competition is organized by ESA BIC Czech Republic, an incubator supporting startups that use space technologies or data, in cooperation with the Future Gate Film Festival. The main partners of the event are Česká spořitelna and the Česká spořitelna Foundation.
Dozens of teams from elementary, secondary, and university levels participated in the first edition of the competition. Students created their films during the spring and summer months, often in close collaboration with teachers and experts. They were also able to draw inspiration directly from observatories and planetariums, including the newly renovated Prague Planetarium and the Brno Observatory and Planetarium.
“We often feel that space belongs mainly to the worlds of technology and science. But for generations, artists have proven that space is also an enormous source of inspiration for culture. Just look at how strongly it has influenced literature, music, and film — from classical works to modern pop culture, which, thanks to American and European films and series, has brought space much closer to the general public. A competition like Mission: Film beautifully shows that there is room for discovery not only for scientists and engineers but also for creators and artists,” says Jan Spratek, space popularizer and expert in astronautics from Planetum and ESA-ESERO Czech Republic.
Audiences will see 16 out of the total 30 films that made it to the big screen thanks to their exceptional quality. The screening will be complemented by a program dedicated to the Czech Path to Space project and space technologies. Students will learn about other competitions and activities in the fields of astronautics, natural sciences, and technology in which they can participate. During the final morning, they will also get to know Czech space companies, and the Česká spořitelna Foundation will introduce its financial education program Skoala. The ESA BIC Czech Republic business incubator, operated by CzechInvest, will then demonstrate that world-class technologies are also being developed in the Czech Republic. The Česká spořitelna Foundation will focus on supporting education and inspiring young people to explore science and technology.
“Supporting young talent and developing financial literacy go hand in hand. We want to show students that making smart financial decisions is important not only in everyday life but also when realizing their boldest dreams — whether that means filmmaking or reaching for the stars,” says Lucie Ellingerová from the Česká spořitelna Foundation.
In cooperation with Česká spořitelna, an Audience Award will also be announced, decided by the public through online voting. One film across all categories will receive this special recognition, with the winning authors receiving tickets to a planetarium and the video game Mafia: Domovina.
Winners in four categories will be selected by a professional jury consisting of actress Aňa Geislerová, actor and director Jiří Mádl, Tereza Kubicová (Secretary of the Czech Path to Space), Lucie Ellingerová (Communications Manager at the Česká spořitelna Foundation), and Pavel Dobrovský, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of ABC Magazine. All winning teams will receive valuable prizes, with the top award — a visit to the European Space Agency, where they will meet experts working on international space missions — reserved for high school and university students.
The Mission: Film finals are part of Czech Space Week 2025, a festival that connects science and industry with the general public. This traditional festival takes place across the Czech Republic and is one of the country’s most significant events promoting space exploration. The film showcase finals are held with the financial support of the City of Prague, to which we extend our gratitude.
