Czech documentary about Romani footballers premiered yesterday in Prague

After the unanticipated cancellation of the premiere of the documentary film “FC ROMA” at the stadium of the Bohemians Praha 1905 football club earlier this week, the film was screened at a different location yesterday evening. The Containall arts and entertainment space in Prague’s Lesser Quarter agreed to be the venue.

The film by Rozálie Kohoutová and Tomáš Bojar was prevented from being screened at the stadium by the Bohemians Praha 1905 Fan Club, who justified their proposal by saying it would constitute a “serious security threat” because factions of fans who do not share the same politics would clash during the event. The Fan Club has agreed with its members to thoroughly eliminate any “political” topics from their events.

The filmmakers unequivocally reject the idea that their documentary is political in nature and allege that it is the complications regarding its premiere, caused by the football club fans, that have politicized it. Together with the HateFree Culture campaign, the film’s distribution partner, the filmmakers have expressed the view that nobody should back down in the face of such pressure.

The film investgates the issue of race through the eyes of a football club competing in a district championship that is predominantly comprised of Romani players. It was screened this summer at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival before its official premiere.

That premiere was held yesterday at 20:00. The capacity of the venue was smaller than that of the stadium, but organizers said they “welcome fans of film and sport irrespective of race, religion, or which football team they support”.