In 2019, almost three hundred thousand people gathered on the Letna Plain in Prague. They were demonstrating against the prime minister and the president, but above all, standing up for democracy. Two students who feared for the future of the Czech Republic addressed the crowd from a stage. This unique film about Mikuláš Minář and Benjamin Roll uncovers the gripping story of the founders of the Million Moments for Democracy movement. Director Amálie Kovářová spent six years capturing the behind-the-scenes of the group behind the largest political protest since the Velvet Revolution. It went through ups and downs, times of enthusiasm and lethargy, being showered with praise and disappointing its supporters. Mik and Ben experienced it all from the beginning. Two young men who believed that, even in the toughest moments, hope can prevail.

The screening will be followed by a discussion in Slovak and Czech with simultaneous interpretation into English:

How can we protect democratic values in a public sphere filled with polarisation, distrust, hate speech, disinformation, and ongoing crises? What role do citizens and initiatives such as Slovak Open Culture or the Czech association A Million Moments for Democracy, which have been mobilising the public to defend democracy, open culture, and European values, play in this? Do they stand a chance to change anything? And where is the line between civic activism and politics, and what happens if someone crosses it?

Guests:

• Mikuláš Minář, co-founder of the association A Million Moments for Democracy
• Amálie Kovářová, director of the film Million Moments
• Katarína Mišíková, Open Culture!

Hosted by Lukáš Osvald, People in Need

The event is part of the European project CLAD – Citizens & Libraries Against Disinformation, which aims to provide citizens in Slovakia and Portugal with tools to recognize disinformation. More information about the project: www.goethe.de/clad