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Have you ever wanted to watch a movie with friends? Of course, you have! The very beginnings of the film club emerged, where else, but at home on the couch, or more precisely, on chairs by the computer. During the intense COVID-19 crisis in 2021, everyone surely felt the absence of a popcorn-scented cinema hall and the great loneliness, which led to the first online movie watching session among a few friends. They wanted to nostalgically rewatch Sam Raimi's first Spider-Man trilogy, at least remotely. This was the very foundation of the Student Film Club.

After the end of the COVID restrictions, these film enthusiasts finally met in person in a living room, and the main focus of their recurring meetings became primarily films for discerning viewers by Stanley Kubrick, which sparked the need for discussion among the attendees. Over time, these film evenings turned into a discussion circle, which gradually expanded to include more members.

The turning point came in September 2022 when the members of the already established Student Film Club attended the Pilsen Finále festival as a jury in the feature and animated film category. At the festival, they had the opportunity to meet director Tomasz Wiński, who was presenting his first feature film "Borders of Love" (2022), which deals with romantic relationships and their contemporary forms. This film, which won the student jury prize at Finále, was later screened at the Faculty of Philosophy on November 24 at the invitation of the Student Film Club. Students and faculty from across the University of West Bohemia (UWB) had the opportunity to watch the film for free and subsequently discuss it with the director.

The themes of relationships and intimacy continued in subsequent screenings. On April 26, director Jana Počtová accepted our invitation with her documentary "Happily Ever After" (2022), which provides a look into the world of alternative relationship models. Thanks to Tomasz Wiński, the Student Film Club was able to establish cooperation with Šimon Holý and Tereza Vejvodová, who, along with him, are associated with the contemporary artistic manifesto "New Czech Intimacy". Director Šimon Holý prepared a screening of "Mirrors in the Dark" (2021) for us on May 4. Shortly after, on May 29, director Tereza Vejvodová concluded the screenings and discussions with two of her short films, "Roselyne" and "Demarcation".

In parallel, the Student Film Club also managed to establish cooperation with the project "BezTíže," which focuses on the adaptation of new students from Ukraine into education and their integration into the community of Czech and international students through cultural and educational activities. In this synergy, four screenings of foreign films have already taken place: "God Exists, Her Name is Petrunya" (2018), "Parasite" (2019), "Night on Earth" (1991), and "107 Mothers" (2021).

We are very grateful for all these collaborations and would like to thank everyone who has contributed and continues to contribute to making these screenings possible. Special thanks go to the directors who generously accepted our invitations, the home Department of Philosophy for its support, and the Faculty of Philosophy for providing the space.

Our meetings are not just about watching films but also about engaging in discussions. In public screenings with "New Czech Intimacy" and Jana Počtová, we had the opportunity to explore new alternative relationship models. In screenings with the "BezTíže" club, we discussed the integration of foreigners into the Czech Republic, all through films that allow us to view these topics from different perspectives.

The Student Film Club is certainly not ending, so don't expect the closing credits yet. What's next? We'll see – come watch with us! For more information on screenings, check out our Facebook group, the Student Film Club.