Echoes of the Nisa Film Festival at Sýpka Lemberk

ECHOES OF THE NISA FILM FESTIVAL AT SÝPKA LEMBERK
Sep 25 - Sep 27, 2026

In cooperation with the Neiße-Nysa-Nisa Film Festival

The Neiße-Nysa-Nisa Film Festival was founded directly in the Czech-German-Polish tri-border area and annually brings the latest film productions from all three neighboring countries to two dozen screening venues across the region. Its uniqueness lies not only in its tri-national and cross-border character but also in its emphasis on rural locations as living spaces for culture, meeting, and mutual understanding. That is why its Echoes naturally head to Sýpka Lemberk – a place that similarly seeks ways to connect contemporary art, local audiences, and cultural events on both sides of the border.

Moreover, watching films together is a quintessential part of the beginning of autumn – blankets and light refreshments will be prepared at Sýpka so you can enjoy the screenings in warmth and comfort. Furthermore, we have chosen the screening times with regard to public transport arrivals and departures from the nearest larger towns, so you can set out for the Echoes even without a car.

Friday and Saturday screenings are intended for adults, Sunday for families with children. Ticket price for 1 screening block: 120 CZK, pass for all 3 sessions (entire NFF Echoes at Sýpka): 300 CZK

Advance ticket purchase via the form: https://forms.gle/eYLD6yqpV8rgQbF57 or on-site before the screening.

Friday Sep 25, 2026 5:17 PM
Best of Short Films

A selection of the best, most popular, and most interesting short films from the 23rd NFF program. On the program:

Niech Zostanie Bez Tytułu (Let's Leave It Untitled)

director: Mieszko Chomka, PL 2025, 15 min

Neisse Fish: Best Short Film

Neisse Fish: Youth Jury Award for Short Film

In a video diary, a young man shares important moments he experienced during one year with his girlfriend and a friend. Many new insights emerge, along with big changes, but also immense uncertainty.

Kafirdi

director: Yevgeniya Soldatova, CZ 2025, 13 min

In a diverse community of roommates also lives the refugee Nagriz with her younger brother. Recently, she has been working as a masseuse in an illegal massage parlor operating directly in the house. When one of the customers rapes her, everyone comes to her aid, including Daniel. But what now?

*Padá město, něco si přej (*Make a Wish as the City Falls)

director: Eliška Dobnerová, CZ 2025, 8 min

Special Mention: Best Short Film

Four witnesses of that era recall their former life in a city that, due to coal mining, no longer exists as it once did. When home falls apart, what remains?

Slaný karamel (Salted Caramel)

director: Mustafa Khalaf, DE 2025, 19 min

Fey's parents have divorced. During a visit to her father, Fey rejects his pitiful attempts to convince her to return to her mother. And then she also finds out about an impending eviction lawsuit. A film about letting something go, whether voluntarily or not.

Martwe Tango (The Dead Tango)

director: Jan Seraphim, PL 2025, 16 min

Neisse Fish: Audience Award for Short Film

Stefan is an undertaker and likes to listen to music at work. It makes him happy and life bearable. One day he finds a tango record at a flea market that brings the dead to life. Will Stefan discover dance now?

Immerhin (At Least)​

director: Olaf Held, Jens Rosemann, DE 2025, 3 min

“There’s some series or something where a comet is hurtling toward Earth and people only have seven days left. At least something.” Or: Better than nothing

My Motherland is Checkered​

director: Polina Prokofeva, DE 2025, 13 min

Special Mention: Best Short Film

Based on letters from women serving long sentences in Russian prisons for political reasons, the film impressively and uncompromisingly opens up a space for experienced encounters with the abuse of power, pain, and oppression, using a combination of 2D animation and theatrical elements.

Snovník (Paper Dream)​

director: Laura Boráros, CZ 2025, 4 min

When neighbors celebrate, sleep often remains out of reach. An annoyed and simultaneously curious man decides to secretly get to the bottom of what is happening. What he sees, he would never have imagined.

Saturday Sep 26, 2026 5:17 PM
Feature Film: Mambo Maternica

HU, DE, FR | 2026 | 92 min

Director: Borbála Nagy – Screenplay: Borbála Nagy – Cinematography: Moritz Friese – Production: Petra Iványi, Margarita Amineva-Jester – Editing: László Dunai – Production Design: Gréta Melicher – Cast: Rozi Székely, Vera Sipos, Orsolya Török-Illyés – Academy: Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin

In Paris, Adél faces an unwanted pregnancy. In Budapest, Nóra hides the fact that she wants to adopt a child with her husband. In Berlin, Becky confronts her family with a fait accompli regarding her desire to become a single mother. Three women in their early forties at a turning point in their lives. Whether it's abortion, infertility, or single parenthood – their apparent solutions lead to even more complex conflicts. The story asks the question: How free are they really? Will society judge them, or is the real boundary the cage they built themselves?

Sunday Sep 27, 2026 3:15 PM
Children's Cinema: Treasures of DEFA Animated Films from Dresden

Stories about Rübezahl, a water goblin, a little dragon, and Hans, who found happiness, could easily take place here in our tri-border area. Four animated films from Dresden will transport children to worlds still ruled by nature, full of magic, myths, and legends. Small works of art are coming to the screen: silhouette animation, cutout animation, and puppetry. Program by the German Institute for Animated Film (DEFA) for children from 6 years old.

Rübezahl und der Schuster / Rübezahl and the Cobbler

GDR, ČSSR | 1975 | 15 min

Director: Stanislav Látal – Screenplay: Stanislav Látal – Production: Věra Henzlová, Karin Böhmer, Jiří Trnka – Editing: Anita Uebe – Puppetry: Zdeněk Vinš, Barbara Eckhold, Eberhard Klotzsche

In the Giant Mountains once lived a cobbler with his wife. However, he constantly stole, and his wife no longer knew what to do with him. So she asked the good spirit of the mountains, Rübezahl, for help.

Großvaters Suppenkessel / Grandfather's Soup Pot

GDR | 1987 | 16 min

Director: Walter Eckhold – Screenplay: Walter Eckhold – Production: Sigrid Weidhaas – Editing: Renate Ritter – Animation: Walter Eckhold

A little dragon needs to build up strength at his grandfather's because he cooks the best soups. But the witch Krakelie stole his pot. Dragons won't stand for that.

Hans im Glück / Hans in Luck

GDR | 1990 | 8 min

Director: Marion Rasche – Screenplay: Marion Rasche – Production: Sigrid Weidhaas – Editing: Hanna Fürst – Animation: André Schmidt

Hans received a gold nugget for seven years of work. On the way home, he traded and traded, until he was left with only a whetstone. But that gets lost – is it important for a person to be happy?

Als es noch Wassermänner gab / When There Were Still Water Goblins

GDR | 1989 | 25 min

Director: Jan (Johannes) Hempel – Screenplay: Jan (Johannes) Hempel – Production: DEFA-Studio für Trickfilme, Helga-Maria Uhlig – Editing: Jürgen Hempel, Eva d’Bomba – Puppetry: Steffen Brandes

In the old land of the Sorbs: Jan, a peat cutter, wants to marry the beautiful Hanka. In a hopeless situation, the water goblin's magic violin helps. In the end, the wedding can be prepared.