Nothing Like Before Among HBO Europe’s 2017-18 Doc Lineup

HBO Europe has revealed its 2017-18 documentary slate, which features, among others, Lukáš Kokeš’ Nothing Like Before.

The feature documentaries provide a glimpse of intimate moments, everyday lives and personal histories across the worlds of sports, politics, film, music and more. The slate was unveiled during IDFA 2017 (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam), where a record number of HBO Europe documentaries have been selected, including Mila Turajlić’s The Other Side of Everything, Maciej Bochniak’s Ethiopiques: Revolt of the Soul, Kokeš’ Nothing Like Before and a special retrospective screening of Alexander Nanau’s multi-award-winning Toto and His Sisters as part of the festival’s 30th anniversary. The Other Side of Everything has also been selected for the festival’s Camera in Focus program, which celebrates films of high cinematographic quality.

The lineup also includes When the War Comes, The Other Side of the Medal and Love Express.

The news follows on the heels of a strong year for HBO Europe’s documentaries, with Anna Zamecka’s Polish coming-of-age film Communion garnering a European Film Award nomination for best documentary, following 22 Grand Prix award wins at festivals worldwide to-date. In addition, Balázs Simonyi’s marathon-running documentary Ultra (Hungary) was longlisted for a European Film Award and broke audience records on its premiere on HBO Europe in June, while The Lust for Power (Slovakia) made the top ten box office in its home country on theatrical release last month.

Hanka Kastelicova, HBO Europe’s VP and executive producer for documentaries, said, “Central and Eastern Europe has a big documentary tradition and many gifted filmmakers, and our current slate and recent successes reflect the enviable talent that the region has to offer. I’m especially proud to be working with so many young directors, supporting them to make their first or second features and to tell stories that reflect our younger audience’s lives, hopes and fears for the future.

“At HBO Europe, we’re open to innovative ideas, we care for modern storytelling and we aim for high production values, and this along with a lot of love, hard work and dedication has resulted in a lineup of films that will provoke, inspire and entertain audiences in the region and beyond.”