At present, the digital formats are the newest, most dynamically developing sphere of media. The entries submitted this year in the digital category of the Heart of Europe Festival are perhaps the most varied, both in terms of form and theme. There’s a game, an app, a podcast, films of different kinds and a live charity concert. Every project is characterized by its own distinct mission which, contrary to the popular belief, is not always to simply keep the user entertained. Each of the submitted entries is different and although they are not always as meticulously put together as some of the more traditional formats, they are all incredibly up-to-date.

“What is very distinctive about the digital category is the way in which the projects address current events and the present needs of the users,” says Malwina Kawecka, a juror in the Digital category. They are all a spontaneous response to what is happening in the world: the growing social divisions, the pandemic, the war in Ukraine. For instance, the Czech entry Art-Rambles was developed as a lockdown project to help the user navigate the world of outdoor art at the time when exhibitions were cancelled and galleries were closed.

The topics covered are different from what we saw before. Last year, the main focus of the digital category was education – a priority in the time of lockdown and remote schooling. Now that access to education is no longer the most pressing challenge, the digital category has progressed thematically in the direction of current affairs. This year’s submissions touch upon more serious issues, are oriented towards awareness-raising and mostly targeted at an older user. Among the covered topics is, of course, the war in Ukraine. But there are a lot of stand-out projects. One example is the Latvian entry The Cage – a show in the form of a dynamic debate on one of today’s divisive topics including veganism, discrimination, climate change and unemployment. It features two people with opposing views as well as nine neutral spectators who evaluate their verbal duel. What matters is not the position the participants take but their ability to defend it. With clearly set rules, there is no risk of a the show turning into a screaming match. This proves that even the strongest of views can be presented in a way that does not generate conflict.

“It is a memorable project and I would love to see TVP’s version of it. I believe that it is part of the public broadcaster’s mission to raise awareness and show the viewers how to hold a constructive debate. A program like this teaches us to be open to other people’s perspective and reasoning. It gives us a chance to draw our own conclusions and provides the much-needed space for dialogue.”