Identity: A Czech Graphic Design Love Story

Internationally acclaimed auctioneer and Czech-American Nicholas Lowry travels from New York to Prague as an avid collector to explore what has shaped and defines the Czech national identity. His journey through the Czech Republic takes him to iconic graphic design locations, including the cities of Zlín, Litomyšl, Brno, and Pilsen, where he delves into the work of Tomáš Baťa, Josef Váchal, Alfons Mucha, and Ladislav Sutnar, and samples the famous Pilsner beer. The eccentric guide, dressed in his tartan suit, also ventures to South Moravia to investigate the aesthetics of wine labels. He embarks on a hiking trip along trails marked by the Czech Tourist Club with their innovative marking system and meets the current generation of artists such as Petr Babák, Martin Pecina, and Aleš Najbrt. Nicho connects with his own heritage by discovering the Czech identity—his great-uncle founded the Primeros factory in Prague, which also reflects the history of Czech graphic identity.

Kateřina (born 1978) is a Czech director, screenwriter, and dramaturg. She studied animation and multimedia creation at FAM and the Higher Vocational School of Journalism. She serves as the main dramaturg and producer of audiovisual projects at the National Pedagogical Institute of the Czech Republic. Her audiovisual work includes the documentary series "Papua New Guinea: Two Worlds" (2019), the documentary "Land of Stone Towers" (2017), the film "Jewish Museum in Prague" (2015), and "Meet Factory" (2009). She is also the creator of radio shows and radio documentaries.

Petr (born 1985) is a documentary filmmaker, editor, and director. He graduated from the Zlín Film School. For over seventeen years, he has been editing original documentaries, TV shows, TV feature films, and documentary series. His directorial debut, the medium-length documentary "Rok na dědině," won the main prize at the Acampadoc Panamá 2020 festival. His other works include "První máj" (2023) and "Chasing the Wada Dream" (2023).