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The young wrist with a knife and inscription “Until Death Do Us Part” in our poster may have scared you, but you had the option afterwards to see the whole light-hearted context in the cute festival trailer. Worries as well as tender awakenings – both are combined in this year's motto. Some people perceive living together till death as the ideal they strive to fulfil, others find it scary and reject it as a heteronormative dictate. In our best tradition, the fifteenth edition of Mezipatra will take a look at both these viewpoints, as well as the range between, in our diverse and carefully selected program. First loves full of sunshine carrying the promise of eternity, stories of couples which have spent their whole lives together, immortal love of undead vampires, and fascination by someone who literally threatens your life – we bring all that to you on the screens of beautiful cinemas in Brno and Prague.

And since 15 years is a small anniversary, allow me to get a little sentimental. When I started working at the first Mezipatra, I wouldn't even dream about the festival proving so sustainable. It was not established by a wealthy producer nor a strong organization, it was not endowed with heavy funding; it has been built from nothing by stubborn students without a penny to their name. I cannot count how many sacrificed weekends, unpaid work till the wee morning hours, time snatched from studies, career and relationship those fifteen years mean. With love and gratitude, I would like to thank to everybody who, with no prospect of fame nor money, contributed to our hope that nothing can part us and queer cinema.

Aleš Rumpel, Festival Director