Sára Prokopová

RETUNING

As a new political establishment in Slovakia begins to reshape the public broadcaster, its employees face a turning point that raises questions about the future of public media and their role within it. Through the perspective of those who oppose the transformation, the film captures a local story that many around the world may recognize as their own.

SYNOPSIS

In 2024, a new political power in Slovakia triggers radical shifts to bring independent public media under control. Amidst deep uncertainty and growing censorship concerns, a strike committee forms within the institution. The camera witnesses hallway micro-worlds and the resistance of journalists who, overnight, are forced to defend their profession. This Quixotic struggle against the machinery of power shows how ordinary people standing up for shared values maintain their own integrity.

DIRECTOR
Sára Prokopová

PRODUCER
Tereza Tokárová

PRODUCTION COMPANY
Cinepunk

COUNTRY
Slovakia

Sára Prokopová

DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY

Sára Prokopová is a Slovak documentary filmmaker and a graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. Her work explores diverse themes, with a deep focus on how environments shape human identity. Alongside directing, she is active as a researcher and assistant director. Her collaborative credits include working with director Peter Kerekes (on Marathon Stories and MMM film), as well as the production company Marina Films. She is currently putting the finishing touches on her upcoming film, Retuning (2026).

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

Some films are born from fascination and creativity, some from frustration and an urgent need to react. The second reason was my reality in 2024 when Robert Fico returned to power - a prime minister whose previous government was marked by corruption allegations and the assassination of an investigative journalist and his fiancé. As the government began dismantling the rule of law by amending the Criminal Code and attacking culture and public sectors through radical legislative changes, I found myself working as an external director for RTVS, a key target institution. I started to document this gradual overhaul from within the strike committee, not knowing what the result of this 'archive' would be. I never wanted to make an investigative documentary. The goal was to give space to those who find the courage to stand up to this 'colossus' driven by arrogance and power. I wanted to show that every individual action matters, for if we do not act, no one else will.

Tereza Tokárová

PRODUCER’S BIOGRAPHY

Tereza Tokárová is an independent producer from Slovakia. In 2021, she founded the production company cinepunkt. Her films include Territory of Imagination by Paula Maľárová (IFF BELDOCS 2023) and Seablindness, directed by Tereza Smetanová (parallel premiere at DocLisboa and Ji.hlava 2025), currently on the festival circuit. Besides that, since 2019, she has worked as a producer at kerekesfilm, where she is working on Peter Kerekes’ documentary Marathon, Do Magic by Vera Lacková, and various international co-productions. Tereza is an alumna of Emerging Producers, EURODOC, IDFA Academy, and the American Film Showcase.

PRODUCER’S STATEMENT

When Sára Prokopová first approached me with the idea for her debut film Retuning, I immediately felt the urgency of the story. Public service television is undergoing a profound transformation, and what is happening inside it reflects wider shifts in our society: the fragility of independent media, censorship, and political pressure. I believe this is one of the defining topics of our time, not only in Slovakia but across Europe. Retuning is currently in post-production. To complete the film, we need to cover the remaining costs of post-production and the clearance of archive materials, which represent a significant part of the budget. Due to the film’s subject matter, we cannot apply for further support from public institutions such as the national film fund or Slovak Television — finding international partners is therefore crucial for us. At CineLink, we are primarily looking for co-production and financing partners, broadcasters, and sales agents. Our ambition is to present the film to international audiences and find partners who can pair it with a wider discussion of the topic in their local context. Although Retuning tells the story of Slovak public television, similar struggles over the independence and future of public media are unfolding in many countries around the world — which is why the film can resonate far beyond its local origins.

Production company profile

Founded by producer Tereza Tokárová, cinepunkt is an independent production company based in Slovakia,. We focus on creative documentary films with strong international potential, providing a platform for distinctive voices and original stories.

In 2023, cinepunkt completed its first feature-length documentary, Territory of Imagination, which premiered at the Beldocs International Film Festival and went on to win the Jury Award at the Cinematik International Film Festival. In 2025, we finished the short documentary Seablindness, co-produced with the Academy of Performing Arts. We are currently developing the feature-length documentary Parallel Space, which was selected for the ExOriente 2024 development programme and awarded the HBO Award at the East Doc Platform. Alongside it, several short and feature-length projects are in the early stages of development, continuing our commitment to nurturing fresh perspectives and cinematic experimentation. In 2025, we also launched our sister company, postpunkt, dedicated to supporting emerging and established film editors from Slovakia.


Where are we at?

TOTAL ESTIMATED BUDGET
€ 70.902

NEEDED FOR COMPLETION
€ 43.000

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