‘Up Again’ Director Eliska Cilkova Andrsova on Filming Teen Figure Skater for 3 Years: ‘The Technical Conditions Were Extremely Challenging’

Czech director Eliska Cilkova Andrsova spent three years following a teenage figure skating champion for her immersive documentary “Up Again,” which world premieres at the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival. The film opens with the sound of ice skates scraping in darkness, a recurring motif that plunges viewers into the intense world of competitive figure skating. Andrsova faced extremely challenging technical conditions while capturing the athlete’s grueling training and emotional journey, using specialized equipment to film on the ice and in rinks. The documentary offers a rare, intimate look at the sacrifices and pressures faced by young elite athletes, and why their stories resonate far beyond the rink. “Up Again” is poised to become a standout at Ji.hlava and a must-watch for sports and documentary fans.