“Democracy is a complex phenomenon. It is contingent, contested and constructed.”
Agon is a film essay that reflects about the meaning of democracy, and how it is contested. The film combines the aesthetics of the Czech capital Prague with an intercultural dialogue with the Indonesian community (and other communities) living in this city, thus opening up further spaces for democratic inquiry. Inspired by the book “Democracy and Media in Europe”, by Nico Carpentier and Jeffrey Wimmer, the essay merges political and cultural theory with fiction and dance. As an experiment in the reconciliation of academic and artistic approaches, Agon is an invitation to consider what democracy is and what it can be, how it is linked to space, how it is always a location of political struggle, and how it is threatened and always in need of active protection.
CAST
in order of appearance
| The Woman with the Balloons (aka Democracy) | Lucie Mahurskyj |
| The Narrator | Nico Carpentier |
| Judge I | Mazlum Kemal Dağdelen |
| Judge II | Vaia Doudaki |
| The Group Leader | Angga Ariestya |
| Group Member I | Ali Minanto |
| Group Member II | Nurul Dinda Latifah |
| The Family’s Female Member | Dilara Bozdogan |
| The Family’s Son | Sigi Gereilainge |
| The Family’s Male Member | Darmanto Simaepa |
| The Family’s Dog | Celestial Fenix Petrifikus Totalis |
| The Clown | Nurul Dinda Latifah |
| The Lost Visitor | Soegeng Soejono |
| Worker I | Angga Ariestya |
| Worker II | Eka Ramadhan |
| Worker III | Fardaniyan |
| The Masked Dancer I | Agus Prasetyo |
| The Masked Dancer II | Muhammad Sauqi |
| The Female Dancer | Fitri |
| The Man with a Dog | Bakidzanani Dube |
| The Dog in the Tunnel | Orman Snoopy Levandulovy Sen |
| The Man with the Crutch | Theo Zefanya Ebenezer |
| Passer-by I | Jana Rajab Rambova |
| Passer-by II | Theo Zefanya Ebenezer |
| Passer-by III | Sadia Zamir |
| Soldier I | Angga Ariestya |
| Soldier II | Bakidzanani Dube |
| Activist I | Rajab Muhamad |
| Activist II | Lucas Ramba |
| Activist III | Lucas Tomecka |
WATCH THE FULL FILM ESSAY
The film essay AGON: Constructions of Democracy has been published in Issue 16 of the Tecmerin journal and is now available in full length
SCREENINGS
Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, Cyprus
Screening at the Department of Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, Cyprus (3 March 2026).
Beaconhouse national university (BNU) in Lahore, Pakistan
Screening of the film as part of the 11th MCAP-BNU International Media Conference 2026, at the Beaconhouse national university (BNU), in Lahore, Pakistan (12 February 2026).
Fatima Jinnah Women University in Islamabad, Pakistan
Screening as part of guest lecture on “Arts-based research in communication and media studies: The film essay AGON as example”, 7th MCAP doctoral spring school 2026, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Islamabad, Pakistan (2 February 2026).
Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Screening as part of guest lecture on “Using arts-based research in communication and media studies: The film essay AGON as example”, Media Mondays I, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University (8 December 2025).
Ponrepo Kino, Prague, Czechia
Premiere of film essay AGON: Constructions of Democracy at the Ponrepo Kino in Prague, Czechia. Inspired by the book “Democracy and Media in Europe”, by Nico Carpentier and Jeffrey Wimmer, the essay merges political and cultural theory with fiction and dance. Ponrepo Kino, Prague, Czech Republic (23 October 2025).
Fachhochschule St. Pölten in St. Pölten, Austria
(Avant-premiere) screening at the 6th MeDeMAP consortium meeting, Fachhochschule St. Pölten, St. Pölten, Austria (24 – 26 September 2025).
FLOW34 @ IAMCR 2025 Conference in Singapore, Republic of Singapore
Screening of AGON: Constructions of Democracy as part of the IAMCR 2025 Conference, Singapore (13-17 July 2025).
Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
Upcoming screening as part of the conference presentation on “The shifting political center, democracy, and the foundations of journalism: how to survive in today’s polarized political landscape?” at the Media Conference 2026: Journalism, Freedom, Data, Privacy, Tallinn University, Estonia (26 March 2026)
Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
Upcoming screening at the Research Seminar on Media and Democracy, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary (23 April 2026).
THE MAKING OF AGON: CONSTRUCTIONS OF DEMOCRACY
AGON: Constructions of Democracy was filmed in multiple locations throughout Prague. Browse the photos from the set and take a look behind the scenes.
WATCH THE TRAILER
DISCLAIMER
This film essay is part of the Mapping Media for Future Democracies (MeDeMAP) project which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation action under Grant Agreement No 101094984. The views and opinions expressed in this film essay are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
AGON | 2025