Cenu Trilobit: Vítězové a poražení | Otec a TV Rada
The Czech Film and Television Academy (FITES) announced the winners of its 39th annual awards ceremony this Wednesday evening at Prague’s New Town Hall. A total of 14 awards were presented, including four newly established prizes, selected from a pool of 123 submitted films.
A Unanimous Choice for Dramatic Excellence
The drama Otec (Father) received unanimous acclaim from the judging panel. According to the academy, “The filmmakers have created a multi-layered film that does not merely depict tragedy – the death of a child – but also captures, through its suggestive form and the extraordinary performance of Milan Ondrík, the unpredictable twists of our subconscious.” The film centers on a father whose life is irrevocably altered by a single, tragic mistake, shattering his marriage and leaving him isolated.
Documentary Recognized with International Potential
The traditional “Powerlessness” award was given to Pavel Talankin and David Borenstein for their documentary, Pan Nikdo proti Putinovi (Mr. Nobody vs. Putin). This film is currently under consideration for an American Academy Award (Oscar) in the documentary category.
Lifetime Achievement Awards
The Vladislav Vančura Award for lifetime achievement was jointly presented to screenwriter and director Hynek Bočan, and Slovak screenwriter, director, cinematographer, and poet Dušan Hanák. The jury recognized their professional mastery and their long-term exploration of individual and societal traumas.
New Awards Recognize Journalism and Sound Design
A newly created Adam Černý Award for exceptional journalistic audiovisual work in news or public affairs was awarded to director Lea Surovcová, specifically for her documentary Dětská paliativní péče (Children’s Palliative Care). The Josef Šlechta Award for outstanding cinematography went to Ferdinand Mazurek for his work on Zahradníkův rok (The Gardener’s Year).
The Bohumír Brunclík Award for best sound design was shared by Juraj Baláž, Martin Jílek, and Peter Hilčanský for the biographical film Duchoň. The Dialog Paměti 2026 (Memory Dialogue 2026) award was given to the creators of Popel (Ashes), a Czech, Spanish, and French co-production that traces the fate of a Basque youth who disappeared on the eve of World War II.
A Critical Award for Television Oversight
The “Citron” critical award was presented to ten former and current members of the Czech Television Council who voted in 2020 to remove the supervisory committee of the Czech Television Council. Hana Lipovská, who proposed the removal, was among those named.
Additional Trilobit awards were given to the creators of four films: Co s Péťou? (What to do with Péťa?), Má to cenu!? (Is it Worth It?!), Sbormistr (The Choir Master), and Za oponou velehor (Behind the High Mountains).
The Josef Škvorecký Award was presented to the Association for Film and Audiovisual Education for its website, Film & výchova pro školy (Film & Education for Schools).
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the unanimous award winner at the FITES awards?
The drama film Otec (Father) received the unanimous award from the judging panel.
Which documentary is being considered for an American Oscar?
The documentary Pan Nikdo proti Putinovi (Mr. Nobody vs. Putin) is currently under consideration for an American Academy Award.
Who received the lifetime achievement awards?
Hynek Bočan and Dušan Hanák both received the Vladislav Vančura Award for lifetime achievement.
As Czech cinema continues to evolve, what role do you think awards ceremonies like these play in shaping the future of the industry?