Prague, Czech Republic – Jiri Madl’s poignant historical drama, “Vlny” (“Waves”), emerged as the dominant force at the Czech Film and Television Academy’s (CFTA) Czech Lion Awards, held in Prague on Saturday, securing the coveted title of Best Czech Feature Film of 2024. The film, which vividly portrays the tumultuous events of the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, captivated both critics and audiences, becoming the highest-attended Czech film in local cinemas last year.   

“Waves” entered the awards with an impressive 14 nominations, ultimately winning six Czech Lions, including Best Feature Film, Best Director for Jiri Madl, and Best Screenplay, also penned by Madl. The film’s technical prowess was further recognized with the Best Sound award, presented to Viktor Ekrt. Notably, “Waves” achieved significant success in Slovakia, becoming the most successful Czech-produced film since the nation’s independence in 1993.   

Despite being submitted for Oscar consideration in the Best International Feature Film category, “Waves” did not advance to the final shortlist.   

Producer Monika Kristlova accepted the Best Film award, delivering a powerful speech that highlighted the crucial role of public service media during the 1968 invasion. "I highly appreciate that we still have media with public corporation status in the Czech Republic," she stated.   

The acting categories saw Pavla Beretova awarded Best Actress for her role in “Rok vdovy” (“Year of the Widow”), while Oldrich Kaiser received Best Actor for “Zahradnikuv rok” (“The Gardener’s Year”). Supporting roles were celebrated with Tatiana Pauhofova and Stanislav Majer, both from “Waves,” winning Best Supporting Actress and Actor, respectively.   

Pauhofova, a Slovak native, dedicated her award to Slovak journalists defending democracy, while Majer expressed hope that such historical events would never be repeated.   

Viktor Taus’s “Amerikanka,” a film inspired by a true story of a girl’s struggle for freedom under the communist regime, earned Czech Lions for Best Costumes (Jan Kadlec) and Best Production Design (also Jan Kadlec). “Jeste nejsem, kym chci byt” (“I am still not what I want to be”), directed by Klara Tasovska, received the Best Documentary award and Best Film Editing (Alexandr Kashcheyev).   

Out of 29 films competing across 22 categories, the CFTA also honored Karel Smyczek with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his extraordinary contributions to Czech cinematography, and Mario Klemens (posthumously) for his contributions to Czech music.   

The 2024 Czech Lion Awards underscored the enduring power of historical narratives and the vital role of artistic expression in reflecting and preserving national memory.

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