04-03-2012

FNE at Czech Lions 2012: Poupata dominates Czech Lions Awards

By Anna Franklin

    {mosimage}PRAGUE: Poupata (Flower Buds) directed by Zdenek Jirasky dominated the annual Czech Lions awards (3 March 2012) winning awards for Best Film and Best Director as well as picking up awards for Best Cinematography and Best Leading Male Actor.

    Poupata is the story of a dysfunctional family in a small Czech town. It trumped pre-awards favourite, Odchazeni (Leaving), the directorial debut of Vaclav Havel, which despite receiving 12 nominations scored only the prizes for Best Script and Best Editing.

    The Czech Lions, organized by Petr Vachler's Vachler Art Studios (www.vac.cz), are the Czech equivalent of the Oscars and are awarded annually to the top Czech films of the previous year at a gala ceremony in Prague's historic Lucerna Hall. This year's awards were hosted by Czech singer and celebrity Lucie Bila.

    Vaclav Havel the former Czech president and dissident who passed away last year often attended the event with his wife Dagmar. His film Leaving was a sentimental favourite to take the top prize. But in the end the film which he directed in the final years of his life received only two prizes. Best Script and Best Editing. His widow, Czech actress Dagmar Havlova, accepted the prize for Best Script on stage on his behalf.

    Another film that fared well was the rotoscope animated feature Alois Nebel directed by Tomas Lunak and produced by Negativ Films. The film won prizes for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Music, Best Sound and Best Design.

    Czech Lions Prize Winners for Best Czech Films of 2011

    Best Film

    Poupata directed by Zdenek Jirasky

    Produced by Viktor Schwarcz (Cineart TV Prague)

    Best Director

    Zdenek Jirasky for Poupata

    Best Script

    Vaclav Havel for Leaving

    Produced by Buc-Film (www.bucfilm.cz)

    Best Camera

    Vladimir Smutny for Poupata

    Best Actress

    Anna Geislerova for Nevinnost

    Directed by Jan Hrebjk

    Produced by Infilm (www.infilm.cz) and Infinity Film

    Best Actor

    Vladimir Javorsky for Poupata

    Best Supporting Actress

    Tatiana Medvecka for Dum (The House)

    Produced by Fog ‘n' Desire Films (www.fogndesirefilms.com)

    Best Supporting Actor

    Hynek Cermak for Nevinnost

    Best Editing

    Jiri Brozek for Leaving

    Best Sound

    Viktor Ekrt, Ondrej Jezek for Alois Nebel

    Directed by Tomas Lunak

    Produced by Negativ Film (www.negativ.cz)

    Best Music

    Petr Kruzik, Ondrej Jezek for Alois Nebel

    Best Design

    Jaromir 99, Henrich Boraros, Noro Drziak for Alois Nebel

    Best Documentary

    Pod Sluncern tma (Solar Eclipse) directed by Martin Marecek

    Produced by Hypermarket Film (www.czech-dream.com)