The best documentary was awarded to 5 October directed by Martin Kollar.
The films in competition were limited to 2016 releases. Programme director Peter Badac told FNE one reason was that new releases are waiting for competition slots in international festivals. The second rationale was that, along with two national awards ceremonies with prizes decided by the Czech film industry in one case and by Czech film critics in the second case, the Finale Plzen competition gives a third perspective on the annual production.
He also noted that attendance at the festival was strong. “Because there were so many movies made last year, people weren’t able to see them all, so they see them here,” Badac said.
The festival, normally a local event, had a notable increase in foreign visitors this year thanks to a reinvigorated industry section, with dozens of festival directors, producers and industry decision-makers attending.
The festival was founded in 1968 but was shut down after just three years due to the hard-line political climate following the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. It was relaunched in 1992, and this year marks 49 years since it founding, but only its 30th anniversary edition.
The list of winners follows:
Best Feature or Animated Film
I, Olga HepnarovaJá / Olga Hepnarová (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, France)
Directed by Tomáš Weinreb, Petr Kazda
Produced by Black Balance
Coproduced by by Media Brigade, Alef Film and Media Group, Love.FRAME, Ace Prague, Barrandov Studios, Michael Samuelson Lighting Prague, FAMU, Arizona Films (France)
Supported by the Czech State Cinematography Fund, the Polish Film Institute, the Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Odra Film
Best Documentary
5 October (Slovakia, Czech Republic)
Directed by Martin Kollar
Produced by Punkchart Films
Coproduced by HBO Europe, endorfilm, 71km
Supported by the Slovak Audiovisual Fund, the Czech State Cinematography Fund
Best TV or Internet Series
Cosmic – Episode 2 (Czech Republic)
Directed by Bartek
Produced by Czech TV
Best TV or Internet Non-Serial
A Case for a Skier (Czech Republic)
Directed by Lucie Belohradska
Produced by Czech TV
Student Jury Prizes:
Feature or Animated Film
We Are Never Alone / Nikdy nejsme sami (Czech Republic, France)
Directed by Petr Václav
Produced by Mimesis Film
Coproduced by Cinema Defacto (France), i/o post, the Czech Television
Supported by the Czech State Cinematography Fund, Film Foundation
Documentary Film
NormalAutisticFilm / Normální autistický film
Directed by Miroslav Janek
TV or Internet Series
Semester (Czech Republic)
Directed by Adam Sedlak
Produced by Stream.cz
TV or Internet Non-serial
The Spike Girl (Czech Republic)
Directed by Martin Dolensky
Produced by Czech TV
