27-09-2010

Czechs submit Kawasaki's Rose for Oscar bid

By Irena Zemanová

    The Czech Film and Television Academy (www.cfta.cz) has chosen Kawasaki's Rose directed by Jan Hřebejk as its entry for the Oscar best foreign language film category. The film beat out leading contenders Kuky's Return by Oscar winner Jan Sverak and Three Seasons in Hell directed by Tomáš Mašín.

    Psychological drama was produced by Rudolf Biermann and his company Infilm (www.infilm.cz).

    "Kawasaki´s Rose was the clear winner among the final three movies we chose," Petr Vachler of CFTA announced. "However, Katka, a feature length documentary by director Helena Třeštíková, was also among those that were considered."

    Kawasaki´s Rose was previously awarded at this year´s Berlinale and won two national Czech Lions.

    "I'm happy with the Czech Film and Television Academy decision, but I can't say how Kawasaki will work abroad," director Jan Hřebejk commented. However, the story of a former communist prison investigator and his guilt, his victims, and the punishment that never came, may now interest several new foreign distributors, Hřebejk´s thinks. "I guess that only the possibility of a future Oscar nomination can help us abroad," said Hřebejk, who is now in production with his latest movie, the drama Innocence.

    The 83rd Annual Awards of the American Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences (www.oscars.org) will announce their nominations on 25 January, and the awards ceremony takes place on 27 Febuary, 2011, in Los Angeles.