FNE at Czech Lions 2012: Poupata dominates Czech Lions Awards

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