Zatopek, directed by David Ondříček and produced by the director himself & Kryštof Mucha of LUCKY MAN FILMS, dominated the Czech Lion Awards 2021 with 8 wins. The biopic of Czech 3-times Olympic champion Emil Zátopek won Best Feature Film, Best Director, Actor in a Leading Role (Václav Neužil), Best Cinematography (Štěpán Kučera), Best Sound (Jakub Čech & Pavel Rejholec), Best Film Editing (Jarosław Kamiński), Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Jana Dopitová) and Best Stage Design (Jan Vlasák).

In the battle for the most valuable prize, Zatopek edged out Occupation, a black comedy about a sleepy actor's party in socialist Czechoslovakia, by Michal Nohejl, which was awarded three prizes - Best Screenplay (Marek Šindelka & Vojtěch Mašek), Best Music (La Petit Sonja & Hank J. Manchini) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Antonie Formanová).

Best Documentary award went to Intensive Life Unit, directed by Adéla Komrzý and produced by Pavla Janoušková Kubečková of nutprodukce, which deals with the themes of paliative care and death. The prize for Best Animated Film was handed over to creators of Even Mice Belong in Heaven - directors Denisa Grimmová & Jan Bubeníček, producers Vladimír Lhoták of Fresh Films and Alexandre Charlet of French Les Films du Cygne.

Best Short Film made Diana Cam Van Nguyen (in production of Karolína Davidová of 13ka), whose anidoc Love, Dad also won the Magnesia Award for the Best Student Film. The director gave up EUR 4 000, which is awarded as part of the prize in co-operation with Mattoni 1873, Czech Film and Television Academy and the Czech Film Fund, in favour of the organisation Člověk v tísni which helps war victims in Ukraine.

The most prominent element of the gala evening in Prague's Rudolfinum was, indeed, the support for Ukraine and the condemnation of Russian war aggression. This was present in the emotional and appealing speeches by many of the award-winning filmmakers and guests of the evening, as well as in the presence of the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Czech Republic, Jevhen Perebyjnis.

The full list of winners:

BEST FEATURE FILM
Zatopek - producers Kryštof Mucha & David Ondříček

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Intensive Life Unit - director Adéla Komrzý, producer Pavla Janoušková Kubečková

BEST DIRECTOR
Zatopek - David Ondříček

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Emma in Love - Pavla Gajdošíková

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Zatopek - Václav Neužil

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Occupation - Antonie Formanová

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
The Man with Hare Ears - Oldřich Kaiser

BEST SCREENPLAY
Occupation - Vojtěch Mašek, Marek Šindelka

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Zatopek - Štěpán Kučera

BEST FILM EDITING
Zatopek - Jarosław Kamiński

BEST SOUND
Zatopek - Jakub Čech, Pavel Rejholec

BEST MUSIC
Occupation - La Petit Sonja, Hank J. Manchini

BEST STAGE DESIGN
Zatopek - Jan Vlasák

BEST COSTUMES
Božena - Katarina Štrbová Bieliková

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Zatopek - Jana Dopitová

BEST TELEVISION FILM OR MINISERIES
Božena - producer Michal Reitler, creator Lenka Wimmerová

BEST TELEVISION SERIES
The Defender - producer Michal Reitler, creators Tereza Kopáčová, Tomáš Mašín, Tomáš Feřtek & Matěj Podzimek

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Even Mice Belong in Heaven - directors Denisa Grimmová and Jan Bubeníček, producers Vladimír Lhoták and Alexandre Charlet

BEST SHORT FILM
Love, Dad - Diana Cam Van Nguyen

HONORARY AWARD FOR UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO THE CZECH FILM
Ivo Špalj

MAGNESIA AWARD FOR THE BEST STUDENT FILM – non-statutory award
Love, Dad - Diana Cam Van Nguyen

BEST FILM POSTER - non-statutory award
Zatopek - Julie Vrabelová, Jakub Spurný, Zdeněk Trinkewitz a Aleš Najbrt

AWARD OF FILM FANS - non-statutory award
Zatopek - David Ondříček