Three fiction features defined 2019 in Czech cinema, at least judging by the laureates of domestic awards, each one of them representing a different style and form of filmmaking. Ondřej Provazník and Martin Dušek’s revenge road-dramedy Old-Timers [+lee también:
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The result of the annual Czech Lion Awards gala, organised by the Czech Film and Television Academy (CFTA), was predictable, at least as far as Best Film was concerned, as usually, the accolade goes to the film nominated by the CFTA for the Oscars race (see the news). Indeed, the drama following a young boy through the abuse and trauma of a World War II-era wasteland netted eight awards, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Cinematography. Furthermore, Marhoul, the mastermind behind the provocative adaption of Jerzy Kosinski’s controversial novel, who served as the producer, writer and director of The Painted Bird, took home the Award for Extraordinary Audiovisual Achievement, thus cementing the film’s dominance. The feature’s success paves the way for Marhoul’s English-language debut, McCarthy, a biopic of former US senator Joseph McCarthy, outside the Czech Republic.

The opinions of the domestic critics and academy members did not differ that significantly. Both organisations deemed Jiří Havelka’s feature debut, Owners, worthy of Best Screenplay, and his leading and supporting actresses Tereza Ramba and Klára Melíšková netted accolades for their performances (seven actors from the Owners cast were in the running for various gongs). Meanwhile, Jiří Schmitzer’s performance in the lead role of Old-Timers was also acknowledged. Moreover, the academy members awarded Schmitzer’s co-star and the “partner in crime” in the film, Ladislav Mrkvička, with the accolade for Best Supporting Actor. Director Martin Mareček returned to the stage to receive the Best Documentary Award for his documentary road movie Over the Hills [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] after winning in the same category during the Czech Film Critics’ Awards gala. Besides Václav Marhoul, another important winner was Jaromír Kallista, the long-term producer of Jan Švankmajer’s films and the subject of the recent documentary Athanor – The Alchemical Furnace [+lee también:
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The Czech Film and Television Academy also recognised the best television projects. Viktor Tauš’s take on quality Czech TV, the crime miniseries Monsters of the Shore, combining crime, psychological family drama and horror, earned him the Best Television Film or Miniseries Award. Finally, the TV sensation Most!, a comedy by Jan Prušinovský probing bigotry and xenophobia, broke television viewer and online streaming records, and won the prize in the category of Best Television Drama Series.

Here is the complete list of Czech Lion winners:

Best Film
The Painted Bird [+lee también:
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Best Documentary
Over the Hills [+lee también:
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Best Director
Václav Marhoul - The Painted Bird

Best Actress
Tereza Ramba - Owners [+lee también:
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Best Actor
Jiří Schmitzer - Old-Timers [+lee también:
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Best Supporting Actress
Klára Melíšková - Owners

Best Supporting Actor
Ladislav Mrkvička - Old-Timers

Best Screenplay
Jiří Havelka - Owners

Best Cinematography
Vladimír Smutný - The Painted Bird

Best Editing
Luděk Hudec - The Painted Bird

Best Sound
Pavel Rejholec - The Painted Bird

Best Music
Ivan Acher, Michal Novinski - The Watchmaker’s Apprentice (Czech Republic/Slovakia)

Best Stage Design
Jan Vlasák - The Painted Bird

Best Costume Design
Helena Rovná - The Painted Bird

Best Make-up and Hairstyling
Ivo Strangmüller - The Painted Bird

Best Television Film or Minsieries
Monsters of the Shore - Viktor Tauš

Best Television Drama Series
Most! - Jan Prušinovský

Extraordinary Audiovisual Achievement
Václav Marhoul - The Painted Bird

Honorary Award for Extraordinary Contribution to Czech Cinema
Jaromír Kallista

Non-statutory awards

Magnesia Award for Best Student Film
Daughter – Daria Kashcheeva

Best Film Poster
The Painted Bird – Roman Mrázek

Film Fans’ Award
Women on the Run [+lee también:
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