The Slovak Film and Television Academy (SFTA) has unveiled the winners of the 15th edition of the national film awards, the Sun in a Net, confirming the strong momentum of Slovak cinema following a year marked by robust domestic box-office performance (see the news) and a visible generational shift in filmmaking voices. This year’s ceremony comes on the heels of a solid theatrical cycle in which Slovak films continued to draw over one million admissions, with titles ranging from commercially potent biopics to festival-driven auteur works finding resonance with local audiences.

Last year, the awards were largely dominated by the Czech-Slovak co-production Waves by Jiří Mádl (see the news), which also topped the Czech box office (see the news). This year, however, the tables have turned, with Slovak professionals strongly represented at the Czech national film awards, the Czech Lion Awards. There, emerging Slovak director Katarína Gramatová won Best Director, while Miro Remo took home Best Documentary and shared the Best Cinematography gong with Dušan Husár for Better Go Mad in the Wild. Caravan’s Juliána Brutovská also picked up the Best Supporting Actress Award.

However, one notable absence from the Czech Lion winners was Tereza Nvotová’s Father, Slovakia’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. The movie ultimately dominated on home turf, taking home the Award for Best Film, alongside Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Original Score at the Sun in a Net ceremony. Originally premiered in Venice’s Orizzonti section and subsequently enjoying a strong international festival run as well as notable domestic box-office results, the film has consolidated its position as one of the defining Slovak titles of the year. Milan Ondrík, in the leading role as the titular father, won the Best Actor Award, adding to previous recognition for the performance at the Czech Film Critics’ Awards as well as the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actor in an International Feature Film at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Another major contender, the debut feature Flood by emerging filmmaker Martin Gonda, converted its strong nomination tally into multiple awards, including Best Screenplay, Best Sound and Best Production Design. The film also secured the Audience Award, underlining its crossover appeal. Non-professional Sára Chripáková won Best Actress for her performance, while Vladimír Čema was recognised in the Best Supporting Actor category. Meanwhile, the sports biopic Nepela by another emerging filmmaker from the younger generation, Gregor Valentovič, which had led the nominations, ultimately prevailed in the technical categories, including Best Editing and Best Visual Effects, as well as Best Costumes.

Miro Remo added another Best Documentary Award to his collection for Better Go Mad in the Wild, while Tales from the Magic Garden confirmed its international trajectory by going home with Best Animated Film. The Award for Best Short Film went to How to Listen to Fountains by Eva Sajanová, emblematic of the emerging generation of filmmakers, many of whom have transitioned from student projects into the national spotlight. Indeed, this year’s edition further confirmed the rise of new voices, with several debut or early-career directors featured prominently among both nominees and winners.

Here is the full list of award winners:

Best Film
Father – Tereza Nvotová (Slovakia/Czech Republic/Poland)

Best Director
Tereza Nvotová – Father

Best Screenplay
Dominika Udvorková, Martin Gonda, Martin Šuster – Flood (Slovakia/Poland/Czech Republic/Belgium)

Best Documentary
Better Go Mad in the Wild – Miro Remo (Slovakia/Czech Republic)

Best Animated Film
Tales from the Magic Garden – David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar, Jean-Claude Rozec (Czech Republic/Slovakia/Slovenia/ France)

Best Actress
Sára Chripáková – Flood

Best Supporting Actress
Juliána Brutovská – Caravan (Czech Republic/Slovakia/Italy)

Best Actor
Milan Ondrík – Father

Best Supporting Actor
Vladimír Čema – Flood

Best Cinematography
Adam Suzin – Father

Best Editing
Roman Kelemen – Nepela (Slovakia/Czech Republic)

Best Sound
Bohumil Martinák, Ivan Ďurkech, Quentin Collette, Renaud Guillaumin – Flood

Best Music
Jonatán (Pjoni) Pastirčák – Father

Best Production Design
Juraj Kuchárek – Flood

Best Costumes
Helena Tavelová – Nepela

Best Make-up
Martin Jankovič, Michaela R Kicková, Zuzana Zvonár – Duchoň (Slovakia/Czech Republic)

Best Visual Effects
Michal Křeček, Andrea Shaffer, František Štepánek – Nepela

Best TV Film/Series
Moloch – Lukáš Hanulák (Czech Republic/Slovakia)

Best Short Film
How to Listen to Fountains – Eva Sajanová (Slovakia)

Audience Award
Flood – Martin Gonda

Extraordinary Contribution
Zuzana Gindl-Tatárová