The 34^th edition of the Finále Plzeň showcase of Czech cinema (see the news) has drawn to a close. The festival hosted 13 premieres and avant-premieres, along with 96 films from the current batch of domestic film and television production. Both international and student juries were judging the domestic competition titles. Radu Jude’s inventive, Golden Bear-winning dramedy Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Radu Jude
scheda film], co-produced by Czech producer Jiří Konečný, of endorfilm, netted the Golden Kingfisher Award for Best Feature or Animated Film from both juries. “It is a well-executed movie about the threat to our privacy and freedom, about what words mean. The film can be dark and bitter, but there is a lot of humour and empathy. Like all great films, this one has cinematic value,” noted the international jury, while the student one added that it is “an unhypocritical film about hypocrisy, everyday vulgarity and obscenity”.

The documentary feature debut by up-and-coming filmmaker Jindřich Andrš, A New Shift [+leggi anche:
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scheda film], revolving around a miner starting a new career as an IT professional, received the Award for Best Documentary. “Following the example of Ken Loach and Mike Leigh, A New Shift brings a true working-class hero to the screen,” the international jury stated in praise of the title. The student jury decided to plump for another documentary feature debut from an emerging filmmaker as their pick for Best Documentary, Martin Páv’s Wolves at the Borders [+leggi anche:
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scheda film], noting that the filmmaker used a local topic to discuss a problem that exists across the entirety of society.

Božena, the period biopic miniseries following one of the first Czech female authors, Božena Němcová, starring Aňa Geislerová in the title role, came out on top in the Best TV or Internet Film or Miniseries category. The jury applauded the art production, costumes, cinematography and performances. On the other hand, the student jury chose Peter Bebjak’s period miniseries Actor (see the news) as the winner in the same category. However, both juries agreed that Viktor Tauš’s crime miniseries Rats was the Best TV or Internet Series. The international jury appreciated the attempt to “disrupt the conventional storytelling of television series”, as Tauš’s work examined characters from different strata of society from many different angles using a bold visual style, while the student jury complimented the cinematography in particular.

Here is the full list of award winners:

Golden Kingfisher Award for Best Feature or Animated Film
Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Radu Jude
scheda film] – Radu Jude (Romania/Luxembourg/Czech Republic/Croatia)

Golden Kingfisher Award for Best Documentary
A New Shift [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Jindřich Andrš (Czech Republic)

Golden Kingfisher Award for Best TV or Internet Film or Miniseries
Božena - Lenka Wimmerová (Czech Republic)

Golden Kingfisher Award for Best TV or Internet Series
Rats - Viktor Tauš (Czech Republic)

Golden Kingfisher Award for Best Student Film
Anatomy of a Czech Afternoon - Adam Martinec (Czech Republic)

Student Jury Award for Best Feature or Animated Film
Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn - Radu Jude

Student Jury Award for Best Documentary
Wolves at the Borders [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Martin Páv (Czech Republic)

Student Jury Award for Best TV or Internet Film or Miniseries
Actor - Peter Bebjak (Czech Republic/Slovakia)

Student Jury Award for Best TV or Internet Series
Rats - Viktor Tauš