According to the production company Cinefila, Czech director Štěpánová has won a Student Academy Award for her experimental video essay exploring regional identity on social media. The project, titled Volklore, marks the first time a Czech film has received the honor in the alternative and experimental category, following a string of previous national successes at the student competition.
Volklore Explores Digital Transformation in Czech Culture
The winning project, described by its creator as a hyperlokální moravian folk slash digital film, examines how traditional Czech folklore morphs within modern social media ecosystems. According to Cinefila, the experimental video essay was developed as a graduation film at the Center for Audiovisual Studies at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU). The project made its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival before catching international attention.
“Jsem za to neskutečně vděčná a současně si připadám jako v jiném vesmíru, v jiné realitě. Pořád nedokážu uvěřit, že se moje hyperlokální moravian folk slash digital filmové děťátko dostalo až do Ameriky a že je lokální folklor zajímá,” Štěpánová stated, according to a press release from Cinefila.
Did You Know?
Volklore is the first Czech film to ever win a Student Oscar in the alternative and experimental category, cementing a new milestone for domestic experimental cinema on the global stage.
Upcoming Awards Ceremony at the Toronto International Film Festival
The formal presentation of the awards will take place on September 14 at the Toronto International Film Festival. During the ceremony, the winning filmmakers in each category will be awarded gold, silver, or bronze placements, according to the festival’s scheduling details released by Cinefila.
Štěpánová shares her category win with a pair of other creators, though the specific distribution of gold, silver, and bronze tiers will be revealed live during the September event in Canada. The recognition places the FAMU graduate project alongside a prestigious lineage of past Czech student victors.
Czech Republic’s History of Student Oscar Success
The Student Academy Awards have a robust history of recognizing Czech cinematic talent. According to historical records of the competition, Viktor Horák and Pavel Sýkora won the prize two years prior with their short-form drama Krajan. In 2019, Darja Kaščejevová secured the honor with her animated film Dcera, two years after Marie Dvořáková won for Kdo je kdo v mykologii. Jan Svěrák claimed the student category win in 1989 with his satirical film Ropáci.
Beyond the student categories, international cooperation continues to mark Czech involvement in the wider Academy Awards. Earlier this year, the Oscar for best feature-length documentary went to Pan Nikdo proti Putinovi by Russian director Pavel Talankin, a project that featured Czech co-producers, according to festival data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the film Volklore about?
According to Cinefila, Volklore is an experimental video essay created by Štěpánová that investigates how traditional Czech folklore changes and adapts in the era of social media networks.
Where was Volklore created?
The project was produced as a graduation film at the Center for Audiovisual Studies, which operates under the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU).
When and where will the awards be presented?
The awards will be formally handed out on September 14 at the Toronto International Film Festival, where recipients will learn if they have won gold, silver, or bronze.
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