Oscar-nominated student may gain permanent residence in the Czech Republic

Prague, Jan 15 (CTK) – Daria Kashcheeva, the Prague Film School student whose film Daughter is nominated for an Oscar in the short animated film category, can be granted a permanent Czech residence permit, but she has to gain a long-time residence permit first, Culture Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said today.

Kashcheeva, who is a Russian citizen, has been on a study stay in Czechia. She is studying at the Film School of the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU).

She told a press conference today that she would like to continue working in Czechia and was pleased at the opportunity to represent Czechia and FAMU’s animated film department.

Kashcheeva said she is leaving to present her film at the Sundance festival of independent films in Park City, USA, and she is preparing a new film.

At the press conference, Zaoralek (Social Democrats, CSSD) thanked her for the success that Daughter has achieved in the world.

Kashcheeva said that everybody seems to be fed up with 3D computer animation. She said she loves hand animation, with fingerprints being visible on the puppets. This is a good trend at which she rejoices, she said.

She praised the FAMU for its atmosphere of freedom, which gives the students a chance to experiment and try even crazy things.

Zaoralek said the settlement of Kashcheeva’s permanent residence permit is being prepared. “We have agreed with the Interior Ministry on our readiness to complete the procedure,” Zaoralek said.

Kashcheeva was born in Tajikistan and studied music in Moscow. At Prague’s FAMU, she completed her bachelor studies last year and is continuing to study a master programme.

In the past, she was awarded for her film To Accept at the international festival in Cannes.