Czech Lion nominees revealed for 2024: Watch the films with English subtitles

The Czech Film and Television Academy (ČFTA) announced the nominees for the 32nd annual Czech Lion Awards on Monday. Historical drama Waves (Vlny) directed by Jiří Mádl tops the list with 14 nominations, followed closely by Viktor Tauš’s Girl American (Amerikánka) with 13. In total, 29 titles across 24 categories will compete for the country’s most prestigious film honors.

The awards ceremony will be held on March 8, 2025, at Prague’s Rudolfinum and broadcast live on Czech Television’s ČT1. This year’s theme centers on recognizing the behind-the-scenes professionals who make filmmaking possible. YouTuber and presenter Karel “Kovy” Kovář will host, with creative oversight by ČFTA board member Matěj Chlupáček.

Among the nominees, Mádl’s Waves revisits the events of 1968 when Warsaw Pact forces invaded Czechoslovakia. Amerikánka, based on the true story of a young girl navigating institutional care under normalization, stands out for its stylized approach. Other top contenders include Adam Martinec’s debut Mord (Our Lovely Pig Slaughter) and Pavel Soukup’s gripping crime miniseries Metoda Markovič: Hojer, earning 10 nominations.

This year’s prestigious Best Director category included Viktor Tauš (Amerikánka), Adam Martinec (Mord), Martin Pavol Repka (Od marca do mája), Jiří Mádl (Vlny), and Jiří Havelka (Zahradníkův rok).

A series category and an award for Best Film Poster were introduced for the first time, adding fresh dimensions to the event. Fan enthusiasm crowned Waves (Vlny) with the ČSFD.cz audience award, while Jan Kadlec and Jan Poukar for Amerikánka received the Best Film Poster honor.

According to information from the Czech Lions organizers, film fans can catch nominated films online from Feb. 24 to March 16 via ČFTA’s partnership with streaming platform DAFilms. If you'd like to see the nominated films earlier, with English subtitles, many are being screened locally in Prague; later in the year, showcases of award-winning films with English-language subtitles typically take place.

Director Viktor Tauš’s Girl America is a surreal, visually stunning film rooted in his own experiences, it portrays abandoned children, many played by real-life foster youth, bringing raw authenticity to their roles. Adapted from Tauš’s acclaimed Jatka 78 theater production, The American explores scars, survival, and hope. See Jan. 29 at Edison Filmhub with a Q&A with Tauš following the film. More info here.

At a yearly pig slaughter in Osoblaha, an extended family gathers for food, drink, and tradition. This year, tensions run high as Grandpa plans to announce the end of the tradition. At the same time, unresolved conflicts surface. Amid drunken antics, hidden secrets, and neighborly revenge, the day becomes a poignant exploration of love, tradition, and fragile family bonds. Streaming on the KVIFF platform from Feb. 2.

From March to May (Od marca do mája) portrays a family living under one roof in an old village house as the parents age and the children mature. When a pregnancy is announced, the news disrupts the lives of all. The film offers a tender, intimate exploration of human solidarity, captured with authenticity and patience, akin to spring’s awakening. English-subtitled premiere at Bio Oko on Jan. 28. More info here.

Jiří Mádl’s Waves (Vlny), a historical drama set during the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, is Czechia’s official entry for the 97th Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film. Inspired by actual events, it follows brave radio journalists risking everything to report independent news. Premiering at Karlovy Vary, it blends archival footage with AI-enhanced scenes. Currently screening at Kino Světozor with English subtitles. More info here.

In Jiří Havelka’s new film, inspired by Karel Čapek’s work, a gardener’s peaceful life is upended when a new castle owner disrupts the landscape with escalating hostility, including razor wire fences. As bureaucracy fails, the gardener takes a stand to protect his home. Blending absurdity, tragedy, and comedy, this tale of resilience draws from actual events, exploring the clash between tradition and ambition in a picturesque setting. The Gardener’s Year (Zahradníkův rok) is now streaming with English subtitles on Netflix.

Architecture of Czechoslovakia 58-89 (Architektura ČSSR 58–89) reexamines the legacy of Czechoslovak architecture from 1958 to 1989. The film highlights Brutalist structures like Žižkov Television Tower, exploring how architects pushed boundaries within state mandates and sparks a conversation on their preservation amidst modern challenges.

Now screening at Kino Světozor. More info here.

I’m Not Yet Who I Want to Be (Ještě nejsem, kým chci být) focuses on Libuše Jarcovjáková, a legendary photographer who defied conventions with a life full of fascinating encounters, from communist Czechoslovakia’s underground to exclusive photo shoots in Tokyo and a dramatic escape to West Berlin. Following the film, a Q&A with the director will takes place at Edison Filmhub on Jan. 31. More info here.

Other nominated films include War Correspondent (Válečný zpravodaj), Ms. President (Prezidentka), and Limits of Europe (Hranice Evropy).

See the talented Tereza Ramba, nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Her Drunken Diary (Zápisník alkoholičky), a dramatic film about a young mother battling alcohol addiction. The film explores her journey of admitting the problem, seeking help, and fighting to regain control of her life and family. It offers an honest portrayal of recovery, focusing on the challenges and strength required to overcome addiction. Now streaming with English subtitles on Netflix.

You can read more detailed information about the films and nominees at the Český lev English-language website.