Czech film Volklore wins student Oscar
Czech director Viktorie Štěpánová's Volklore has won a Student Academy Award in the Alternative/Experimental category, qualifying the film for consideration in the Academy Awards' live-action short film race.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the winners on its website, honoring 12 student films. Štěpánová shared the award in her category with two other filmmakers. Gold, silver and bronze prizes will be presented at a ceremony during the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14.
The experimental video essay explores how Czech folklore is being reshaped in the age of social media. It had its world premiere at this year's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. According to Czech distributor Cinefila, Volklore is the first Czech film to receive a Student Academy Award in the Alternative/Experimental category.
Czech filmmakers have won Student Academy Awards several times before, including Viktor Horák and Pavel Sýkora for Krajan in 2024, Daria Kashcheeva for the animated film Daughter in 2019, Marie Dvořáková for Who Is Who in Mycology in 2017, and Jan Svěrák for Oil Gobblers in 1989.
