Madl’s film Waves on shortlist for Oscar

The Czech drama Waves (Vlny) , written and directed by Jiří Mádl, is on the shortlist of 15 candidates for the Oscar in the Best Foreign Film category. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlists in 10 categories for the upcoming 97th Oscars ceremony.

The period drama, set in Czechoslovakia in the period leading up to the 1968 Soviet-led invasion, was inspired by the true story of a group of journalists from Czechoslovak Radio’s foreign service section and their commitment to independent reporting in the face of mounting Soviet pressure.

Waves, co-produced by Czech Radio, premiered at this year's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and is being touted as one of the biggest Czech film successes in recent years.

Oscar voting to determine the nominees in all 23 categories opens on Wednesday, Jan. 8, and concludes on Sunday, Jan. 12. Nominations will be announced on Friday, Jan. 17.