CZECH CRITICS AWARDS FOR "I, OLGA HEPNAROVÁ"

The Czech Film Critics Awards were presented on January 28. I, Olga Hepnarová, the feature debut by directors Tomáš Weinreb and Petr Kazda, co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, received a total of four out of nine awards.

Four Czech Film Critics Awards

The Czech film critics gave the award for Best Actress to Michalina Olszańska, while Adam Sikora was recognised for Audiovisual Accomplishments. Tomáš Weinreb and Petr Kazda received the awards for Best Directing and Discovery of the Year.

The Czech Film Critics Awards were presented in a total of nine categories. Further details are available at www.filmovakritika.cz.

I, Olga Hepnarová

is based on a true story — the story of a young woman who drove a truck into a bus stop full of people in Prague on July 10, 1973. During her court trial, she claimed that her intention was to kill as many people as possible. Shortly before the incident, Olga sent out a letter to the local papers, in which she explained the reasoning behind her behaviour: “I am a loner. A person destroyed by other people. I have a choice — kill myself, or kill others. I choose revenge. Leaving this world with a silent suicide is too simple. […] My sentence: Olga Hepnarová will be a victim of her own bestiality, sentenced to the death penalty.” And that is indeed what happened; Olga was the last woman in the former Czechoslovakia to be sentenced to capital punishment.

A Debut Feature Supported by the Polish Film Institute

I, Olga Hepnarová is a co-production between the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, made with financial support from the Polish Film Institute and the Lower Silesian Film Fund. The film marks the producing and directing debut by Tomáš Weinreb and Petr Kazda, who also wrote the script. The lead role was played by Polish actress Michalina Olszańska. The film was lensed by Adam Sikora, and the production company on the Polish side was Media Brigade.

World Premiere at the Berlin IFF

I, Olga Hepnarová had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, screening in the Panorama section. The film went on to receive multiple awards at international film festivals, including the award for best film in the New Europe New Names section of the 21st “Kino Pavasaris” IFF in Vilnius, the award for Best Director at the 20th Sofia International Film Festival, and awards for Best Director and Best Actress at the “Listapad” festival in Minsk.

Polish Theatrical Release on January 13, 2017

I, Olga Hepnarová was released theatrically in Poland on January 13, 2017. Distribution is handled by Żółty Szalik. The film has also been released theatrically in France, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

Translated by Karolina Kołtun