SPORTFILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES ITS WINNERS: ADAMCZYKOVÁ, MAROŠI, AND MOSES

The 27th edition of the International Sport Film Festival culminated on Saturday with a grand award ceremony. Snowboarder Eva Adamczyková won a glass trophy for her film Efka: The Fastest Girl in the Universe, and biker Michal Maroši took home an award for The Man Who Celebrates Every Day. The jury's top prize was awarded to the film Moses – 13 Steps. In the seven announced categories, other winners included the American film Sweetwater, the Iranian Raid, the German The Greatest Maxim, and two Polish films: Early Apex and When the Wind Stops. The Audience Award went to Gabriela Soukalová for her film The Truth Always Pays Off.

“For me, this is truly unexpected and a big surprise. So, thank you very much for the award,” expressed Eva Adamczyková with excitement. She shared that she’s thoroughly enjoying her time at the festival. “I’ve been spending most of my time at home lately, so being among people again after a while is quite refreshing,” she added, noting that she’s had to slow down a bit, so she might not be the fastest girl in the universe for a while.

The Grand Prize for the festival was awarded to the documentary about the phenomenal hurdler Edwin Moses, with his son, Julian Moses, accepting the award on his behalf. Julian expressed his deep appreciation for the recognition, stating that the film has even changed his perspective on his father and all that he accomplished. "I am truly very proud of him," said Julian Moses.

Among the other awarded films from overseas, the basketball film Sweetwater stood out. Dave Cobert, one of the lead actors, mentioned that it was his first time in the Czech Republic, and he considered receiving the award an honor. He also shared that filming the movie about someone who achieved so much in basketball was a fantastic experience.

The festival's audience also voted for the best film, and Gabriela Soukalová emerged as the winner. She thanked her team, without whom the film would never have been made, and highlighted the friendships that blossomed during the process. "I’ve been at the top several times during my career, and you come to realize that it's not really about the awards. But I have no regrets in my life—there's always been a little luck, even in the bad times," she reflected.

The prestigious Ray of Courage and Hope Award, named after Věra Čáslavská, was given to hockey player Jakub Voráček for his work with his foundation in the fight against multiple sclerosis. He received the award from Baroness Alexandra de Coubertin, a direct descendant of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, and FICTS President Professor Franco Ascani. Jakub Voráček expressed his gratitude for the award but humbly wondered whether he truly deserved it. “I don’t think I’ve achieved that much. But it feels like some kind of justice for me,” he said, adding that he met real sports legends at the festival. “I was thinking, ‘What am I even doing here? I didn’t win that many things in my career.’ But I’m glad I’m collecting some awards now,” Voráček joked.

During the gala, rapper Paulie Garand performed alongside Jakub Děkan, Gabriela Soukalová sang a song from her film, and opera star Štefan Margita gave a tribute to Věra Čáslavská with the piece Dáma. The event was expertly hosted by Petr Svěcený.