Gabriela Soukalova: The Truth Is Still Worth and Maxim The Greatest - the award-winning films of this year's Sportfilm festival also succeeded at the FICTS World Finals in Milan.

Milan, Italy, hosted the 42nd Milano International FICTS Fest, an international sports film festival, from November 5 to 9, 2024. The annual culmination of the world series of FICTS festivals, which includes as the second oldest SPORTFILM LIBEREC, took place at a gala evening in Palazzo Lombardia on Saturday, November 9, with the participation of filmmakers and athletes. The Czech film Gabriela Soukalová won the documentary category in the world competition: The Truth Is Still Worth and won the FICTS SPECIAL AWARD. "In Milan this year we won a special award and it is clear that even in modest conditions, with a great story and an important main character, a film can be made that will impress the audience even at the global festival finals."

Germany's Maxim The Greatest was the runner-up, winning the MENTION d'HONNEUR in the Sport and Society category. The documentary tells the story of the brave little Maxim, who lost both his legs in a car accident. Since then, he has had a skateboard as a means of transport and nothing has been an obstacle for him.

During the ceremony Gabriela Soukalová performed her song "Now I will speak" and received a great ovation for her singing in Italian: "I am taking away a wonderful experience from Milan. I had no expectations that we could win the main prize of the festival. I'm very happy and I'm glad that everyone who contributed to the film was properly recognised."

The current 27th edition of the Sportfilm Festival has once again recorded further successes. In the past, the Czech Republic has succeeded in 2019 with a film from the history of basketball called The Golden Screw-up, then Adolf Zika's documentary Mr. Kriss about the young breakdancer and illustrator Kristián Mensa, and in 2022, three films - Zátopek, The Last Race and Jan Koller. The year 2023 brought awards for Martin Škrtel: Either or and the documentary The Blue Case. Czech Television was a major contributor to most of the award-winning films.

Renata Balašová, the festival director, says: "The success of Czech sports production in recent years is unmissable. Many great films are being made, they are reaping laurels in the world competition, and this strengthens the position of Sportfilm. It helps us to negotiate screenings and participation of filmmakers of interesting films for the next edition, such as the new film by American director Alin Bijan (Emmy award winner) about a tap dancer, featuring Robert Carlyle (star of Trainspotting or the comedy Into the Nude). In addition, we received an honorable mention as a festival and were also asked to collaborate and supervise the establishment of new FICTS festivals in Norway and Chile."