Oscar-Winning Foreign Films with a Czech Twist

Forget for a moment about Czech films that have won Oscars and explore the world with the series Kudy z nudy and the Czech Republic in Film; think of places like the USA, Great Britain , or New Zealand. There are Oscar-winning films with connections to the Czech Republic made in many countries. Which films stand out? Director Milos Forman’s Amadeus is a tough one to top: it received thirteen Oscar nominations and won eight awards, not to mention plenty of other accolades including four Golden Globes. But Amadeus isn’t the only contender. There are indeed other Oscar-winning films that feature our actors, were filmed in the Czech Republic , or relied on Czech special effects studios and costume designers, while strong contributions came from our Czech set decorators as well.

Nominations 2025: Conclave and Nosferatu

Czech cinema has several films vying for Oscars 2025 in the Best Film of the Year category. Take the political thriller Conclave, for instance, which dazzled audiences with its visual effects crafted by the Czech trick studio Universal Production Pictures (UPP), known for its work on the sci-fi series Blade Runner. This gripping drama, centered around the election of a Pope, nabbed the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. On the other hand, the horror film Nosferatu was nominated for four Oscars in 2025 but unfortunately did not take home any awards. It was a disappointing moment for the Czech film community, especially since our set decorator Beatrice Brentner had hoped for an Oscar for best production design.

The latest version of the classic Dracula tale was helmed by acclaimed horror director Robert Eggers . A large portion of the film was shot in the Czech Republic at locations such as Pernštejn Castle, the Invalidovna in Prague, and Olšany Cemetery, where the filmmakers constructed a half-dilapidated tomb for the story. The film also showcases the castles of Libochovice and Rožmitál pod Třemšínem, where a dilapidated castle with bare interiors provided a perfect backdrop for the vampire Count Orlok’s residence . Some scenes were also filmed in the historic streets of Rožmital . Notably, two new Czech child actors appeared in the film as scared sisters, sharing the screen with Hollywood stars.

On the Western Front, Peace: Four Oscars in 2023

The intense war drama On the Western Front, Serenity garnered four Oscars from nine nominations: for Best International Film, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design . This adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel was filmed in around twenty different locations in the Czech Republic, in addition to the well-known Barrandov studios. For instance, scenes depicting a field hospital were shot in Postoloprty, while former military facilities in Milovice served as trenches and battlegrounds. Other filming spots included Žatec, Ralsko, and Prague. The film also excelled at the British Film Academy awards , securing seven out of fourteen nominations, establishing it as one of the most successful films in history.

Rabbit Jojo: Oscar 2020 for Best Adapted Screenplay

Are you familiar with Taika Waititi ? He is the director of the war film Rabbit Jojo and comes from Raukokore, a coastal area in New Zealand . Taika has Maori ancestry and started his career in the film industry as an actor before moving on to become a writer and director. He even received an Oscar nomination for his first short film in 2003 but won the prestigious award in 2020 for Rabbit Jojo in the Best Adapted Screenplay category . The film was also nominated in five additional categories.

The Czech Republic was not merely a filming location for Rabbit Jojo , but also a place where local talent made significant contributions to the film’s creative aspect . The Czech team poured their skills, heart, and time into the project. In one scene, little Jojo rides bikes with his mother (played by Scarlett Johansson ) through the picturesque Czech countryside, with Žatec transformed into a typical German small town for the film. While most of a crucial part of the story takes place in Jojo’s house built in the Barrandov studios, locations like Josefov also represented Germany during World War II, along with Úštěk and Petchek Palace in Prague.

The Czech team created a vibrant, warm, almost fairy-tale-like atmosphere in the film, emphasizing Jojo’s childlike view of the world while shielding him from grim realities. This was accomplished with the creative input of architect Radek Hanák, along with the artist Nora Sopková and the film’s lead architect Rae Vincent, who was also an Oscar nominee. Though the film ultimately won just one of its six Oscar nominations, it still received accolades globally.

Which other Oscar-winning foreign films were shot in the Czech Republic?

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

The Chronicles of Narnia describes the adventures of four siblings who find a magical wardrobe that leads them to another world. Narnia is a beautiful land filled with talking animals, elves, fauns, centaurs, and giants, but it is cursed by the wicked White Witch to experience endless winter. While searching online for filming locations, director Andrew Adamson stumbled upon Czech Switzerland and was astonished that other filmmakers had never utilized this stunning place. Most of the magical sequences were filmed in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, particularly at the Pravčická Gate and around the Tisza Walls. One of the perks of filming here was the availability of real snow, unlike other scenes, which used artificial snow. The film won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design .

Edith Piaf (2007)

Born on the streets and raised in a brothel, Piaf earned her living singing on the streets before becoming a world-renowned star. The life story of Edith Piaf , her enchanting voice, her fervor, and her friendships with notable figures like Marlene Dietrich, Jean Cocteau , and Yves Montand have inspired numerous filmmakers. For the leading role in the 2007 film, director Olivier Dahan selected Marion Cotillard . Alongside filming in France, he also chose Prague as a location. The film was titled La Môme in France and La Vie en rose in Britain. Marion Cotillard earned multiple prestigious accolades for her performance, including an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role , a Czech Lion, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award, among other honors.

Unexpected Czech links to Oscar films

The historical drama and comedy film The Favourite won multiple awards in 2018. Olivia Colman earned the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in this film, which was shot in the UK. The director Yorgos Lanthimos created an interesting connection to the Czech Republic. For the film’s visual inspiration, he drew from several works, such as Amadeus and The Burning of the Dead directed by Juraj Herz.

How did the Oscar, the most prestigious film award in the world, come to be?

The honor known as Oscar was established shortly after the formation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1927. Cedric Gibbons, the artistic director of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, designed a statue of a knight standing on a film reel while holding a sword. Then, the Academy commissioned the Los Angeles sculptor George Stanley to bring this design to life, resulting in the creation of the now-famous statuette.

Some interesting facts about the Oscar:

• • Over time, the design of the golden knight has been simplified, but the sword has remained a constant feature.

• • The five spokes on the film reel symbolize the original five branches of the Academy: actors, directors, producers, technicians, and writers.

• • The Oscar statuette measures 34.5 centimeters in height, while the base is 7.5 centimeters wide, and it weighs 3.85 kilograms, which is roughly the weight of a newborn baby.

• • Since the inaugural awards ceremony on May 16, 1929, more than three thousand statuettes have been awarded.

• • Why is the golden statue named Oscar? The popular narrative (which has several variations) suggests that when Academy Librarian Margaret Herrick first saw the award, she remarked it resembled her uncle Oscar. The Academy only officially adopted the nickname in 1939, although filmmakers had been using it for several years before.

• • The youngest Oscar recipient was Tatum O’Neal, who won Best Supporting Actress at age ten for Paper Moon.

• • The oldest Oscar winner was Jessica Tandy, who took home the Academy Award for Best Actress for Miss Daisy’s Driver at the age of eighty-one.

• • The statuettes are crafted from solid bronze and then plated with 24k gold. Due to metal shortages during World War II, they were made from painted plaster for three years. Afterward, recipients were invited to exchange the plaster figures for gold-plated versions.

• • In 1951, the Academy implemented a rule that prohibits winners from selling their Oscars. Rather, they must first offer the statuette back to the Academy, which can purchase it for a nominal fee of one dollar.