\n<\/p>\n
The recently announced Academy Award shortlist <\/a>for the 2026 Best Animation Short includes two films with Czech participation: ‘I Died in Irpin’ by the Ukrainian Anastasiia Falileiva <\/strong>and ‘Hurik\u00e1n’\u00a0by Jan Saska<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Their themes differ: ‘I Died in Irpin’ is an autobiographical testimony to a toxic intimate relationship set against Russia\u2019s full-scale aggression against Ukraine; the film went on to win the ‘Best of the Best Short Films’ at the recent European Animation Awards<\/a>.<\/p>\n ‘Hurik\u00e1n’ is a deep-fried Prague romance driven by the author of Happy End<\/em>‘s distinctive humor.<\/p>\n Anastasiia Falileieva<\/strong>:\u00a0 When I learned that my film had been shortlisted, it brought me a spark of hope that I had been deeply missing recently. This is not about triumph. It is about realizing that my very personal story of survival is now becoming part of a vital global conversation. And I am eternally grateful that the Academy is not turning away from Russia\u2019s aggression against Ukraine.\u00a0<\/p>\n Martin Vandas, Maurfilm Producer:<\/strong> We secretly hoped that at least one film out of the 113 qualified titles might make it onto the shortlist. But achieving such a double was something we never dared to dream of. I congratulate all the filmmakers and thank the funds, co-producers, and partners for their support.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kamila Dohnalov\u00e1, producer<\/strong>: Jan Saska is a man of (moving) images and usually speaks very little. The shortlisting of Hurik\u00e1n, as recognition of his work and that of a broad team from several European countries, means a great deal to him and he sums it up simply: \u2018Super!\u2019 The nine years that have passed since the shortlist of our previous film Happy End show that working on short films does not take a short time, but it is worth it.<\/p>\n I Died in Irpin<\/strong><\/p>\n \n Directors and Producers Talk<\/em><\/h4>\n
Trailers<\/em><\/h4>\n