Legendary Czech actress Daniela Kolářová personally accepted the Actor’s Mission Award on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in Prague. The award, presented by the 31st Art Film International Film Festival, was handed over by the festival’s spokesperson Juraj Čurný. Kolářová was originally scheduled to receive the honor in person this past June in Košice, but due to health reasons, she was unable to attend the festival.
With this recognition, Daniela Kolářová joins the ranks of celebrated actors who have received this prestigious award from Art Film for their outstanding contribution to film acting. “I’m truly honored to present the Art Film International Film Festival’s award — albeit belatedly — to its latest laureate, a legend of Czech film, theatre, radio, and television, Ms. Daniela Kolářová,” said Juraj Čurný at the ceremony, also naming past recipients such as Jaromír Hanzlík, Zdeněk Svěrák, Josef Abrhám, and Milan Lasica.
Kolářová accepted the award with visible joy and humility. “Thank you very much. I was truly sorry I couldn’t make it to Košice due to some health issues. I was really looking forward to it, as I always enjoy coming to Slovakia. My grandmother was from Žilina, so I have a bit of Slovak blood in me. Thank you again — I deeply appreciate this,” she said.
Festival artistic director Martin Palúch, upon announcing this year’s recipient, highlighted Kolářová’s pivotal role in Czechoslovak cinema. “She has been a constant presence on the big screen and on television since 1965, creating a wide array of unforgettable characters that have earned her admiration across the former Czechoslovakia,” said Palúch. “Together with previous female recipients of the Actor’s Mission Award — such as Iva Janžurová, Jiřina Bohdalová, and Jana Brejchová — Daniela Kolářová remains one of the most beloved Czech actresses to this day.”
Kolářová lit up the screen alongside her acting partners in now-iconic films. With Jaromír Hanzlík, she formed an unforgettable duo in films such as A Night at Karlštejn (1973), Summer with a Cowboy (1976), and the TV series Such a Normal Family (1971). “We started out as partners at the Vinohrady Theatre. That’s where we got offers for TV and film. The atmosphere while filming Rodinka was unique — the cast was full of amazing, brilliant, and wonderful people,” the actress recalled.
Another important screen partner was Zdeněk Svěrák, with whom she starred in Seclusion Near a Forest (1976) and Empties (2007). “Zdeněk gave me a whole new opportunity with Empties. These roles were very different from the ingénue parts I had often played on stage. Suddenly, I could step into a different age category, and that was refreshing and exciting,” she revealed. With Josef Abrhám, she appeared in the legendary comedy Ball Lightning (1978). “Pepík Abrhám was a fantastic partner. The people at the Činoherní klub were not only great actors — they were also genuinely decent people,” she added.
In addition to her screen work, Kolářová devoted much of her career to theatre, particularly at the Vinohrady Theatre. Another highlight was her collaboration with Milan Lasica in the stage play A Minute and a Half Late. “There was real spark in that partnership. It was a truly special life experience,” she concluded.
Daniela Kolářová remains one of the most cherished Czech actresses, and the Actor’s Mission Award from IFF Art Film could not be in better hands. We hope she will grace one of the festival’s upcoming editions with her presence.
