The award from the Ministry of Culture was won for architecture by Benjamin Fragner

Prague – Eight personalities of Czech culture received state awards and ministry awards at a ceremonial evening at the New Stage of the National Theatre today. Among them are Miloslav Topinka, who received the award for literature, translator Alena Morávková, visual artist Adéla Matasová, and screenwriter, actor, and writer Zdeněk Svěrák. The award for contributions to cinematography and audiovisuals was awarded posthumously to filmmaker Ester Krumbachová. The awards are presented annually on the occasion of the state holiday on October 28.

State awards are given for literature and translation works. The ministry awards are given for contributions in the fields of theater, music, visual arts and architecture, and cinematography and audiovisuals. "State awards are not given for experimental works or for works from this year that shine. They are awarded to those who have created works here for decades that have gained a character that withstands the test of time. And that deserves admiration," said Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek (ČSSD).

In architecture, the award was given to Benjamin Fragner for initiating and long-term leading research into industrial heritage, as well as for the professional popularization of its outcomes. "Industrial heritage has not only interested me from an architectural perspective. I perceive this award as support for the tendency that it is not just about architecture in itself, but about architecture in context and searching for meaning," Fragner said.

The Minister recognized the contributions of screenwriter, actor, writer, and co-founder of the Jára Cimrman Theatre Zdeněk Svěrák (1936) in the field of cinematography and audiovisuals. "I appreciate it as a compliment for my work. And I am happy to be complimented. When I fill out forms, I write 'script' in the box. I only bring words to cinematography; others make the film from that. And I have been fortunate to work with masters in the field," Svěrák said. He added that theater has influenced him in the sense that the films he worked on are all dialogue, and humor always evokes words, which he termed a flaw in films. "But it also has a positive aspect. I have found that our films are loved by the blind," he said.