Czech Republic Nominates ‘I’m Not Everything I Want to Be’ for Oscar Race
The Czech Film and Television Academy has selected Klára Tasovská’s documentary I’m Not Everything I Want to Be as the country’s submission for best international feature at the 98th Academy Awards.
The formally daring documentary, which premiered at last year’s Berlinale and won this year’s Czech Lion for best documentary, profiles photographer Libuse Jarcovjáková, an uncompromising artist who chronicled Prague’s underground scene in the 1980s before fleeing to West Berlin. Drawing from her private diaries and thousands of analog photographs, the director charts Jarcovjáková’s life from the dissident art circles of communist Czechoslovakia to high-fashion shoots in Tokyo.
The Oscar selection marks the first time the Czech academy has chosen its candidate through a two-round process. From a shortlist of three — Broken Voices, Caravan and I’m Not Everything I Want to Be — the latter was selected by 194 eligible academy members.
Last year’s Czech entry, Jirí Mádl’s Waves, reached the Oscars’ international feature shortlist but did not secure a nomination. The Czech Republic has scored three wins in the category, including Jan Sverák’s Kolya (1996) and, under the Czechoslovak banner, The Shop on Main Street (1965) and Jirí Menzel’s Closely Watched Trains (1966). The last Czech film to receive a nomination was Ondrej Trojan’s Zelary in 2003.
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The Academy will announce the 15-film international feature shortlist Dec. 16, with nominations revealed Jan. 22. The Oscars take place March 15 in Los Angeles.
