A Czech-Ukrainian virtual reality project exploring the emotional toll of war has earned two top honors at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Fragile Home, directed by Ondřej Moravec and Viktoria Lopukhina, was awarded the Cristal for Best VR Work and the Festivals Connexion Award in the VR Works competition.
The immersive film, which premiered at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival, places viewers inside a Ukrainian family’s living room as peace unravels into war. Combining digital and real-world elements, the project evokes empathy through personal storytelling and traditional music, offering an affecting window into the human cost of conflict.
Award-winning VR work reflects real-world trauma
Fragile Home competed with nine other international titles in the VR Works in Competition section at Annecy, marking the first time a Czech production was selected for the program. Its recognition underscores the growing role of Czech creators in immersive storytelling and digital innovation.
Set in a detailed reconstruction of a Ukrainian family’s home, the 15-minute experience uses mixed reality to simulate a sudden descent into war. Viewers witness a living space transform—from serene domesticity to a space filled with dread—mirroring the rapid and destabilizing effect of Russia’s invasion on millions of Ukrainian civilians.
“The audience often responded with strong emotions,” said Moravec. “One viewer even walked into a wall, convinced a virtual window was real.” This interplay of empathy and immersion is central to the creators’ aim of making distant tragedies more personally felt.
The project builds on themes previously explored by Moravec and Ukrainian collaborator Volodymyr Kolbasa in Fresh Memories: The Look, a 360° VR documentary capturing life in bombed-out Kharkiv. Moravec’s earlier VR debut, Darkening, tackled depression and premiered in Venice in 2022, establishing his focus on emotional, socially engaged subjects.
Fragile Home was developed by Brainz Immersive with the support of the Czech Audiovisual Fund and IKEA. The artistic team includes main artist Longiy, 3D developer Jozef Barančik, and creative producer Abdulaziz Aldigs.
Annecy success highlights Czech animation presence
In addition to Fragile Home’s dual wins, another Czech-backed project made an impression at Annecy 2025. The Northern Star, an upcoming 2D animated feature directed by Eléa Gobbé-Mévellec and co-produced by Czech studio Hausboot, received the Cristal Publishing Prize during the Mifa Pitches.
Based on the nonfiction book by Czech Koreanist Nina Špitálníková, The Northern Star follows a teenage defector from North Korea as she struggles with guilt, identity, and freedom after arriving in South Korea. The stylized animation emphasizes the contrast between her former life and her new reality.
The film’s Czech connections run deep. The screenplay is penned by director Milada Těšitelová and the project is supported by the Czech Audiovisual Fund, Creative Europe MEDIA, and France’s Région Sud. The film is expected to release in 2029.
Also presented at the Mifa Pitches was The Acorn’s Adventure, a Czech animated feature by Filip Mašek set for release in 2027, further showcasing the range of Czech contributions to European animation.
Held annually since 1960, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival is one of the most respected events in the global animation industry. Its inclusion of immersive and socially relevant projects like Fragile Home signals a widening definition of animated storytelling and confirms the Czech Republic’s growing role in the evolving landscape.
