Agnieszka Holland’s Franz, a Czech–Polish–German co-production shot primarily in Prague, has been selected as Poland’s official entry for the 2026 Academy Awards in the best international feature film category. The film, which premiered this month at the Toronto International Film Festival, offers a fresh portrayal of Franz Kafka as a young man navigating oppressive social expectations and personal anxieties.
Despite its deep Czech ties—ranging from its Prague locations to key cast and crew—Franz was not selected to represent the Czech Republic in the Oscar race. A shakeup in the Czech Film and Television Academy (ČFTA) selection process this year saw the film not chosen among the three movies pre-selected for Oscar submission, pushing the responsibility for awards consideration to its Polish producers.
Poland’s Oscar committee announced the decision today, giving the internationally-financed production a clear path to the Academy ballot. The film’s selection underscores the increasingly transnational nature of Central European filmmaking, where financing, talent, and cultural heritage frequently cross borders even when awards rules remain tied to national lines.
For Prague, the production of Franz represents another high-profile project showcasing the city’s cinematic legacy, particularly its connection to Kafka, one of the Czech capital’s most enduring figures.
An international production rooted in Prague
Franz was filmed extensively in Prague, including key sequences on location across the city’s historic center, which doubles for early 20th-century settings. Czech producer Šárka Cimbalová of Marlene Film Production led the project alongside Holland, with financial support from the Czech Audiovisual Fund, Eurimages, the Polish Film Institute, and regional film offices in Pilsen and Ústí nad Labem.
The film stars German actor Idan Weiss as Kafka, with Czech actress Jenovéfa Boková portraying writer Milena Jesenská, a central figure in Kafka’s personal life. Veteran Czech performer Ivan Trojan plays Kafka’s uncle, while his son Josef Trojan takes on the role of Kafka’s alter ego. German actor Peter Kurth, known from Babylon Berlin, plays Kafka’s domineering father, and Poland’s Sandra Korzeniak appears as his mother.
Written by Czech screenwriter Marek Epstein, Franz explores Kafka’s struggles with bureaucracy, relationships, and existential dread through a lens that Holland describes as “playful,” challenging the popular image of the author as perpetually grim. The film received additional backing from German partners X Filme Creative Pool and broadcasters including ZDF/ARTE, as well as support from Canal+, Czech Television, and France’s Bac Films.
Oscar race and Czech absence
Poland’s Oscar committee, chaired by producer Ewa Puszczynska, chose Franz from among several domestic contenders, citing its international resonance and Holland’s distinguished career. Holland, a three-time Oscar nominee for Angry Harvest, Europa Europa, and In Darkness, is no stranger to the Academy’s international feature competition.
In Czechia, however, the film’s path to the Oscars was complicated by a rule change in the Czech submission process. This year, the ČFTA introduced a two-round voting system and stricter deadlines, intended to give selected films enough time to build an Oscar campaign.
The ČFTA ultimately selected Klára Tasovská’s documentary I’m Not Everything I Want to Be, about photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková, as the country’s official entry. The outcome highlights the challenges for cross-border productions when national eligibility criteria collide with international release strategies.
While Franz will carry Poland’s banner at the 98th Academy Awards, its Czech backers and talent remain integral to the film’s creative foundation. Whether the movie advances to the 15-film shortlist will be revealed in December; final 2026 Academy Award nominations, including the five films nominated for Best International Feature Film, will be announced on Jan. 22, 2026.
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Franz was ineligible for Czech Oscar selection due to its fall release date.
Lead photo: Idan Weiss in Franz © Marlene Film Production
