Winners Announced at the 41st Prix Bohemia Radio Festival
The winners of the Prix Bohemia Radio 2025 festival have been announced. From intimate confessions to hard-hitting investigations, the award-winning works capture the diversity and depth of today’s audio storytelling. Expert and student juries selected the best in audio documentary, drama, reporting, and podcasting.
"The Prix Bohemia Radio Festival, held by Czech Radio, has once again become a hub for innovation, discussion, and creative work. This year, radio broadcasts and podcast platforms featured stories that weren't afraid to get deep – whether they speak of identity, war, memory, or justice. Prix Bohemia Radio has once again shown that audio is not just a medium. It is a tool for social change and a space where meaningful stories are told," said René Zavoral, Director General of Czech Radio.
The respective juries evaluated the works that advanced to the festival: 6 documentary pieces, 5 audio dramas, 13 news reports, and 10 podcasts; selected from dozens of submissions from Czech Radio, independent producers, and international media. Following are the awarded pieces.
DOCUMENTARY
1st place – Racing Thoughts (Ivona Remundová, Filip Remunda, Czech Radio)
An intimate and deeply personal documentary about Ivona Remundová's journey as an adult dealing with an ADHD diagnosis. With ease and humour, she describes the chaos, uncertainty, but also relief that comes with understanding her own mind. This audio confession breaks down stereotypes about ADHD as a disorder for hyperactive boys and offers a liberating perspective not only for people with ADHD, but for anyone who has ever felt different.
The jury appreciates the author's authenticity and creativity, as well as the lightness with which she describes her difficult diagnosis. The story unfolds gradually; it is very personal, but at the same time it spreads awareness in an accessible form.
2nd place – War Has No Soundtrack (Pavel Sterec, Czech Radio)
A personal audio diary from Ukraine explores the role of music and sound in a war zone. The documentary captures intimate encounters with artists and musicians across multiple cities, highlighting how sound conveys emotion and meaning even when images fail.
The jury appreciates the original perspective on a topic that has been explored many times before. The evocative collage stands out for its plasticity and colorful sound design, evoking strong emotions in the listener.
3rd place – Mom, I’m Trans (Andrew Novák, Czech Radio)
Mom, I’m Trans presents a journey of self-discovery, realising one’s male identity and navigating the complexities of transitioning within a family struggling to understand him. The documentary reflects on communication, reconciliation, and empathy between parent and child, offering a nuanced view of familial bonds.
The jury appreciates the openness of the actors, the depiction of the story's development through the use of personal archival records, and the presentation of the topic in a broader context in an understandable form.
Student Award – War Has No Soundtrack (Pavel Sterec, Czech Radio)
DRAMA
1st place – Radiant Child (Eva Blechová, Czech Radio)
An original audio fresco about the life of Marie Curie and the fate of radium as a chemical element. The work combines scientific narrative with poetry, rhythm, and dramatic arc – from enthusiasm to tragic consequences. The jury noted its multi-layered sound composition and playfulness leading to a disturbing ending.
2nd place – Calls (Victoriia Kralko, Audioteka)
Calls captures the intimate reality of life under war in Ukraine, focusing on the voices that connect people across distance and danger. The series reveals the emotional weight of distance, separation, and longing. It highlights the resilience and hope that persist in voices bridging cities, countries, and conflict lines. The jury appreciated the creative team's bold decision to portray their stories through authentic telephone conversations.
3rd place – Mother of God, Banish Putin (Jiří Adámek Austerlitz, Czech Radio)
This radio reconstruction of a story of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot paints a chilling picture of Russian society, freedom of expression, and the role of art in resistance against oppression, presented through a varied stream of litanies, statements, quotations and singing. The jury awarded third place for a sophisticated musical and sound composition conveying a sense of both humour and urgency.
Student Award – Mother of God, Banish Putin (Jiří Adámek Austerlitz, Czech Radio)
NEWS REPORT
1st place – A Day Odesa Under War (Diana Popkova, Suspilne Ukraine)
A sonically rich piece that maps everyday life in Odessa under wartime conditions. From the train station to the Black Sea, from the statue of Pushkin to the mines on the coast, Popkova composes a collage of determination, pain, and hope. The jury noted that the report presented a wonderfully rich story in terms of sound and the evocation of place while not shying from difficult topics and offering a collage of a city defiant in the face of aggression.
2nd place – Labour migration is causing the country to die out (Martha Georgiew, ORF)
In subtle ways the author reminds listeners in Austria that life in an isolated part of north-western Bulgaria is relevant to their own world. The difficulties faced by people living in the Vidin region on the border with Serbia and Romania are connected to political decisions taken not only locally, but also in other European countries and in Brussels. The report weaves contextual background into the story and is rich in local colour. It also allows the local inhabitants to speak for themselves, offering a nuanced picture of one of the poorest regions in the European Union.
3rd place – I Don’t Owe Anyone Anything (Antoni Rokicki, Polish Radio)
This is an unusual and hugely engaging story, exploring the complexities of Polish-Ukrainian relations through the prism of the experiences of a Ukrainian taxi driver in Gdansk. The report is immersive and without commentary, built on dialogue between the taxi driver and the reporter in a number of contexts. The story develops in unexpected ways, reminding the listener that Polish-Ukrainian relations should not be reduced to cliché and stereotype.
Student Award – I Don’t Owe Anyone Anything
PODCAST
The jury reviewed 44 podcast entries, assessing their overall contribution to the Czech media landscape. Attention was given to innovation in format, content, technology, and sound, as well as audience reach and social relevance.
1st place – Stoupenci (Vít Kubant, Martin Štorkán, Antonín Viktora, Damian Machaj; Czech Radio)
The jury found Stoupenci to be a sensitive insight into a complicated case with authentic testimonies from victims and those around them. The large amount of original material and interviews recorded directly in the field is a great added value. High-quality dramaturgy and sound design helped build tension and enhanced the listening experience. The jury also highlighted the social significance of the miniseries.
2nd place – Slast (Pleasure, Linda Bartošová, Veronika Ruppert; Czech Radio)
Slast opened up the topic of female sexuality and intimacy. Strong reactions on social media and overall listenership show how necessary this podcast is. The combination of sensitively selected personal testimonies and expert insight produces a confident result. The jury also appreciated its educational potential.
3rd place – Oh My Hot (Hana Kuncová, Adél Škrvna; independent production)
Oh My Hot earned the jury’s respect as a confidently crafted work with above-standard sound design that repeatedly surprises the listener. Hana Kuncová was not daunted by the financially costly independent production and created a podcast that attempts to recode the prevailing narrative about erotic content. The jury welcomed the author's personal courage in creating an innovative format and hopes that a suitable form of monetization will be found.
Student Award – Oh My Hot
