Czech Republic in the early 1990s: 13-year-old Karolína earns a place in a world-famous girls’ choir, joining her older sister and other driven young talents. Her voice soon catches the attention of the admired and enigmatic choirmaster Macha. Being singled out feels like a triumph, until she begins to understand the unsettling price of that privilege. Inspired by the Bambini di Praga case, the film explores the fragile line where innocence collides with abusive power.

“The FIPRESCI jury awards its prize to a film that gives young girls a voice. Through strong performances and striking 16 mm cinematography, the film explores how ambition and discipline can slip into coercion and abuse. With a restrained yet deeply unsettling expression, the film made a powerful impression.” (statement of the FIPRESCI jury, Tromsø International Film Festival, Norway 2026)

Ondřej Provazník, born in Prague, Czech Republic, in 1978, first studied journalism at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University, before completing his studies in screenwriting and dramaturgy at the famous FAMU in Prague in 2009. He began his career with documentary films, which he produced in collaboration with Martin Dušek. In 2025, he made his solo directorial debut with BROKEN VOICES at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

Filmography (selection): 2007 A TOWN CALLED HERMITAGE (documentary), 2019 OLD-TIMERS (both co-directed with Martin Dušek), 2025 BROKEN VOICES

Awards (selection): FIPRESCI Prize (Tromsø International Film Festival, Norway 2026), Czech Film Awards for Best Actress, Best Music and Best Sound (Czech Lions, Prague/Czech Republic 2026)