State Honors for Jan Hřebejk Spark Social Media Backlash from Politicians
A total of 51 personalities received state honors from Petr Pavel during a ceremony at Vladislav Hall at Prague Castle on October 28, 2026. This is not the first time the director of well-known Czech films such as Pelíšky, Šakalí léta or Musíme si pomáhat has faced criticism from politicians; back in April of this year, Hřebejk commented on the failure to appoint Turek as a minister, prompting the politician to remark that the director has a very refined demeanor.
Filip Turek and Jindřich Rajchl Criticize the Award
Turek shared a compilation of the director’s past political statements and wrote that until the ceremony, he had no idea who “some sort of Hřebejk” was, adding that the director is the real author of entirely unacceptable recent posts rather than edited, partially fabricated, or 20-year-old ones. Following Turek’s post, people came out in large numbers to defend the filmmaker. Jindřich Rajchl joined the criticism online, attacking Hřebejk’s career and comparing him unfavorably to actor Oldřich Kaiser. Rajchl alleged that the director has not produced a quality film in 20 years and relies on public broadcasting funds, while praising Kaiser for opposing television fees. Rajchl stated that Kaiser is a brilliant actor whom all film productions are eager to work with and who does not need a single crown from Czech Television for his livelihood, whereas Hřebejk would no longer even earn enough for dry bread without public broadcasting fees funneled through a flow-through heater. Rajchl asserted that Kaiser can say whatever he likes about the fees, while Hřebejk is left with false moralizing so he can shoot further terrible trash using public money. Nestalo se tak poprvé, kdy režisér čelil kritice ze strany politiků.
Včera jsem byl vyznamenán dokonce několikrát👌🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/oKLmUoaaFI
Jan Hřebejk and Supporters Fire Back Online
Prominent figures quickly rallied behind the director in the comments section. Noted biochemist Jan Konvalinka congratulated Hřebejk on the exchange, praising the comment as a good notch, while Stanley Cup-winning ice hockey player Jiří Hrdina dismissed the political attacks directly, telling the director not to worry about the critics and writing that such a dement cannot insult people like him, offering a big congratulations for the well-deserved award. After the speech of Rep. Filip Turk, people stood in great support of the filmmaker, although on Thursday a heated debate broke out about whether the director should be among the awardees. Hřebejk praised President Pavel’s address during the ceremony, stating that he appreciated the absence of empty phrases in the speech, noting that he is a fan of the president and found the speech important to hear, adding that state speeches are difficult to write and he is allergic to phrases. Hřebejk also described feeling pleased upon realizing he was old enough for the honor.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Prague Castle Ceremony
Why did Jan Hřebejk receive a state honor?
Petr Pavel awarded Jan Hřebejk the Medal for Merit in the field of art during the October 28 ceremony at Prague Castle. The director has also previously received three Czech Lions for his creative work.
Do včerejška jsem nevěděl, kdo je jakýsi Hřebejk, ale prý krom točení filmů s cílenou romantizací odporné komunistické éry je ještě reálným autorem zcela nepřijatelných příspěvků. Ne upravených, částečně podvržených, či 20 let starých, ale nedávných a evidentně pravých a…
How many people were honored by President Pavel?
A total of 51 personalities received state decorations at the Vladislav Hall ceremony.
What did the critics specifically target in their posts?
Filip Turek and Jindřich Rajchl criticized Hřebejk’s past public commentary on political issues and questioned his recent cinematic output, drawing sharp rebukes from the director’s supporters online.