The Tukino Visibility Award is an award presented by the Tukino Film Festival, created in response to the long-standing underrepresentation of ethnic, cultural and other minorities in Czech and Slovak audiovisual media. The award recognizes films, series, game projects and creators who approach representations of difference with sensitivity, authenticity and a genuine understanding of the communities they portray.

​

Its aim is not only to draw attention to the existence of minority authors and characters, but above all to support high-quality representation that challenges the glass ceiling of stereotypical or reductive portrayals.

​

In the Czech and Slovak context, the stories of people from minority communities are still often pushed to the margins or portrayed through simplistic stereotypes. Roma characters, for example, are frequently reduced to social stereotypes and so-called “poverty porn”; Muslim characters are often associated with extremism or security threats; queer characters are sometimes defined primarily by their sexuality; and people with disabilities are often portrayed without autonomy or complexity. Tukino Visibility Award seeks to counter these tendencies and support creative work that offers nuanced and multidimensional portrayals of diverse experiences.

​

The award is divided into two categories. The first is the Award for Best Roma Representation in Czech and Slovak Film and Television, reflecting the focus of Tuke.TV and the Tukino Film Festival on supporting Roma creativity and representation. The second is the Award for Best Minority Representation in Czech and Slovak Film and Television, recognizing works portraying, for example, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, religious, cultural or ethnic minorities, and other marginalized groups.

​

Tukino Visibility Award is not about symbolic diversity for diversity’s sake. The works recognized should demonstrate an ability to tell stories without exploitation. Key criteria also include the authenticity of perspective, the treatment of characters, and the social impact of the work.

​

The winners are selected by an expert five-member jury composed of professionals working in audiovisual media, film, journalism and culture. The jury changes each year, allowing the award to reflect a range of perspectives as well as current social and artistic debates. The jury uses a points-based system, awarding three points for first place, two points for second place and one point for third place in each category. The points are then added together, and the work with the highest total receives the award. In the event of a tie, two or more works may be awarded jointly.

​

The winners receive a physical award – an original statuette designed by Roma visual artist Maxim Muchow. The design of the award itself symbolically continues the mission of the Tukino Visibility Award: to create space for new voices, support the visibility of talented creators, and actively involve marginalized communities in the cultural sphere not only as subjects of storytelling, but also as its creators.

​

The concept of the Tukino Visibility Award was created by screenwriter and director Robert Poupátko. The award is officially presented by the Tukino Film Festival, led by creative director and producer Alice Sigmund Heráková.