57th Karlovy Vary Film Festival Awards: Winners, Highlights, and Reactions

The 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival was dominated by the Bulgarian film “Blind Lesson,” which tells the understandable story of a widowed teacher who is deceived by so-called media. The film won the main competition, the Crystal Globe, and lead actress Eli Skoreva took home the award for Best Actress. The film also received the Ecumenical Jury Prize. Skoreva expressed her gratitude for the prestigious award and the warm reception of their beautiful film.

Director Stephan Komandarev dedicated the film to the generation of their parents who experienced the transition to democracy and market economy in Eastern European countries.

The jury awarded a special prize to the Iranian social romance “Empty Space.” Director Behrooz Karamizade, who recently lost his father, expressed his emotions and gratitude for the recognition. The Best Director award went to Babak Jalali for the Afghan immigrant story “Fremont,” which is set to be released in Czech cinemas. Jalali humorously questioned how he would transport the award back home.

Herbert Nordrum was named Best Actor for his role in the Nordic tragicomedy “Hypnosis.” He expressed his gratitude and acknowledged the significance of the award. The Lebanese documentary “Dance on the Edge of a Volcano” received special recognition for its thought-provoking portrayal of filmmakers questioning the meaning of their profession after an explosion in a Beirut port. The audience voted the non-competitive French film “In the Name of Honor” as the winner.

In the Proxima competition, the South Korean film “Poet” won, depicting a couple surprised by an unplanned pregnancy. Director Ji-young Yoo expressed her joy and mentioned that it was her first time traveling abroad for a film festival. The Indian film “Guras” received a special jury prize for its portrayal of a young girl searching for her lost dog.

Among the domestic films, the Czech film “Brutal Heat” received special recognition for its portrayal of a young man navigating the chaos of the world. The filmmakers, led by director Albert Hospodsky, described it as a film that offers space for the emerging generation. European and international critics also awarded “Hypnosis.”

During the closing ceremony, two actresses, Daniela Kolova and Robin Wright, received the President of the Festival Award for their contributions to cinema. Kolova expressed her excitement, as she had lived in Karlovy Vary from the age of four to eighteen. She reminisced about the vibrant times and the people she had met during the August 1968 events and the subsequent normalization period. Wright thanked the festival and emphasized the importance of supporting films, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The evening also featured a tribute to the late artist and a performance by the Caban brothers. The closing film of the festival was “The Champions” starring Woody Harrelson, who sent a video message expressing his love for the Karlovy Vary festival and his hope to attend in the future.

The 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival attracted around 11,000 accredited visitors and sold over 123,000 tickets. Selected films from the festival will be available in cinemas as part of the festival’s program.

The 58th edition of the festival is scheduled to take place from June 28 to July 6, 2024. Festival president Ji Bartok expressed his emotions and belief that they can continue to make the Karlovy Vary festival a success for another thirty years.Bulgarian Film “Blainy lekce” Wins Top Prize at Karlovy Vary Film Festival

The 57th edition of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival was dominated by the internationally acclaimed Bulgarian film “Blainy lekce” (Blind Lesson). The film won the main competition, the Crystal Globe, with lead actress Eli Skoreva also taking home the award for Best Actress. The film also received the Ecumenical Jury Prize.

“I am honored and happy to be back on the big screen and that it has been successful after thirty years,” said a moved Skoreva during her acceptance speech.

The film, directed by Stephan Komandarev, is a poignant story about the generation that experienced the transition to democracy and a market economy in Eastern European countries.

Another notable winner was the Iranian social romance “Przdn st” (Empty Place), which received a special jury prize. Director Behrooz Karamizade expressed his gratitude and dedicated the award to his late father, who worked on the film.

The award for Best Director went to Babak Jalali for the Afghan immigrant story “Fremont,” which is set to be released in Czech cinemas soon. Jalali humorously questioned how he would transport the award back home.

Herbert Nordrum was named Best Actor for his role in the Nordic tragicomedy “Hypnza, v n terapie” (Hypnosis, or Therapy). Nordrum expressed his gratitude and acknowledged the significance of the award.

The Lebanese documentary “Tanec na okraji sopky” (Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano) received special recognition for its thought-provoking portrayal of filmmakers questioning the meaning of their profession after an explosion in a Beirut port. The audience voted the French historical drama “Ve jmnu cti” (In the Name of Honor) as the winner.

In the Proxima competition, the South Korean film “Poet” won, telling the story of a couple surprised by an unplanned pregnancy. Director Ji-young Yoo expressed her joy and gratitude for the award, as it was her first international trip for a film festival.

The Czech film “Brutln vedro” (Brutal Heat) received special recognition as the only domestic title in the competition. The film, directed by Albert Hospodský, was praised for offering a space for the emerging generation. European and international critics also awarded “Hypnza” with their prizes.

During the closing ceremony, the President’s Award for Contribution to Cinema was presented to actresses Daniela Kolová and Robin Wright. Kolová expressed her excitement and reminisced about her time in Karlovy Vary, while also mentioning the events of August 1968 and the subsequent normalization period.

Wright expressed her gratitude for the festival and emphasized the importance of supporting films, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. She praised the Karlovy Vary Film Festival as one of the best she has attended.

The closing ceremony also featured a tribute to the late artist and a performance by the Caban brothers. The final film of the festival was “Ampioni” (Champions) starring Woody Harrelson, who sent a video message expressing his love for the festival and his hope to attend in the future.

The 57th Karlovy Vary Film Festival attracted over 11,000 accredited visitors and sold more than 123,000 tickets. Selected films from the festival will continue to be screened in cinemas.

The 58th edition of the festival is scheduled to take place from June 28 to July 6, 2024. Jiří Bartoška, the festival’s president, expressed his gratitude and emotions, stating that it has been thirty years since the team was entrusted with reviving the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, and he believes they have succeeded.

What was the main film competition winner at the 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and what was the story it portrayed?

Competition, the South Korean film “Poeta” (Poet) emerged as the winner. Directed by Ji-young Yoo, the film tells the story of a couple surprised by an unplanned pregnancy. Yoo expressed her joy and mentioned that it was her first time traveling abroad for a film festival. The Indian film “Guras” was also recognized with a special jury prize for its portrayal of a young girl searching for her lost dog.

Among the domestic films, the Czech film “Peklo vedle” (Brutal Heat) received special recognition for its depiction of a young man navigating the chaos of the world. Director Albert Hospodsky described it as a film that offers space for the emerging generation. European and international critics also praised the film “Hypnza, v n terapie” (Hypnosis, or Therapy).

During the closing ceremony, actresses Daniela Kolova and Robin Wright were awarded the President of the Festival Award for their contributions to cinema. Kolova, who had lived in Karlovy Vary from a young age, expressed her excitement and shared memories of the vibrant times during the August 1968 events and the subsequent normalization period. Wright thanked the festival and emphasized the importance of supporting films, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The evening also featured a tribute to the late artist and a performance by the Caban brothers. The festival concluded with the screening of “Mistoi” (The Champions), starring Woody Harrelson, who sent a video message expressing his love for the Karlovy Vary festival and his hope to attend in the future.

The 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival attracted approximately 11,000 accredited visitors and sold over 123,000 tickets. Selected films from the festival will be available in cinemas as part of the festival’s program.

Looking ahead, the 58th edition of the festival is scheduled to take place from June 28 to July 6, 2024. Festival president Ji Bartok expressed his emotions and belief that they can continue to make the Karlovy Vary festival a success for another thirty years.