Jesse Eisenberg (Social network, Real pain, When you’re done saving the worldHe said on Saturday that in the coming days he will obtain Polish citizenship and hopes to spend more time making films in Central Europe because the kind of films he likes to produce are becoming increasingly difficult to produce in Hollywood.
The actor, writer and director shared the news as he received a standing ovation and a massive group hug, figuratively speaking, at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) in the Czech Republic on Saturday. The actor, writer and director was honored with the Festival President’s Award before the film’s screening Dualdirected by Richard Ayoade, in which Eisenberg plays the lead role.
“Being here has a special meaning for me now, because I receive my Polish citizenship in exactly one week,” said Eisenberg, holding the award statuette in the Grand Hall of the Termal Hotel, the Czech Festival’s “headquarters,” “because I have been seeking Polish citizenship because of my family heritage, but also because I want to spend more time in my life and career in Europe, specifically Central Europe.”
“In America, many of the films I love so much – the human-scale, the mid-budget exotica – have become increasingly difficult to make, but in Europe, these films are thriving and being celebrated,” Eisenberg continued.
He described his introduction as “wonderfully strange”. Dual“A film we made over a decade ago that owes a lot to Central European cinema.”
The star is one of many big names taking the spotlight during the Czech festival’s double 60th anniversary edition, which runs from July 3 to 11.
During the KVIFF 2026 opening ceremony on Friday, Dustin Hoffman (The graduate, Kramer v. Kramer, rain man) received the Crystal Globe Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema, while Maggie Gyllenhaal was honored (Bride!, Missing daughter, secretary, The honorable woman) He received the President’s Award. Harvey Keitel (I mean the streets, Taxi driver, Reservoir dogs) He was also among the famous names that walked the festival’s expansive red carpet in the Czech spa town.
Eisenberg’s next film as writer and director, For the first timeIt stars Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti. Eisenberg also co-wrote the music and lyrics for the musical within the film. The film will be released in the fall by A24.
When KVIFF revealed a month ago that Eisenberg would be honored this year, it called him “one of the most multifaceted figures in contemporary cinema.” She highlighted: “His first role was in a movie in 2002 Roger DodgerWhich earned him the award for Most Promising Young Actor at the San Diego Film Festival. His performance in Noah Baumbach’s family drama Squid and whale (2005) received nominations for the Independent Spirit Award and Critics’ Choice Award. Horror horror comedy Zombieland (2009) was a huge success at the box office. …In 2010, Eisenberg played Mark Zuckerberg Social networkWhich earned him his first nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award.
Karlovy Vary also referred to his work as a film director. “Eisenberg makes his screenwriting and directorial debut with the feature film When you’re done saving the world“, starring Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard as a mother and son trying to navigate their relationship. “The film premiered at the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals. Eisenberg subsequently generated significant interest in his second film, Real pain (2024), in which he and Kieran Culkin play cousins searching for their heritage. Eisenberg was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay, and his screenplay won a BAFTA Award, the Waldo Salt Award at the Sundance Film Festival, an Independent Spirit Award, and numerous other awards. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, and Kieran Culkin’s performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
