The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) returns for its 60th edition in its 80th year since its founding. Double Anniversary Alert!
A deep dive into the Czech festival’s long history can reveal all kinds of special memories and surprises among the main Crystal Globe winners and beyond.
We don’t have time to go through all that. But in honor of the 60th edition of KVIFF, which takes place from July 3-11, THR I decided to highlight six of the hidden and not-so-hidden cinematic gems that won the festival’s main prize.
In 1954, Hollywood was blacklisted Salt of the earth He came to town
In a sign of the Karlovy Vary Festival’s early interest in looking beyond Eastern Europe, the festival programmed dramas directed by Herbert J. Biberman about Mexican workers in a zinc mine who called a general strike.
During the Eastern Bloc period, it certainly helped to focus the film on social issues. Ultimately, it is all about the solidarity and determination of workers and their families. But in fact, the film was produced entirely outside the traditional studio system by three blacklisted Hollywood figures, with Biberman teaming up with screenwriter Michael Wilson and producer Paul Jarico.
The film even won the main prize, with the KVIFF website listing it as sharing the grand prize with True friendsdirected by Mikhail Kalatozov from the Soviet Union.
In 1970, Ken Loach took over Karlovy Vary
British author Ken Loach also brought his social lenses to the Czech Film Festival, where he screened his famous film bag there.
Young star David Bradley later won a BAFTA Film Award for playing the lead role of a working-class English boy who spends his free time caring for and training his pet kestrel. Colin Welland also received a BAFTA Best Supporting Actor award for his work in the film.
Loach himself was nominated for a BAFTA but did not win. However, he left KVIFF with his highest honor bag.
In 1978, Jiri Bartoska’s brilliant film came to the fore
For more than 30 years, until his death last May, Jerry Bartoska was known as the president and public face of KVIFF. But the Czechs have also known him as an actor for decades.
One visit to Karlovy Vary, long before he led the festival, led him to cast director Frantisek Vlasil in the thriller. Hot summer shadesa project that later launched his film career.
The film also moved to KVIFF and ended up winning its main award, shared with a film from the USSR, Stanislav Rostotsky’s. White Bim Black Ear.
In 2001, Karlovy Vary fell in love I amEllie
Audrey Tautou is Amelie in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s film. But you knew it!
Despite being stuck in her fantasy world, the young waitress decides to help people find happiness, leading her on a journey that may allow her to find true love. But you knew that too!
What you may not know yet is that Emily She won the Crystal Globe Award in Karlovy Vary in 2001, as stated on her website.
In 2006, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Cherry Baby He won a lot
Drama Laurie Collier Cherry Baby It stars Gyllenhaal as a young woman who is released from prison and recovering from heroin addiction. But trying to rebuild her life on the outside, especially repairing her relationship with her young daughter, is harder than she hoped.
Gyllenhaal returned to KVIFF this year to accept the festival’s Chairman’s Award. But did you know that she received a statuette at the Czech festival before?
Her return this year comes after 20 years Cherry Baby Karlovy Vary walked away with a Crystal Globe award and Gyllenhaal herself took home the Best Actress award for her work in the film.
In 2007, Icelandic film noir made its mark
Murder and Brain Disease by Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur Jar cityWhich brought him to KVIFF.
“A desperate man tries to determine the genetic origin of his young daughter’s brain disease,” read the ominous synopsis on the festival’s website that day. “A lone detective investigating the murder of an eccentric old man whose eventful past turns this seemingly ordinary case into a bizarre mystery. Both stories gradually intertwine in Baltasar Kormákur’s latest film – the biggest Icelandic box office hit of all time.”
The film stars Ingvar Sigurdsson (Everest, Northman) and Agusta Eva Erlindsdottir (justice League), among others, and demonstrated the appeal of Nordic Noir before continuing its triumphant march around the world. After all, Jar city He won the Crystal Globe Award at KVIFF in 2007.
