A Look at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) kicked off with the screening of "The Dead Don't Hurt," written and directed by American filmmaker Viggo Mortensen. This film, starring Solly McLeod, opened the festival in the Czech Republic.

Jury Members:
- Christine Vachon: An American producer and co-founder of Killer Films, known for producing celebrated independent features such as "Kids," "Boys Don’t Cry," and "Carol." She recently executive produced "May December" and "Past Lives."
- Geoffrey Rush: An acclaimed Australian actor, known for his Oscar-winning role in "Shine" and performances in "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers" and "Exit the King." He was honored with the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema at KVIFF in 2022.
- Sjón: An Icelandic author and screenwriter, known for his work on "Lamb" and "The Northman." He has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for his song lyrics in "Dancer in the Dark."
- Eliška Křenková: A Czech actress recognized for her roles in films such as "Winter Flies" and "Bird Atlas," and for her performances in alternative stage productions.
- Gábor Reisz: A Hungarian director, screenwriter, and composer, known for his films "For Some Inexplicable Reason" and "Explanation for Everything," which won awards at Venice FF and Chicago IFF.

Festival President's Awards:
- Viggo Mortensen: The American actor and director received the Festival President's Award from Jiří Bartoška, the head of KVIFF. Mortensen expressed his gratitude in Czech, calling the festival a "great cinematic holiday."
- Ivan Trojan: The Czech actor will be presented with the Festival President's Award for his contribution to Czech cinema at the closing ceremony.

Other Honorees:
- Nicole Holofcener: American actor, director, and writer.
- Clive Owen: British actor.
- Francine Maisler: American producer and casting director.

Festival Highlights:
- The KVIFF, one of the oldest film festivals in the world, is considered the most important event in Central and Eastern Europe.
- It presents around 200 films annually, hosting filmmakers, buyers, distributors, and journalists from around the world.
- The festival includes competitions such as the Crystal Globe Competition and the Proxima section, as well as retrospectives and thematic sections.
- This year's festival will run from June 28 to July 6, 2024, at the Thermal Hotel in Karlovy Vary.

Historical Context:
- The festival was first held in 1946 in Mariánské Lázně and moved exclusively to Karlovy Vary in 1950.
- It faced political pressures during socialist Czechoslovakia but regained prestige in the 1990s under the leadership of Jiří Bartoška and Eva Zaoralová.
- The KVIFF is classified as a Category A festival by FIAPF, sharing this status with other prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.

Centennial Tribute:
- In honor of the 100th anniversary of Franz Kafka's death, the festival will feature a special category dedicated to Kafka and cinema.

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival continues to be a significant cultural event, celebrating cinematic achievements and showcasing new and innovative films from around the globe.