KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic — The Grand Prix of the main competition at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival was awarded Saturday to “Better Go Mad in the Wild” (“Radeji zesilet v divocine”), a documentary depicting the tumultuous lives of two twin brothers residing on a decrepit farm far from urban life.
Director Miro Remo accepted the Crystal Globe from festival officials Krystof Mucha and Karel Och. The top honor comes with a cash prize of $25,000, equally divided between Remo and the film’s producer.
The jury evaluated 12 films in the main competition, ultimately recognizing “Better Go Mad in the Wild,” inspired by the book of the same name by Ales Palan and Jan Sibik. This work features interviews with individuals living in isolation in the Sumava Mountains. Remo, known for exploring unconventional lifestyles, spent time in the Sumava forests documenting the lives of identical twins Ondrej and Frantisek Klisik.
In a tragic turn of events, Frantisek Klisik was found dead in a pond in Ohrobec, near Prague, just a day after participating in the festival. He had been a former anti-Communist dissident.
Festival host Marek Eben began the evening by honoring the late festival president Jiri Bartoska, who passed away earlier this year. “It’s going to be sad because of Jiri Bartoska,” Eben said, recalling the prevalent sentiment among attendees. However, he emphasized the importance of celebrating Bartoska’s legacy, reminding everyone that sharing smiles at memories of him would be a fitting tribute.
A heartfelt screening of the festival’s jingle, dedicated to Bartoska, touched the audience. The award ceremony reflected the spirit of his enduring influence. Notably, President Petr Pavel attended for the third consecutive year.
The directing prize was jointly awarded to two distinct films. French director Nathan Ambrosioni’s “Out of Love” (“Les Enfants vont bien”) was noted for its remarkable maturity and empathy. Meanwhile, Lithuanian filmmaker Vytautas Katkus was recognized for his debut feature “The Visitor” (“Svecias”), which exemplified the creative freedom often found in a director’s first project.
The Special Jury Award, accompanied by a $15,000 prize, went to Iranian director Soheil Beiraghi’s “Lawless” (“Bidad”). The jury hailed the film as a courageous endeavor, reflecting the challenges faced during its production in Iran. Beiraghi urged the audience to applaud the resilience of Iranian women.
Norwegian actress Pia Tjelta won the Best Actress Award for her role in “Don’t Call Me Mama” (“Se Meg”). The Best Actor Award was given to Alex Brendemuhl for his portrayal of a father navigating the aftermath of his daughter’s sexual assault in the Spanish film “When A River Becomes the Sea” (“Quan un riu esdeve el mar”). Katerina Falbrova received special mention for her nuanced performance in “The Broken Voices” by Ondrej Provaznik.
The Daily Pravo Audience Award was presented to “We Must Frame It!” (“Musime to zaramovat!”), the festival’s opening film dedicated to Jiri Bartoska.
The Proxima competition also recognized talent, with the Grand Prize of $15,000 awarded to “Sand City” (“Balur Nogorite”) by Bangladeshi filmmaker Mahde Hasan. The Proxima Jury’s Special Jury Prize of $10,000 was awarded to “Forensics” by Colombian director Federico Atehortua Arteaga, which critiques a society built on pain and loss. Belgian road film “Before/After” (“Avant/Apres”), directed by Manoel Dupont, received special mention.
Running parallel to the main competition, Proxima aims to spotlight less-explored filmmakers and give established directors a platform to redefine their work.
At the festival’s conclusion, the Crystal Globe for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema was presented to Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard. The KVIFF President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Czech Cinema was awarded to editor Jiri Brozek.
The event, now in its 59th year, commenced on July 4, marking the first festival without Bartoska in three decades. Attendees gathered in the Thermal Hotel’s Grand Hall to remember the long-standing president, who passed away on May 8 at age 78 following a battle with cancer.
The lifetime achievement awards were presented to renowned actors including Peter Sarsgaard, Luxembourg native Vicky Krieps, and Dakota Johnson. Discussions on the future direction of these awards are currently underway.
This year, the Karlovy Vary Film Festival showcased over 130 films, both feature and documentary, along with short films. The milestone 60th edition is set for July 3 to 11, 2026.
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