Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic — The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival concluded its 59th edition on July 12, highlighting compelling cinematic narratives from around the globe. The festival’s top honor, the Grand Prix Crystal Globe, was awarded to the Czech-Slovak documentary Better Go Mad in the Wild, directed by Miro Remo.
This film, loosely adapted from the book by Ales Palan and Jan Sibik, explores the lives of twin brothers as they investigate the possibility of living entirely in one place. The film’s whimsical nature and exploration of personal authenticity earned it accolades from the jury, which praised it as “a funny valentine to the fading art of being true to yourself.” The film’s winners share a $25,000 prize with producer Tomas Hruby.
In a noteworthy addition to the competition, Soheil Beiraghi’s Iranian feature, Bidad, received the special jury prize of $15,000. The film centers on a young singer challenging the societal norms that prohibit women from performing publicly. The jury acknowledged the courage required to create a film under such conditions, highlighting its unexpected narrative twists.
The best director award was shared between Vytautas Katkus and Nathan Ambrosioni for their respective films, The Visitor and Out of Love. Each filmmaker was recognized for their impactful storytelling and direction.
Acting honors included best actress awarded to Pia Tjelta for her role in Don’t Call Me Mama, while Alex Brendemuhl took home the best actor prize for his performance in When a River Becomes the Sea. The jury also made a special mention of Katerina Falbrova for her role in Broken Voices, a drama focused on themes of sexual abuse.
The audience award was given to We’ve Got to Frame It!, a moving hour-long interview with the late festival president Jiri Bartoska, which was featured as the opening film.
In the Proxima competition, Mahde Hasan’s Bangladeshi film Sand City received the grand prix. The narrative revolves around two sand thieves in Dhaka who stumble upon a severed finger, intertwining elements of crime and social commentary.
During the festival, honorary awards were presented to notable figures such as Stellan Skarsgard and Jiri Brozek, in addition to festival president’s awards for contributions to Czech cinema given to Vicky Krieps, Dakota Johnson, and Peter Sarsgaard.
The festival continues to celebrate and promote international cinema, offering filmmakers a platform to showcase their artistry and engage audiences with diverse narratives.
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