Itâs lights, camera, action in Karlovy Vary, with the townâs 43rd annual film festival kicking off on Friday.
Over the next eight days, festival-goers will be treated to screenings of over 220 films, and around 60 premieres. Each U.S. actor Danny Glover to arrive at Karlovy Vary film festival ...
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The biggest name set to appear at the festival is Robert De Niro. He touched down in the Czech Republic on Thursday, saying he was happy to be back (he visited Karlovy Vary 18 years ago), but saying that he felt seriously jetlagged. And letâs hope that he has managed to sleep that off, because on Friday night he will be presenting his new film âWhat Just Happenedâ â which is actually the opening film at the festival. In the course of the week, Mr De Niro will be receiving a Crystal Globe for his outstanding contribution to world cinema. So, really, he is the focus of a lot of attention at the festival.
But a lot of the big names this year really can be found on the festival jury, which is being chaired by Ivan Passer. Heâs the Czech director behind new wave films like âIntimate Lightingâ and âA Boring Afternoonâ. He now lives in the United States and has flown over for the festival. Heâll be joined by actress Brenda Blethyn, who received a great deal of critical acclaim for her part in Mike Leighâs âSecrets and Liesâ, but more recently has been on our screens alongside Keira Knightly as Mrs. Bennet in âPride and Prejudiceâ, and then in âAtonementâ.
The jury will be choosing between 14 films. Two of these are Czech, and one of these in turn is a Czech-Polish co production. That film is âKaramazovsâ by Petr Zelenka, who has already achieved fame with his films âThe Buttonersâ and âYear of the Devilâ. âKaramazovsâ has been on general release here since spring, and has been a bit disappointing at the box office, but a win at Karlovy Vary could change all that. The second Czech film is called âNight Owlsâ by Michaela PavlĂĄtovĂĄ. This will be premiering at the festival.
The main competition is only one part of what is going on in Karlovy Vary over the next eight days. There will be concerts â Glen Hansard and Marketa IrglovĂĄ are coming to sing their Oscar-winning song âFalling Slowlyâ, and a few others besides, at the festival on Thursday night. And all week, director Armin Mueller Stahl will be exhibiting his paintings at the Karlovy Vary Art Gallery.
But Karlovy Vary wouldnât be Karlovy Vary without the parties. There will be a big opening bash taking place on tonight, and an equally extravagant party to close the festival next Saturday. Last year mirror balls were a big theme â there were women dancing on mirror balls being dangled from the roof. It is difficult to guess how they could make it any more glitzy and spangly than that this year, but hereâs predicting theyâll manage somehowâŚ
(radio-Prague)
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