As Covid cases continue to rise in Hollywood, it’s a different story nearly 6,000 miles away when the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival kicks off on Friday night. The preeminent Central European festival showed no signs that the pandemic would derail another edition of the beloved event as delegates gathered in the Great Hall of the Thermal Hotel for the opening ceremony and opening night film. . Super heroesFrom the Italian director Paolo Genovese.
The 56th edition of the event opened with a surprise announcement asking audience members to turn on their phones and start recording when a huge QR code appeared on the screen reading “Scan me”. Delegates were able to view the festival dancers online on their mobile devices via a QR code before taking the stage in an energetic and well-choreographed dance number in which a dramatic flame exploded in front of the stage.
It was a fitting opening for the prestigious boutique festival, echoing sentiments felt in Cannes earlier this year that international film festivals are about to rise from the ashes of the pandemic.
Festival president Jiri Bartoshka opened the nine-day event by saying, “We live in strange times, and by that I mean a senseless and brutal war in Ukraine.”
He likened the filmmakers to modern-day Hamlets, trying to do the right thing in a world that seems so strange. Bartoshka made it clear that this year’s Karlovy Vary festival shows “full support for Ukrainian filmmakers,” pointing to a platform in the works at the Odessa Film Festival in Ukraine, which it hosts for Ukrainian friends in the city. .
He also talked about the legacy of legendary former art director Eva Zaoralova, who died in March at the age of 89, before playing a moving commemorative video for the public. The Czech journalist and film academy who led the reboot of the KVIFF in 1994 will be celebrated this year with an exhibition of photographs of his work.
Next week, the 13th-century resort town will feature a slew of big names, including Geoffrey Rush, Benicio del Toro, and Liev Schreiber. Rashi will receive the Crystal Globe Lifetime Achievement Award, while del Toro will receive the Festival President’s Award.
Schreiber, who has Ukrainian ancestry on his maternal grandfather’s side, will be in town tomorrow to talk about BlueCheck Ukraine, a network he co-founded to oversee humanitarian aid organizations for Ukraine, as well as a financial channel for donations. He will also be doing a retrospective on his career in the panel on Sunday.
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will run from 1 to 9 July.
Source: Deadline
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
