Key Facts
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) will celebrate its 60th edition in July 2026, marking an 80-year legacy since its founding in 1946. Artistic director Karel Och, only the third in the festival's history, spoke exclusively about the lineup and vision.
Honoring History with Humility
Och emphasized a spirit of humility in curating the 60th edition. "We look back at the festival’s history and want to honor the work of our predecessors," he said. The Out of the Past sidebar will showcase historical highlights, including Ken Loach's 'Kes' (which won in 1970, just two years after the Soviet invasion), Glauber Rocha's 'Barravento' (1961), and Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's 'A Matter of Life and Death' (which played at the second edition).
Global Reach and New Competitions
In 2022, KVIFF replaced the East of the West competition with Proxima, a section without geographic restrictions. Och explained, "People understand the type of films we’re looking for: a certain youthful spirit… One of the reasons we abandoned East of the West was to give more opportunities to filmmakers from Asia and Latin America." This year's Proxima includes films from India ('The Ink-Stained Hand and the Missing Thumb'), Japan ('Incinerator'), Argentina ('Truck Driver'), and Mexico ('Against Nature').
Returning Filmmakers and New Voices
The Crystal Globe competition features returnees like Bulgarian duo Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov (winners in 2019 for 'The Father') with 'Black Money for White Nights', and Czech filmmaker Šimon Holý. First-time entries include films from Colombia, Myanmar, and Switzerland. Support for MENA filmmakers continues with Lebanese director Karim Kassem's 'Pipes' and 'Hijamat', produced by Jafar Panahi.
Trends: Cross-Border Filmmaking and Female Heroes
Och noted a trend of filmmakers working outside their native countries, such as two Italian directors making films in England and Cambodia. He also observed many films centered on female heroes, directed by both men and women. These trends mirror those seen at Cannes.
US Films and Holdback Challenges
While US submissions were considered, none made the competition. Och pointed to holdback strategies that harm summer festivals, citing the example of 'Josephine', which was invited but not allowed to screen during summer.
Local Cinema and International Appeal
Och stressed that Czech and Slovak films are not token inclusions. Last year's winner, 'Better Go Mad in the Wild', received invitations from over 60 festivals. He highlighted Ivan Ostrosky's 'Only Beautiful Things to Look At' as a personal pick with strong international potential.
FAQ
- When is the Karlovy Vary Film Festival held? The festival takes place each July, between Cannes and Venice.
- What is the Proxima competition? Proxima replaced the East of the West competition in 2022, removing geographic restrictions to give more opportunities to filmmakers from Asia and Latin America.
- Which films are being shown in the Out of the Past retrospective? The retrospective includes Ken Loach's 'Kes', Glauber Rocha's 'Barravento', and Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's 'A Matter of Life and Death'.
- Why are there fewer US films in competition? Artistic director Karel Och said they didn't find suitable candidates, and noted that holdback strategies for US independent films are harming summer festivals.
Source: variety.com