karlovy vary: crystal globes, fresh faces and a vision of the future

On July 2^nd, the cream of European cinema gathered in the Czech Republic, to battle it out for the Grand Prix of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, competing for the coveted Crystal Globe and the US$30 000 prize. The votes were cast on July 10^th, with the winners of the 45^th KVIFF being announced during the Official Closing ceremony.

The nation of Spain has had a terrific month: on July 12^th their national football team hoisted the World Cup in victory, and on July 10^th Spanish filmmaker Agusti Vila won the Crystal Globe for THE MOSQUITO NET. Described by Screen Daily as a drama “aiming for surrealism, dark comedy and mild sexual perversity”, the film stars Geraldine Chaplin (daughter of Charlie) as a silent sufferer of Alzheimer’s disease.

Winner of the Special Jury Prize was KOOKY, a co-production between the Czech Republic and Denmark a comedy which focuses on the exploits of six-year-old Ondra’s lost teddy bear. Using puppetry and live-action, KOOKY is an adorable and innovative family-friendly adventure, the prize for which was shared between the Czech director, Jan Svěrák, and producer Eric Abraham (who also worked on the brilliant QUIET CHAOS from 2008).

The Best Director award was won by Croatian Rajko Grlic for JUST BETWEEN US, while fresh-faced up-and-comer Anaïs Demoustier received the Best Actress award for her chilling performance in SWEET EVIL. Best Actor went to Mateusz Kościukiewicz for his role in MOTHER TERESA OF CATS, and Special Jury Mentions were made of ANOTHER SKY by Dmitri Mamulia and THERE ARE THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW by Iranian filmmaker Fardin Saheb Zamani.