IN PICTURES: Red carpet rolls out for start of Karlovy Vary Film Festival

The 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) kicked off in the Czech Republic Friday evening, with a star-studded opening ceremony honoring actor and director Viggo Mortensen. The actor, known for his roles in The Lord of the Rings and Green Book, received the prestigious Crystal Globe for his contribution to world cinema. The event began with a presentation of archival footage, as festival president Jiří Bartoška reflected on the festival's 58 years and the hard work of the entire team.

"I am honored to be a guest at the Karlovy Vary festival," Mortensen said during his acceptance speech. "This festival holds a special place in my heart, as it was here that my film Captain Fantastic won the Audience Award in 2016," he commented.

The ceremony also featured a new trailer for the festival, with Oscar-winning actor Benicio del Toro starring. Actor Geoffrey Rush, who took home the Crystal Globe two years ago, was also in attendance at the opening ceremony as a member of the main competition jury.

The opening ceremony also paid tribute to the festival's history, recalling the challenges faced during the 1992 festival when it was almost cancelled by the Ministry of Culture. Bartoška and artistic director Eva Zaoralová were credited with saving the festival, with Bartoška jokingly stating: "It turns out that not all of the state's decisions are wise."

The festival's 136 feature films and documentaries offer a diverse range of stories and perspectives. Among the highlights of the second day of the festival is the world premiere of Ema a smrtihlav (Emma and the Death's Head), directed by Slovak filmmaker Iveta Grófová. The film, set during the Slovak state period, follows a widow who shelters a Jewish boy during World War II.

Among other big names to grace the ceremony’s red carpet were Czech actress Eliška Křenková, who starred in the 2023 detective drama Úsvit (Dawn), and Alena Mihulová, known for her role in the 2015 drama film Home Care.

Other notable events this weekend include a screening of director Kristina Dufková's Life to Eat, which featured at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, and a meeting with the directors and actors of new Czech film Zápisník alkoholíčky (Notebook of an Alcoholic).

The festival’s opening ceremony also welcomed Oleh Sentsov, a Ukrainian filmmaker and lieutenant in the Ukrainian army, who received a long round of applause from the audience. Sentsov's film, Real, is a documentary that offers a firsthand look at the reality of war. Due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, it was uncertain if Sentsov would be able to attend the festival, but he arrived Friday morning to personally present his film.

The festival lasts until July 6 and will showcase around 200 films from around the globe. Tickets are available in the form of individual entries and festival passes; you can find more information on the KVIFF English-language website.