This year's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival started with a happy and reflective mood.
It was a good fit because the festival is celebrating two big events: its 80th year and its 60th time running it.This is because of a break during the Soviet era that made the festival happen every other year.Because of this, there's a special way to count the years.With two big milestones, the festival's lively opening ceremony had even more reasons to remember the past.
Artistic director Karel Och said, "We naturally like to look back on the past.
But we also know that getting too caught up in memories can stop us from moving forward, so we try to focus on the future too."
This balance was clear during the ceremony on Friday.
Jesse Eisenberg, Harvey Keitel, and John Lesher, who won an Oscar for "Birdman," watched from the audience.Dustin Hoffman, who was honored with the Crystal Globe, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, who got the President's Award, both gave heartfelt speeches.
Hoffman, who will turn 89 soon, said, "If you're very lucky, you get to be an old man like me.
Then you can see your life's work on screen looking back at you.It makes me feel emotional, reflective, and very thankful to have had the chance to do what I love, year after year, with so many others doing what they love too."
He went on to talk about how he first fell in love with acting.
He said, "I knew instinctively that this is how I wanted to live.I wanted to be lost in time.I wanted to be absorbed in time, because it made me feel alive."
Maggie Gyllenhaal, who is set to be part of the Venice Film Festival jury in September, also honored the festival that gave her the best actress award for "Sherrybaby" in 2006.
She also thanked the Czech film culture that inspired her as a student in Prague.
She said, "Discovering Miloš Forman's films during my time in Prague pushed me to become a director.
It helped me express my view of the world, even if it was strange or challenging or different."
She also paid tribute to Jiří Bartoška, an actor who was a big part of the festival's modern era.
He was the festival's leader from the 1990s until his passing in May 2025.His loss is still very strong for the festival.
Och told TheWrap, "That loss is still very fresh.
It's also connected to the loss of my predecessor, Eva Zaoralová, who passed in 2022.These were important people in the festival's revival in the early '90s.They're still with us in a way, and we miss them all the time.But we try not to be too sad."
Instead of being too sad, the organizers are creating a program that honors the festival's past.
They've organized a special edition called a "Vary Special Year" in line with the festival's fun and stylish brand.
Och spent six months in the Czech National Film Archive looking through old materials to prepare a retrospective called "Out of the Past," which is all about the festival's history.
He said, "It was amazing to find not just the films we already know, but also the things that happened at the early editions.
It showed how hard our old friends worked, and all the less-known parts of the festival's story.It feels very relevant this year because you realize how much of that rich history is still part of what we're doing today."
Och also let some luck guide the lineup, especially the choice of the opening film.
The opening film is called "The Match," directed by Juan Cabral and Santiago Franco.
It's a sports documentary about the political and cultural tensions around Argentina's quarterfinal win over England in the 1986 World Cup.It's known for Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal and his incredible solo run a few minutes later.The film is tight and exciting, and Och thought it was the perfect start for the festival.
He said, "This is about more than just soccer.
It's a well-made film that helps you understand more than just the sport.It's also very entertaining and especially timely with the World Cup happening.But honestly, it comes down to gut feeling.I use analytical thinking for decisions, but I also rely on instinct and the punch of it."
The film also feels like a ghost story.
It uses a lot of old footage and interviews with most of the game's main players, highlighting the absence of Diego Maradona and Bobby Robson.It's both sad and energetic, making it a good start for a festival celebrating joyful memories.
At the opening ceremony, the festival known for funny and stylish trailers revealed its latest one, which features Stellan Skarsgård and some earthworks.
The trailer can be seen here.
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