Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 

The first film, For a Moment Freedom (Ein Augenblick Freiheit), about Iranian refugees will open on October 8, 2009. The film, screened in Karlovy Vary’s Another View section, was also personally introduced by its Austrian-Iranian director Arash T. Riahi at the official opening of the Summer Film School in Uherske Hradiste. Riahi, a refugee himself, infused his film about refugees running from Iran and waiting in Turkey for asylum with a very sensitive blend of tragedy and humor. The film is collecting awards at film festivals around the world.

A very different and offbeat film will hit the movie theaters on December 3, 2009. The animated A Town Called Panic (Panique au village), screened in the popular Midnight Screenings section at KVIFF, tells a story of Cowboy, Indian and Horse dealing with their every-day problems just like almost any other ordinary family. The film’s electrifying atmosphere with its plastic toys bring back the nostalgia of childhood and charm you with absurd dialogue and great voices. The film is based on a cult twenty-episode series aired in 2003 by Canal+ (France and Belgium) that was later dubbed in English by Aardman Animations.

And since all good things come in three, early next year will bring all film fans Fish Tank by Oscar-winning director Andrea Arnold, whose award-winning film Red Road was also shown in Czech theaters. Shortly after its world premiere in Cannes, the Karlovy Vary festival screened it in its prestigious Open Eyes section. The story of fifteen year old Mia, not interested in much else but dancing, is exquisitely shot with focus on authenticity and performances. Fish Tank left Cannes with the Jury Prize and lead actress, Kate Jarvis, won the Best Performance in a British Feature Film at Edinburgh FF.