Published: July 03, 2015| 08:00 AM

The 50th jubilee edition of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival starts today in grand style. After 5 p.m., festival stars will parade on the red carpet in front of the Thermal Hotel, including American actor Richard Gere and his colleagues from the opening film Time Out of Mind, actress Jena Malone and director Oren Moverman. At the ceremony, transmitted from 8 p.m. by Czech Television, Richard Gere will receive the Crystal Globe for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema.

At 8 p.m. in front of the Thermal Hotel, bands Pilot and Portless will open the ČEZ Energy Fest. At 10:30 p.m., audiovisual performance KV 50 by the group SPAM, i.e. Vladimír 518, Ondřej Anděra and David Vrbík will take over. At 10:50 p.m., after the gala fireworks, the legendary Czech band LUCIE will headline. At midnight, the eventful festive day will be wound up with a screening of the documentary Film Spa about the fifty-year history of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival at Mlýnská kolonáda. Entry to all events is free.

In the afternoon, the festival whirl will begin not only in front of the Thermal Hotel, but also along the Park Colonnade and the Market Colonnade. Each participant wearing a bow tie, or red lipstick in case of ladies, will have a chance to win interesting prizes.