You’ll find the best memories from this year’s festival in our five-minute video on KVIFF.TV.
It all started with the statuettes, which this year were somewhat lighter and smaller. And images from the Moser glassworks are what opens our video full of the most important and most interesting moments of KVIFF 58: the opening evening, during which Jiří Bartoška celebrated 30 years as festival president, the concert by Kosheen followed by a grand fireworks display, then the first arrivals on the red carpet and the first film screenings. On Friday, the festival welcomed the first of several international guests – actor and director Viggo Mortensen – followed over the subsequent days by director Steven Soderbergh, actor and director Daniel Brühl, and actor Clive Owen. Audiences gave standing ovations to Czech acting legends Iva Janžurová, Jiřina Bohdalová, and – at the end of the festival – award-winner Ivan Trojan. We said hello to many new faces, but also good-bye to one familiar one – long-time microphone handler Petr Folprecht was on stage this year for the last time. And we should also mention one of the festival’s most powerful moments, when Ukrainian director Oleh Sentsov, who personally experienced the fighting in Ukraine, asked for a moment silence at the screening of his documentary, after which Viggo Mortensen came to greet him in person. Another strong emotional moment was Sentsov’s meeting with President Petr Pavel.
The festival is more than actors, directors, films, or the red carpet in front of the Hotel Thermal: it is also the life that you give it. All week long, you filled the cinemas, discussed the films, rooted for your favorites, voted for them, and took in a full program of accompanying events ranging from exhibition openings and book releases to concerts, debates, encounters with filmmakers, and sporting events. It was nine jam-packed, exciting days. And where the video opened with the statuettes, it closes with them as well – with their presentation to our guests, some of whom were overcome by emotion. You, too, may find your eyes tear up as you watch the video. Thank you for being there with us and for once again giving the festival its magical atmosphere. We couldn’t do it without you, and we look forward to seeing you next year.
KVIFF 59 will take place next year, 4–12 July 2025.
