On Saturday evening, American actor Peter Sarsgaard, recipient of the Festival President’s Award at the opening ceremony of the 59th KVIFF, took the stage to present Shattered Glass, a film he personally selected for the occasion. In it, he portrays the editor-in-chief of The New Republic magazine.
Premiering in Toronto in 2003, the film centres on a newsroom shaken by a manipulative columnist whose sensational articles trigger widespread attention. Sarsgaard earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role as a journalist who upholds integrity in the face of deceit.
The well-known actor opened his remarks in the Grand Hall with a humorous anecdote about his unconventional audition: “I had just spent a month in Costa Rica before the casting. I showed up all dressed up from the ocean, in surf shorts and flip-flops… and not entirely sober.” Sarsgaard also praised director Billy Ray, describing him as someone who oscillates between a baseball coach and a man of extraordinary courage.
The actor emphasized the film’s ongoing relevance: “We live in a time when people mistake entertainment for journalism. We’ve become hooked on fear and anxiety. My father always told me the news should be boring. That’s the heart of this film: I play a man who believes in dry, straightforward reporting, while his colleague craves attention and drama.” He concluded by expressing gratitude for the warm response from the KVIFF audience, saying it gave him hope for the future of cinema.
