Alongside the announcement of the winners in the main competition categories of the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Crystal Globes were also presented to Jiří Brožek and Stellan Skarsgård – two figures who have been shaping European cinema since the 1970s.
Before the competition awards were revealed, the Festival President’s Award for a fundamental contribution to Czech cinema was presented to Jiří Brožek, the first editor in history to receive this honour. The nine-time Czech Lion winner has worked on more than a hundred domestic productions. After the introduction by artistic director Karel Och, a short tribute video celebrated several of Brožek’s works, emphasizing his subtle and refined editing style as well as his remarkable adaptability in working with a wide range of filmmakers.
“Thank you! First of all, I want to say hello to all the directors I’ve worked with for putting up with me. I’d like to thank Jiří Bartoška for this award and for insisting I deserved it,” said Brožek, who over the course of his career has collaborated with notable Czech filmmakers including Věra Chytilová, Jiří Menzel, Ladislav Smoljak, Karel Kachyně and Vladimír Michálek.
Prior to the announcement of the best film award, Karel Och introduced Stellan Skarsgård as one of the most respected actors of our time, whose remarkable acting resume spans both European art cinema to high-budget Hollywood blockbusters. A tribute clip, in keeping with tradition, showcased his explosive yet calm, cool yet warm and brooding yet expressive roles.
The charismatic actor accepted the Crystal Globe Award for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema with his signature humour: “I’m not dead yet. I thought I was too young for this award. I want to thank everyone. Even my parents, who slept together in 1950. Thanks, Mom. And thank you to the rest of my family, which is large and spread worldwide,” and concluded: “Thank you to this festival, which is a tremendous tribute to cinema and keeps it alive, even in these difficult times.”
