MOSCOW — The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the largest film event in Central and Eastern Europe, launches its 43rd edition in the Czech spa town Friday, with films from the region’s best-known directors accounting for a large part of the official selection.
Many of the directors among the 14 competing for the Crystal Globe already have won prizes at Karlovy Vary or elsewhere.
Croatia’s Zrinko Ogresta, the director of “Behind the Glass,” won KVIFF’s special jury prize five years ago with “Here,” while Russia’s Alexei Uchitel — who is presenting his most recent film, “Captive” — was winner of the 2005 Moscow International Film Festival with “Dreaming of Space.”
Petr Zelenka, one of the most renowned young Czech directors and winner of the 2002 Crystal Globe with his “Year of the Devil,” also is participating with “The Karamazovs.”
Robert De Niro is due to collect the Crystal Globe for outstanding contribution to world cinema at the opening ceremony. Barry Levinson’s “What Just Happened?” in which De Niro stars, will be the opening-night movie.
