June is fast approaching, which means it’s almost time for one of Eastern Europe’s most prestigious showcases of cinema to return — theKarlovy Vary International Film Festival. Ahead of its 58th iteration beginning in late June, the event unveiled its full lineup of official selections and special screenings. This year’s edition promises a fairly even mix of feature debuts as well as new works from prolific international filmmakers hoping to make their mark once again. Followinglast year’s celebration of Iranian filmmakersand honoring ofRussell Crowe, there will be a wider focus on a variety of themes and genres covering politics, history, society, and more through a contemporary lens.
Of the 32 films that have been selected to compete as official selections this year,15 are debuts, making the festival a treat for attendees hoping to catch the latest in European cinema. In terms of the filmmakers present, artistic directorKarel OchnamedMark Cousins, Oleh Sentsov, Noaz Deshe, Antonin Peretjatko, Beata Parkanova, andBurak Cevikas some of the big artists to watch when the festivities begin. Their films and more will compete across the festival’s big prizes — the Crystal Globe Competition recognizing the best films from a group includingOur Lovely Pig Slaughter,A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things, andTiny Lights, among others, and the Proxima Competition with headlining films includingCabo Negro,Stranger, andTrans Memoria.
Also slated for the competition are a handful of special screenings including ten films, most of which are making their world premieres at Karlovy. Among them areCzechoslovak Architecture 58–89,In the Land of Brothers,I’m Not Everything I Want to Be,Real,The Other One,Tatabojs.doc,Waves,Journey to the Brink of War, andThe Gardener’s Year. For those up for awards, the Crystal Globe jury features a star-studded line-up, including Independent Spirit Award-winning producerChristine Vachon,Academy Award-winningShineactorGeoffrey Rush,Explanation of EverythingdirectorGábor Reisz, poet, novelist, andThe Northmanco-writerSjón, and five-time Czech Lion Award-nominated actressEliška Křenková. The Proxima competition, meanwhile, boasts a mix of filmmakers, producers, festival founders, and more includingMohamed Kordofani, Bianca Balbuena, Daniela Michel, Wouter Jansen, andAdéla Komrzý.
KVIFF 2024 Will Honor Prolific Author Franz Kafka With a Retrospective
On top of everything, this year’s KVIFF will reflect on the life and work of a Czech Republic icon on the 100th anniversary of his death —Franz Kafka. A renowned and widely influential author known for novels likeThe TrialandThe Castle, Kafka’s shadow looms large in the world of cinema, with the term “Kafkaesque” being coined to describe a work that exhibits a similar absurdity to his stories. He’ll be honored through a program called “Franz Kafka and the Cinema” showing his impact on the silver screen with a handful of screenings that take heavy inspiration from him, likeMartin Scorsese’sAfter Hours, directly adapt his work, likeOrson Welles’sThe Trial, or build a story around his life, likeSteven Soderbergh’sKafka.
The 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festivalbegins on June 28 and runs through July 6. The full lineup of films is available to view onthe event’s official website. In the meantime,After Hoursis available to stream on Tubi.
After Hours
Watch on Tubi
