Karlovy Vary Film Festival starts, awards actress Helen Mirren
03.07.2012 14:15
CeskeNoviny: Karlovy Vary - The 47th International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary was opened at the ceremony in the Grand Hall of the Thermal Hotel tonight, with Czech President Vaclav Klaus, British star Helen Mirren and other celebrities attending.
The festival, held until July 7, will present over 200 feature and documentary films, 22 of which will have their world, international or European premiere in Karlovy Vary.
The Oscar-winning actress Mirren, 66, was presented with the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema at the gala opening tonight.
Mirren with her husband, U.S. film-maker and producer Taylor Hackford, who was given an Oscar for his short film Teenage Father, arrived in Karlovy Vary in the afternoon. She was welcomed by the festival president Jiri Bartoska and Karlovy Vary Mayor Petr Kulhanek.
Mirren gives press conference on Saturday. A day later she will introduce The Door, in which she played the leading role, along with its director Istvan Szabo who chaired the Karlovy Vary festival's grand jury last year.
This year´s grand international jury that will assess films in the main competition was also introduced at the gala opening. It is chaired by Richard Pena, director of the prestigious Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York and head of the New York Film Festival.
The festival films will be screened in 14 cinemas six of which, situated in the Thermal complex, have been equipped with digital technology this year.
The festival´s budget of 135 million crowns is more or less the same as in the previous years. Sponsors fund 70 percent of the sum, the rest is covered by the Culture Ministry, the town of Karlovy Vary and the Karlovy Vary Region.