PHOTO GALLERY: Scenes from the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

The 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival opened July 4 with emotional tributes, glittering red carpets, and a renewed energy for film and creative industry.

This year’s edition was the first without the festival’s long-time president Jiří Bartoška, who died in May. His legacy was honored in the opening ceremony, directed in a futuristic style by the Caban brothers, and in the premiere of We Have to Frame It!, a documentary featuring a 2021 conversation between Bartoška and producer Milan Kuchynka.

The festival’s opening night was capped by a free public performance by British synthpop band La Roux in front of the Thermal Hotel, followed by fireworks.

The President’s Award was presented to American actor Peter Sarsgaard and Luxembourg actress Vicky Krieps, who each introduced retrospective screenings of Shattered Glass and Love Me Tender.

A major highlight of the festival was the return of Michael Douglas, who presented a newly restored version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, produced by his father and directed by Czech-American legend Miloš Forman.

Douglas was joined by Paul Zaentz, nephew of co-producer Saul Zaentz, and Forman’s sons for the screening, which received a standing ovation. Douglas, who first received a festival award in 1998, was honored again with a new version of the same accolade.

Before the screening, Paul Zaentz openly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him a “narcissistic dictator” in reference to tax reforms favoring the wealthy. Douglas echoed the criticism at a later press conference, warning that democracy should not be taken for granted, citing political developments in the U.S. and Hungary.

American actress Dakota Johnson arrived on Sunday to accept the President’s Award. She also presented a screening of the romantic comedy Materialists, in which she co-stars with Pedro Pascal.

Czech stars also lit up the red carpet, including actress Anna Geislerová whose new film Caravan, a Cannes favorite, debuted at the festival and actor-director Jiří Mádl, whose feature Waves was the Czech Oscar entry for Best Foreign Film.

The Karlovy Vary Film Festival runs through Saturday, July 12, and features over 130 films, 13 directorial debuts, and a new Filmmakers Lounge for international collaboration.

Major premieres, industry panels, and red carpet appearances are still ahead. Stellan Skarsgård will attend this week to receive the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema and introduce his Cannes-winning film Sentimental Value during the festival’s final days.