10/07/2023 - Also among the winners of the festival's 57th edition were Behrooz Karamizade's German-Iranian co-production Empty Nets and Ernst De Geer's Nordic title The Hypnosis

(l-r) Blaga's Lessons actress Eli Skorcheva, director Stephan Komandarev and producer Eike Goreczka with their Crystal Globe for Blaga's Lessons (© Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary)

The 57th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has drawn to a close, culminating in an awards ceremony that underscored the festival's reputation for championing modern and socially-engaged cinema. Topping the honours was Bulgarian director Stephan Komandarev's social thriller Blaga's Lessons [+see also:
film review
interview: Stephan Komandarev
film profile]. The film, which centres on a retired literature teacher who refuses to become a victim of systemic corruption after falling prey to scammers, sparked considerable conversation. Anchored by an outstanding performance from Eli Skorcheva, who won the Best Actress Award, the film also claimed the Grand Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, underlining its broader appeal.

Another standout was Ernst De Geer's The Hypnosis [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Asta Kamma August
interview: Ernst De Geer
film profile], a sharp satire on societal norms. Herbert Nordrum won Best Actor for his role, and the film itself secured both the Europa Cinemas Label Award and the FIPRESCI award for the best film in the Crystal Globe Competition. Within this same section, the Special Jury Prize was awarded to Behrooz Karamizade's Empty Nets [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Behrooz Karamizade
film profile], while Babak Jalali was recognised as Best Director for his American feature Fremont.

In the Proxima competition, a platform for emerging talent and discoveries, the main prize — the Proxima Grand Prix — went to South Korean director Yoo Ji-young's intense drama Birth, an exploration of relationships, social and gender norms, and life's dilemmas. Saurav Rai's Darjeeling-set coming-of-age story, Guras, clinched the Proxima Special Jury Prize. Meanwhile, the FIPRESCI award for the best film in the Proxima category was awarded to Imago [+see also:
film review
interview: Olga Chajdas, Lena Góra
film profile], a riveting punk drama by Polish director Olga Chajdas.

Special Jury Mentions were given to Cyril Aris's meta-cinematic post-Beirut blast chronicle Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Cyril Aris
film profile], and Albert Hospodářský's slightly surreal coming-of-age road movie Brutal Heat [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Albert Hospodářský
film profile]. Vincent Perez's period drama Edge of the Blade [+see also:
film review
interview: Vincent Perez
film profile] (read our review) charmed the festival attendees enough to earn the Právo Audience Award.

In total, the festival showcased 445 screenings of 185 films, including 116 fiction features, 28 documentary features, and 41 short films. This diverse array of films saw 36 world premieres, 11 international debuts, and five European premieres taking place in the picturesque Czech spa town. 

The 58^th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is slated for 28 June to 6 July, 2024.

Here is the full list of awards:

Crystal Globe Competition

Grand Prix – Crystal Globe
Blaga's Lessons [+see also:
film review
interview: Stephan Komandarev
film profile] - Stephan Komandarev (Bulgaria/Germany)

Special Jury Prize
Empty Nets [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Behrooz Karamizade
film profile] - Behrooz Karamizade (Germany/Iran)

Best Director 
Babak Jalali – Fremont (USA)

Best Actress 
Eli Skorcheva - Blaga's Lessons

Best Actor 
Herbert Nordrum – The Hypnosis [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Asta Kamma August
interview: Ernst De Geer
film profile] (Sweden/Norway/France)

Special Jury Mention
Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Cyril Aris
film profile] - Cyril Aris (Germany/Lebanon)

Proxima Competition

Grand Prix
Birth - Yoo Ji-young (South Korea)

Special Jury Prize
Guras - Saurav Rai (India/Nepal)

Special Jury Mention
Brutal Heat [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Albert Hospodářský
film profile] - Albert Hospodářský (Czech Republic/Slovak Republic)

Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema
Russell Crowe

Festival President’s Award for Contribution to Czech Cinematography
Daniela Kolářová

Festival President’s Award
Alicia Vikander
Ewan McGregor
Robin Wright

Non-statutory Awards

Právo Audience Award
Edge of the Blade [+see also:
film review
interview: Vincent Perez
film profile] - Vincent Perez (France)

Grand Prize of the Ecumenical Jury
Blaga's Lessons - Stephan Komandarev (Bulgaria/Germany)
Commendation of the Ecumenical Jury
Citizen Saint [+see also:
film review
interview: Tinatin Kajrishvili
film profile] - Tinatin Kajrishvili (Georgia/France/Bulgaria)

Europa Cinemas Label
The Hypnosis - Ernst De Geer (Sweden/Norway/France)

FIPRESCI Award for the best film in the Crystal Globe Competition
The Hypnosis - Ernst De Geer (Sweden/Norway/France)

FIPRESCI Award for the best film in the Proxima Competition
Imago [+see also:
film review
interview: Olga Chajdas, Lena Góra
film profile] - Olga Chajdas (Poland/Netherlands/Czech Republic)