Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2023: Crystal Globe for Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe receiving the Crystal Globe for Extraordinary Artistic Contribution to World Cinema.

He confessed that Karlovy Vary was completely new to him. "I have to tell the truth," he said, "I was unaware of this film festival until very recently. I've been to so many film festivals that are completely disorganized and absolutely chaotic. But I have to congratulate the organization of this festival; it's one of the best I've ever attended."

Crowe gave a simple but heartfelt speech about his experiences as an actor. "The thing about me and my career," he said, "is that I started acting when I was six years old. I did my first television show in 1970 and have been making movies since 1989. Fortunately for me, I still love coming to work. I love waking up every day thinking about the scenes ahead of me. 

And I believe it's because I make decisions to do specific films where I feel a particular connection. So, I never have to wake up at 4 in the morning and wonder why I'm there. I always know why I'm at work. And my relationship with cinema? The older I get, the deeper it becomes: my love for cinema and what it can achieve, how it can educate and how it can move people. It just gets deeper and deeper."

The legendary British band Morcheeba

This year, the opening concert of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, traditionally held for the public on a stage in front of the Hotel Thermal, will feature a very special guest. In addition to the previously announced performance by Russell Crowe and his band Indoor Garden Party, the show will also include the legendary British band Morcheeba.

Morcheeba from London was founded in 1995 by brothers Paul and Ross Godfrey and vocalist Skye Edwards. The band made their debut with the EP "Trigger Hippie," which helped them secure a record deal. In 1996, they released their first album, "Who Can You Trust?" and began performing live. In the following years, the band gained international fame. Critics often consider their 1998 album, "Big Calm," as their breakthrough moment. It was followed by "Fragments of Freedom" (2000) and "Charango" (2002). To date, the band has released ten studio albums, which have produced numerous hits like "The Sea" and "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day."

By Antonio Cossa

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Crimes against humanity in Ukraine during the war

 

Antonio Cossa in areas recently occupied by the Russians.
Inprin, Bucha, Borodyanka


I recently witnessed extensive damage to residential areas, including a block where a projectile blew a hole in an apartment. There were abandoned carts everywhere. There were bullet-riddled cars and charred houses where the roofs had been completely ripped off.

Odors of some dead are still under the rubble. Others were hastily buried in courtyards and parks because a proper funeral was impossible. The mayor estimates that between 200 and 300 civilians were killed here, some directly targeted as they fled. The final death toll is likely to be higher.

The Russians occupied much of the city, but resistance here in Inprin was strong. Ukraine's Defense Ministry recognized "the mass heroism and resilience of residents and defenders" with the honorary title of "Hero City of Ukraine".
Inside the city, as police and heavily armed troops kept watch, there was a palpable layer of tension.

That victory was difficult, but the troops we spoke with admitted that the Russians might come back at some point.

Moscow now says it will drastically reduce its attacks around the capital and focus on the eastern Donbas region. In reality, the Kremlin had little choice, as its offensives in the capital had stalled.

But in time Russian forces may regroup and attack the capital again. If they do, the "city of heroes" will again be on the way and in the line of fire.

As I left Irpin for other newly occupied areas, I saw a handful of civilians being evacuated on foot, crossing the riverbed on wooden planks precariously balanced on rubble and boulders. It is the wreckage of a bridge, blown up by Ukrainian forces to block the Russian advance - another sacrifice made by Irpin.

The Bucha Massacre

The Bucha massacre was the murder and abuse of Ukrainian civilians by the Russian Armed Forces during the fighting and occupation of the Ukrainian city of Bucha.
Approximately 1,300 bodies were recovered in and around the city, including 31 children.

In these places, civilian corpses were found, lined up with their hands tied behind their backs, shot at point-blank range, which ostensibly proved that summary executions had taken place.

 Many bodies were found mutilated and burned, and fourteen-year-old girls reported being raped by soldiers.
 

Borodianka Massacre

The city of Borodianka was extensively bombed by the Russian Armed Forces during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Borodianka, a quiet "one-street town north of Kyiv, had around 13,000 residents.

As Russian forces fought in and near Kyiv, Borodianka, which lies on a strategically important road, was the target of several Russian air strikes. According to Iryna Venediktova, Ukraine's attorney general, Russian soldiers used cluster munitions and Tornado and Uragan rockets to destroy buildings and fired "at night, when the maximum number of people would be at home". Most of the city's buildings were destroyed, including almost all of its main street. Russian bombs hit the center of the buildings and caused them to collapse while the structures remained standing. residents were buried alive by air strikes and died for up to a week. those who tried to help them were shot at by Russian soldiers.

Venediktova also accused Russian soldiers of "murdering, torturing and beating" civilians.

Some villagers hid in caves for 38 days. On March 26, 2022, Russia, repulsed from Kyiv, progressively withdrew from the region to focus on Donbas. open window. He estimated at least 200 dead.

Only a few hundred residents remained in Borodianka when the Russians withdrew, with around 90% of residents fleeing and an unknown number of dead in the rubble. Retreating Russian troops laid mines across the city.

António Cossa

United Photo Press

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Karlovy Vary Festival 2022

Globe for Geoffrey Rush, KVIFF President’s Awards for Benicio Del Toro and Bolek Polívka

Stars on the red carpet during the end of the Karlovy Vary Festival 

Just like the opening night, the end of the 56th International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary started atypically. First, the moderator Marek Eben pointed out that the opening show will include stroboscopic lights and pyrotechnic effects, which especially warmed up the audience in the first rows, after which he repeatedly called: "Please turn on your mobile phones and take video and audio recordings." A visual-dance show followed. from the workshop of the Caban brothers.

Czech actor Boleslav Polívka appeared on stage as the first of the three honorary award winners. "He didn't get it because we are friends," said festival president Jiří Bartoška in the cut of Polivkové roli. "Dad was a volunteer and he would have been happy about it. He would consider me the pride of Vizovice volunteers," said Polívka with the Festival President's Award. "I'm touched and I'm happy," he added.

Benicio del Toro receives the Festival President's Award

The actor further added that we are close to a sovereign state that has been defending itself against aggression for five months: "The Karlovy Vary Festival showed solidarity with Ukraine by giving space to projects from the Odessa festival, which is why it is an honor for me to receive the Karlovy Vary Award."

Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush won the Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema. "I'm just as excited as I was when I sat in the theater for the first time at the age of six," said the deeply moved actor.

I wanted to be like Polivka. I'll probably meet him here, admitted Rush, moved

First he danced and then read a prepared speech, which he began in Czech: "Thank you to everyone in the Czech Republic, it's a great honor. And also a good evening, Then he continued in English and mentioned the Black Theater of Jiří Srnec, the playwrights of the Čapk brothers, the work of Miloš Forman, the work of Bolek Polívek and Boris Hybner directed by Ctibor Turba. "The show was absolutely amazing. Bolku, you were my male muse. I wanted to be like you!” Rush said.

He continued to mention Czech traces when he remembered his first international work, i.e. the filming of Les Miserables in Barrandov. He also mentioned Václav Havel and the fact that a playwright became one of the world leaders. "I appreciate the fact that my imagination could be so often and so strongly inspired by my experiences in the Czech Republic," he concluded his speech, after which the entire hall stood up. Rush sang to applause.

 

United Photo Press

António Cossa

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Tens of thousands of Ukrainians are pouring towards neighbouring countries to flee the Russian invasion

António Cossa on the way with the refugies from Ukraine - United Photo Press

In the three days since the invasion began, more than 115,000 have crossed into Poland alone - some travelling for more than two days, others joining queues 15km (10 miles) long at border points.

Those fleeing are mostly women and children, as all Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are being told to stay and fight.

On 2 March, major urban centres in certain parts of Ukraine, such as Kharkiv (east), Kherson (south), Mariupol (south-east), and the capital Kyiv, witnessed the most intense clashes since the Russian military offensive began on 24 February. Settlements along the “contact line” in Donetska and Luhanska oblasts, such as Volnovakha, Shchastia and Stanytsia Luhanska, have been heavily impacted. Between 4 a.m. on 24 February and 2 March 2022, OHCHR recorded 802 civilian casualties in Ukraine, including 249 people killed. The human cost of ongoing clashes is likely much higher as access and security challenges make it difficult to verify the actual number of deaths and injuries.

In recent days, many cities have experienced relentless shelling that has caused significant damage to crucial infrastructure and further restricted access to vital services. Critical supplies, including food, medicine and basic hygiene items, are becoming increasingly scarcer in the hardest-hit areas, while dwindling cash reserves, empty ATMs and suspended money transfer services have greatly curtailed affected people’s ability to purchase basic goods even when markets are functioning and accessible.

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs, especially in eastern Ukraine, continue to worsen as escalating tensions prevent urgently needed repair works from being carried out, while limited access makes it more difficult for partners to provide WASH assistance. In Mariupol, Sartana and Staryi Krym, around 470,000 people remain without access to water.

Stoppages in the water supply are also reportedly affecting the functioning of heating systems in certain locations amid freezing winter temperatures.

Moreover, the health needs generated by the ongoing conflict are particularly acute. The World Health Organization (WHO) says it has received several unconfirmed reports of attacks on hospitals and health infrastructure. There are critical shortages of oxygen and other critical drugs and medical supplies, as conflict-related injuries and COVID-19 infections place increasing strain on the already-weak healthcare system. With millions of people now on the move, the conditions on the ground are ripe for the spread of COVID-19, potentially triggering a double health emergency that could overwhelm the health system.

Refugees flee across EU borders as Russian attacks continue. António Cossa - United Photo Press

In Kyiv, thousands of people continue to pack overcrowded train stations in an attempt to flee the capital as Russian troops advance towards the city, limiting the movement of people and essential goods in and out of the city. On 2 March, debris from a powerful explosion reportedly landed close to the central railway station in Kyiv used to evacuate thousands of women and children. The level of damage and number of civilian causalities have yet to be confirmed.

The most affected areas of the country are facing a full-blown humanitarian crisis. Increasing numbers of people are trapped in cities under constant attack, as wide-scale evacuations have not been possible in certain locations.

As clashes escalate, a growing number of people are being displaced every day within Ukraine and across international borders, increasing the scope and scale of the ongoing crisis into neighbouring countries. one million people have fled Ukraine over the last week – the equivalent of more than 142,000 people on average per day – a number that will likely increase as constant violence and destruction of homes displaces more people.

The situation of third country nationals from countries in Africa and South Asia and other ethnic minority groups in Ukraine, including the Roma population, is particularly concerning, as there have been numerous reports of discrimination and even violence against these vulnerable groups. The Roma population lack civil status documents, limiting access to critical services, including education and health, and potentially humanitarian assistance as many Roman internally displaced people were not registered prior to the current escalation in conflict.

Antonio Cossa

United Photo Press Photojornalist 

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Ethan Hawke received the President's Award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

The American actor Ethan Hawke. (António Cossa / United Photo Press)

In addition to two Oscar nominations for his acting, he has two other nominations as a screenwriter. On Friday in Karlovy Vary, he staged the drama Despair and Hope and won the festival audience.According to the festival organizers, Ethan Hawke has a reputation for being an extremely adaptable actor, who portrays different types of characters in films of different genres and moods with admirable persuasiveness.

The key moment in the actor's career came in 1995, when Richard Linklater cast him in the upcoming romance Before Dawn, which resulted not only in a joint work on the other two sequels to the trilogy Before Twilight and Before Midnight, completed nine years apart. A fateful encounter with Linklater led to collaboration on eight films, including the art hit Boyhood.

In addition to the director-actor relationship, some of them are also signed as co-writers. Hawke has also repeatedly appeared in the work of Andrew Niccol (Gattac, The Merchant of Death, Good Kill) and Antoine Fuquy (Training Day, The Best of Brooklyn, The Seven Brave and the Upcoming Emergency Call). But his filmography includes works by a number of other renowned Hollywood directors: The Great Hopes of Alfonso Cuarón, Before the Devil Finds Out You're Dead Sidney Lumet, or The Despair and Hope of Paul Schrader.

Hawke made his directorial debut with Chelsea Walls, followed by an adaptation of his own novel, Bitter Landscape, Seymour: An Introduction, and the latest Blaze, a biography of country singer Blaze Foley, for which he also wrote the screenplay. Among his four Oscar nominations are two for his performances in Training Day and Boys, and two more for screenplays for Before Twilight and Before Midnight.

António Cossa
UNITED PHOTO PRESS
www.unitedphotopressworld.org

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Today was the most anticipated day by the press and fans of Johnny Depp

Today was the most anticipated day by the press and fans of Johnny Depp (António Cossa / United Photo Press)

Despite the low temperatures that were felt, actor Johnny Depp warmed the audience with his humility and his affectionate, friendly way of being.

Johnny made sure of greeting the majority of the audience, which has been very rare at other festivals.

Today the festival recognized and pay tribute to the acclaimed actor’s extensive career and lasting legacy on the film industry globally.

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival honor prolific American actor, producer and musician Johnny Depp at its 55th annual celebration taking place from August 20th–28th, 2021. The festival will pay tribute to Depp’s significant contributions to film throughout his expansive career, spanning several decades and earning the actor numerous accolades including three Academy Award nominations, a Golden Globe and ten nominations, a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor and six nominations, and 14 People’s Choice Awards. To honor Depp’s ever-growing filmography and artistic capabilities, the festival will screen his most recent cinematic producer credits, Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan (2020) and Minamata (2020), the latter also featuring his standout performance.

The multifaceted artist made his acting debut in the supernatural horror Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). From the onset of his career, Depp’s persuasive acting helped many films gain their cult status, including What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Arizona Dream (1993), Dead Man (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997) and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). During this time, he also began his long-term collaboration with renowned filmmaker Tim Burton, starring in Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Sleepy Hollow (1999).

Johnny Depp became highly sought after in the world of film with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) which brought him his first Academy Award nomination in 2004, followed by another two for Finding Neverland and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, the film that won him a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor.

An equally important chapter of Depp’s career started in 2011 with his first venture into film production. Hugo (2011), directed by Martin Scorsese, screened to critical acclaim and received 11 Academy Award nominations. Dark Shadows (2012), Mortdecai (2015) and Minamata (2020) followed in recent years, all of which Depp also starred.

António Cossa
UNITED PHOTO PRESS
www.unitedphotopressworld.org

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Michael Caine honored at the opening of the Fully-Live Karlovy Vary Film Festival.

Michael Caine honored at the opening of the Fully-Live Karlovy Vary Film Festival.  (António Cossa / United Photo Press)

The 55th edition of Karlovy Vary,

The Film Festival came back to life in a fully live format on Friday, after a year of forced break by COVID, with its exciting traditional dance numbers and a Crystal Globe achievement for Michael Caine.

The renowned actor addressed the large audience thanking and

Saying he began his acting journey as "a nobody from nowhere who didn't know anything," Caine told the crowd, "You guys gave me an award for something I love doing.

Festival president Jiri Bartoska honored him with what the actor called the heaviest award he has ever tried to lift at a ceremony. So the Festival opens with a beautiful elaborate choreography based on the American pop song "Popcorn" from the 1960s, with dancers spinning records that reproduced the exclusive KVIFF logo. year, a stylized numeral 55 containing cartoon eyes.

On the Red Carpet we also have Crystal Globe jury members including Eva Mulvad ("A Modern Man", "A Cherry Tale"), former Danish KVIFF winner, Polish actress Marta Nieradkiewicz ("Wild Roses", "Floating Skyscrapers", winner of the 2013 East West Award), Greek writer and director Christos Nikou (“Apples”) and German critic Christoph Terhechte, artistic director of DOK Leipzig, were also featured, along with members of the East West jury.

Check the video here

António Cossa

UNITED PHOTO PRESS

www.unitedphotopressworld.org

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