Festival Czechs in
Energized Karlovy Vary bows to crowds
Pedestrian gridlock greeted Eli Wallach (introducing "Keeping the Faith"), Czech Parliament chairman Vaclav Klaus, fest president Jiri Bartoska and honoree Vera Chytilova.
Chytilova, the Czech new-wave helmer receiving the fest's award for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema, touched the audience with a modesty-on-wry speech alluding to her difficulties under communism followed by funding problems in the days of free-fall financing.
The youth contingent is out in force at this year's edition, and the town responded with mini-music fest Rockvary. It's one of many spinoff events that are becoming a veritable fringe fest at the country's most popular cultural event. At new latenight venue Villa Premiera, parties lasted into the wee hours.
Program director Eva Zaoralova won kudos for opening night competition film "Aberdeen," by Norwegian helmer Hans Petter Moland, in its world premiere. Czech event is unspooling a growing number of film premieres.
Early competition screenings boded well for this year's lengthened selection, with a strong Euro presence. Docu competish film "Fighter," by Amir Bar-Lev, created early fest buzz.
By the weekend, Czech President Vaclav Havel dropped by; Julian Sand was on hand to intro "The Loss of Sexual Innocence;" and Michael Legge arrived to present "Angela's Ashes."
Norton, Swank to visit
Fest should heat up over the next week with an influx of guests due. Edward Norton, Heather Graham, Hilary Swank, Angelica Huston, Salma Hayek and Alicia Silverstone are among the stars expected to light the balmy summer evenings.
Polish actor-director Jerzy Stuhr received a warm two-minute ovation following the world premiere screening of his competition entry "Big Animal," from Krysztof Kieslowski's final screenplay.
