Karlovy Vary fest turns to world

On Tuesday program director Eva Zaoralova announced retrospectives and tributes including a focus on films from the North African Mahgreb region, a selection of new Brazilian documentaries, and spotlights on directors Kim Ki-Duk and Johan van der Keuken, actor/director Jean-Marc Barr and Czech actor Vlastimil Brodsky, who receives a posthumous Lifetime Contribution award.

Barr will be on the international jury with American film critic Roger Ebert and Czech cinematographer Jan Malir.

Zaoralova also unveiled some of the films lined up for the fest's core sections.

Horizons, which features break-out films from other fests, will screen Andreas Dresen's Berlin fest winner "Grill Point," Oscar-winner "Monster's Ball," Mira Nair's Venice-winning "Monsoon Wedding," Ulrich Seidl's "Dog Days," Rotterdam winner "Every Day God Kisses Us on the Mouth" by Romanian helmer Sinisa Dragin, Mike Figgis' "Hotel," Norwegian Peter Naess' "Me, My Friend and I, "Henry Jaglom's "Festival in Cannes" and Keith Fulton's docu on the non-making of Terry Gilliam's Don Quixote film, "Lost in La Mancha."

The main platform for European films will be Variety's Critics' Choice section, presented with European Film Promotion.

Another View, a more experimental section, offers Bille Eltringham's North England study "This is Not a Love Song," "Japan" from Mexico's Carlos Reygadas, "An Adolescent" by Japanese director Eiji Okuda, "Chen Mo and Meiting" from Liu Hao of China, and German helmer Matthis Kellich's "Neither Fish Nor Fowl."

East of the West, the heart of the festival for many foreign visitors, will feature the international premiere of Kira Muratova's "Chekov Motifs," "Sisters" from young Russian star Sergei Bodrov Jr., Kirghiz-Kazakh film "My Brother Silk Road" by Marat Sarulu, and new works from established directors including Krzysztof Zanussi.

Forum of Independents programmers Stefan Uhrik and Hana Cielova said that U.S. indie films will be a stronger presence again, with selections including Griffin Dunne's "Lisa Picard is Famous," and Jill Sprecher's "Thirteen Conversations About One Thing." Chinese, Argentinean and Iranian films are also forum bound.

Fest president Jiri Bartoska told Daily Variety the festival is on track with sponsorship and closing in on securing high-profile guests.

And in recognition of the festival's growing importance as the must-attend event for East Euro watchers, Karlovy Vary launches an Industry Center, offering services and contacts for distributors and buyers, similar to set-ups in Venice and San Sebastian.