The winners of the Crystal Globe Competition and the Proxima Competition at the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) in the Czech Republic have been announced.
According to the report of Mansour Jahani, an independent and international film journalist, the closing ceremony of the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival took place at the Hotel Thermal in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic; winners of the main Crystal Globe Competition and the Proxima Competition were announced and presented with the Crystal Globe award and the accompanying cash prize from this prestigious, A-list global film event.
The winners of the Crystal Globe Competition
The jury members for the Crystal Globe Competition of the 60th Karlovy Vary Film Festival (KVIFF) were; Justin Chang, film critic at The New Yorker from the United States, Amanda Nell Eu, director from Malaysia, Pavel Rejholec, sound designer, producer, composer and university lecturer from the Czech Republic, Nadia Turincev, Russian producer living in France, and Eskil Vogt, director and screenwriter from Norway, announced the winners of this section as follows:
Grand Prix
The feature-length documentary “Fruit Gathering” the debut film by Aung Phyoe and a joint production of the Myanmar, the Czech Republic, and France won the Grand Prix Crystal Globe for Best Film, along with a $25,000 prize. Oscillating with a mesmerizing rhythm between tenderness and violence, the film oscillates in a captivating rhythm between tenderness and harshness while reflecting on how women’s desires survive in a country where intimacy and love between women remain socially unacceptable.
Special Jury Prize
The feature film “The Guest” the debut work of Danish filmmaker Mads Mengel won the Jury’s Special Prize and a cash award of $15,000.
Best Director Award
The Best Director award at this edition of the festival went to the Danish feature film “The Guest” directed by Mads Mengel.
Best Actress Award
The Best Actress award was given to Helga Guren for her role in the Norwegian film Loveable.
The Best Actress award was presented to Anna Schinz for her performance in the Swiss feature film “A Happy Family”.
Best Actor Award
The Best Actor Award went to 71-year-old non-professional actor Ghassan Saad for the Lebanese co-production “Pipes”.
FIPRESCI Prize
The FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) Prize for Best Film in this section was awarded to the feature film “Only Beautiful Things to Look At” directed by Ivan Ostrochovský a joint production of the Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.
The winners of the Proxima Competition
This year was the third time that the Proxima competition section was held and the jury members of this section were: Estrella Araiza, the General Director of the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) and Cineteca UDG, from Mexico, Dirk Decker, producer and co-founder of Hamburg-based Tamtam Film from Germany; Jakub Felcman, screenwriter, film critic, producer and director from the Czech Republic, Devika Girish, editor at Film Comment magazine and a Talks programmer at the New York Film Festival from the United States and Marija Kavtaradze, director and screenwriter from Lithuania, announced their votes as follows:
Grand Prix
The Grand Prize and a cash award of $15,000 were presented to the feature film “Lover, Not a Fighter”, directed by Martina Buchelová a joint production of the Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Best Director Award
The festival jury for this category awarded the Best Director prize to Efthimis Kosemund-Sanidis for his debut feature film, “A Whole Person Almost” a joint production of the Greece, Bulgaria, Germany, Cyprus and Romania.
Special Jury Prize
The Special Jury Prize, along with a cash award of $10,000, went to the poetic Japanese film “Incinerator”, based on a short story by Kaori Ekuni
Special Mention
In the Proxima competition section, the feature film “33 Steps” co-directed by Anna Domček and Šimon Domček and a joint production of the Slovakia and the Czech Republic received a Special Mention.
Právo Audience Award
The Právo Audience Award was presented to the documentary “Bára – Diary of a Rockstar” directed by Helena Třeštíková (Czech Republic). This documentary was created using the time-lapse technique.
FIPRESCI Award
The FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) Award for Best Film in the Proxima competition which is dedicated to films featuring formal innovation was awarded to the feature film “Petty Thieves” directed by Mate Ugrin a joint production of the Croatia, France, Germany and Serbia.
French Actress Juliette Binoche Awarded the Crystal Globe
At the closing ceremony of this prestigious film event, the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema was awarded to the acclaimed French actress Juliette Binoche a winner of awards from the Oscars, Cannes, Berlin, and César, as well as four European Film Awards.
Clearly moved, Binoche began her remarks by saying: “I had wanted to come here for a long time. This matters deeply to me. The power of honesty and the ability to reveal the human aspects and the full spectrum of emotions we experience is of great importance to me. I believe we must find ways to draw closer to one another. Our work is like a circle, not a pyramid; it reflects the sense that we are all connected.”
At the conclusion of her remarks, Juliette Binoche said: “I also wish to acknowledge countries where artists are not free to express themselves countries such as Palestine, Lebanon, and Ukraine. We need artists who tell stories and speak the truth. Passion is the essence of our work. As you can see, life passes quickly. Let us dedicate ourselves to the world and offer ourselves to one another.”
President’s Award Presented to American Actor Jeffrey Wright
Later in the ceremony, the President’s Award was presented to the acclaimed American actor Jeffrey Wright.
Wright received the KVIFF President’s Award, returning to the festival 29 years after his first visit. When he came to Karlovy Vary in 1997, he was at the very beginning of his career. Since then, the charismatic American actor has built a remarkable body of work spanning blockbuster productions, acclaimed dramas, independent films, and arthouse cinema.
He began his remarks by expressing appreciation for the warm welcome he had received, saying: “There was no need to give me an award; I would have returned regardless. This is my favorite festival in the entire world. It is an honor for me to be here and to share in this moment. I am grateful to everyone who makes this festival possible.”
At the conclusion of his remarks at the closing ceremony, Jeffrey Wright said: “I accept this award as encouragement to continue my work and my efforts to bring people closer together; for what matters is not what we destroy, but what we create. I hope to return to this festival with one of my future films.”
President’s Award Presented to Actress Magda Vášáryová
During the closing ceremony of the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the President’s Award was presented to Magda Vášáryová, a renowned Slovak actress.
The actress remarked: “I am grateful that this festival has provided an opportunity to recall all the extraordinary people who stood by me throughout my career from costume designers and lighting technicians to cinematographers.”
Screened of the film “Hijamat” produced and edited by Jafar Panahi
At the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the feature film “Hijamat” directed and written by Nader Saevar and produced and edited by Jafar Panahi, a renowned director of Iranian cinema and a product of Germany; held its world premiere, in the Crystal Globe Competition.
Screened of the film “The Friend’s House is Here” by Iranian directors
The feature film “The Friend’s House is Here”, directed and written by young Iranian filmmakers Maryam Ataei and Hossein Keshavarz, and produced by the United States and Iran, was screened in the Out of Competition Special Screenings section.
Screened of 179 films from directors various countries of the world
The 60th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival under the executive direction of Kryštof Mucha and the artistic direction of Karel Och features the screened of 12 feature films in the “Crystal Globe Competition”, 12 features in the “Proxima Competition”, and several Out of Competition sections, including: 15 features in Special Screenings, 6 features in Special Screenings – Classics, 55 features in Horizons, 19 short and feature-length films in Imagina, 10 short films in the “Future Frames: Generation Next of European Cinema”, 17 short films in the “Pragueshorts at KVIFF”, 16 feature films in the “Out of the Past – KVIFF 60/80”, 8 feature films in the “Afterhours”, 9 feature films in the “Tributes” and also The “Photo Exhibition of the Activities of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival Over the Past 80 Years” was held took place in the city of Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, from July 3 to July 11, 2026.
Credit images Website Karlovy Vary Film Festival
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