Actors Stellan Skarsgård, Vicky Krieps, Peter Sarsgaard and Dakota Johnson will be honored at the 59th edition of the Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival, which runs July 4-12.
Sweden’s Skarsgård will be presented with the Crystal Globe for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema, and will present his latest film “Sentimental Value,” which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Skarsgård appeared primarily in European films. His performance as the lead in Hans Alfredson’s “The Simple-Minded Murderer” (1982) earned him a Silver Bear for best actor at the Berlinale. He also played the lead in the drama “The Ox” (1991), directed by cinematographer Sven Nykvist, which was nominated for the Academy Award for best foreign language film.
After appearing in several international productions – including an adaptation of Milan Kundera’s “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” (1988, dir. Philip Kaufman) and the action film “The Hunt for Red October” (1990, dir. John McTiernan) – he made his international breakthrough as the male lead in Lars von Trier’s “Breaking the Waves” (1996), which won the Grand Prix at Cannes.
Over the years, he has collaborated with von Trier on a number of occasions, including “Dancer in the Dark” (2000), “Dogville” (2003), “Melancholia” (2011), both parts of the provocative drama “Nymphomaniac” (2013), and the television series “The Kingdom.”
In 1997, his portrayal of a professor in Gus Van Sant’s double Oscar-winning “Good Will Hunting” and an appearance in Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad” further confirmed his outstanding acting talents, and in recognition the European Film Academy presented him with its 1998 European Film Award for achievement in world cinema.
There followed offers to appear in films such as “Timecode” (2000, dir. Mike Figgis), “The Glass House” (2001, dir. Daniel Sackheim), “Exorcist: The Beginning” (2004, dir. Renny Harlin), and two parts of the hit “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise – “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (2006, dir. Gore Verbinski) and “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (2007, dir. Gore Verbinski).
In 2006, Skarsgård played the title character of the painter in Miloš Forman’s historical drama “Goya’s Ghosts.” But he has also appeared in lighter films, for instance the musical hit “Mamma Mia!” (2008, dir. Phillida Lloyd) and its loose sequel “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” (2018, dir. Ol Parker).
In 2011, he played Dr. Erik Selvig in the action sci-fi “Thor” and over the following years he reprised this role in several other Marvel movies: “The Avengers,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Thor: Love and Thunder.”
In 2019, Skarsgård appeared in Václav Marhoul’s “The Painted Bird,” which was shown at Venice. Also that year, he made his return to Scandinavian film with Maria Sødahl’s “Hope,” which was nominated for two European Film Awards and shortlisted for the best international feature film category at the Academy Awards, and Hans Petter Moland’s “Out Stealing Horses.”
His portrayal of the Soviet politician Boris Shcherbina in HBO’s miniseries “Chernobyl” (2019) earned him an Emmy nomination. He subsequently worked with Dennis Villeneuve on the sci-fi saga “Dune” (2021, 2024) and played one of the main roles in both seasons of the “Star Wars” series “Andor” (2022–2025).
VICKY KRIEPS TO RECEIVE KVIFF PRESIDENT’S AWARD
At the opening ceremony of the festival, the KVIFF President’s Award will be presented to Luxembourg’s Vicky Krieps, winner of a European Film Award for best actress for “Corsage,” a performance for which she was similarly recognized at Cannes.
International renown first came in 2017, when she appeared in Paul Thomas Anderson’s romantic drama “Phantom Thread.” The following year, she had a role in the cinematic adaptation of David Lagercrantz’s novel “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” (dir. Fede Álvarez). In 2021, her performance in Mathieu Almaric’s “Hold Me Tight” was nominated for a César, she played the main role in M. Night Shyamalan’s mystery-thriller “Old,” and she appeared in another leading role, in the drama “Bergman Island” (dir. Mia Hansen-Løve).
A role as the rebellious Empress Sissi in Marie Kreutzer’s “Corsage” (2022) brought her several awards including the best actress award in Un Certain Regard and best actress at the European Film Awards. She again donned a period costume for both parts of “The Three Musketeers” (2023, dir. Martin Bourboulon). Karlovy Vary audiences could see her at last year’s festival as the free-thinking Vivienne in Viggo Mortensen’s western drama “The Dead Don’t Hurt” (2023). She also played the title character of Margarethe von Trotta’s biopic “Ingeborg Bachmann: Journey into the Desert” (2023), which was shown at the Berlinale. This year’s Un Certain Regard at Cannes included “Love Me Tender” (2025; dir. Anna Cazenave Cambet). Later this year she is set to appear alongside Cate Blanchett and Adam Driver as part of an all-star cast in Jim Jarmusch’s “Father, Mother, Sister, Brother.”
On the occasion of honoring Krieps, Karlovy Vary will show “Love Me Tender.”
KVIFF PRESIDENT’S AWARD TO BE PRESENTED TO PETER SARSGAARD
Karlovy Vary will present the KVIFF President’s Award to American actor Peter Sarsgaard, winner of a number of awards such as the Volpi Cup from the Venice Film Festival, plus a nomination for an Emmy and one for a Golden Globe.
Most recently, Sarsgaard starred in Tim Fehlbaum’s “September 5,” which was nominated for a Golden Globe. The film had its world premiere at Venice, receiving rave reviews, and shortly thereafter screened at Telluride.
He can be seen as Tommy Molto in “Presumed Innocent,” an Apple TV+ series inspired by the novel of the same name by Scott Turow. The show premiered in June 2024. Sarsgaard has wrapped production on Warner Bros.’ “The Bride!,” which is set to release later this year.
Sarsgaard starred in Michel Franco’s “Memory,” opposite Jessica Chastain. The film premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival where he was awarded the Volpi Cup for best actor.
In 2021, he appeared in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter,” which garnered Oscar nominations for both Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley as well as a nomination for original screenplay.
In that same year, he starred in “Dopesick.” The show was nominated for seven Emmy Awards, and earned Sarsgaard his first Emmy nomination.
Sarsgaard will receive the KVIFF President’s Award at the opening ceremony. In his honor, the festival will screen Billy Ray’s journalism drama “Shattered Glass” (2003), for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe.
DAKOTA JOHNSON TO RECEIVE KVIFF PRESIDENT’S AWARD
U.S. actor Dakota Johnson, who will receive the KVIFF President’s Award and present her two latest films, made her film debut at the age of 10, when she appeared in “Crazy in Alabama” (1999, dir. Antonio Banderas). In 2010, she appeared in David Fincher’s “The Social Network.”
Worldwide popularity came with the film adaptation of E. L. James’s “Fifty Shades” trilogy – “Fifty Shades of Grey” (2015, dir. Sam Taylor-Johnson), “Fifty Shades Darker” (2017, dir. James Foley), and “Fifty Shades Freed” (2018, dir. James Foley). In 2015, she appeared in director Scott Cooper’s biographical crime drama “Black Mass,” and the following year she was nominated for a BAFTA in the category of Rising Star.
Her performance in the remake of Dario Argento’s “Suspiria” (2018, dir. Luca Guadagnino) earned her a Robert Altman Award from the Film Independent Spirit Awards. She co-starred in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s “The Lost Daughter” (2021), which was nominated for three Oscars, and played the main role in another film adaptation, this time of Jane Austen’s romantic novel “Persuasion” (2022, dir. Carrie Cracknell). She next stars in Amazon’s romance thriller “Verity” (2026, dir. Michael Showalter).
In 2019, Johnson launched TeaTime Pictures with her producing partner Ro Donnelly. They produced the comedy “Cha Cha Real Smooth” (2022, dir. Cooper Raiff), “Am I OK?” (2022, dir. Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro), and recently the drama “Daddio” (2023, dir. Christy Hall), which is based on the emotional, concentrated dialogue of two randomly connected people, played by Johnson and Sean Penn.
As a director, Johnson has shot the Coldplay music video “Cry Cry Cry” and the short film “Loser Baby” (2023).
At Karlovy Vary, Johnson will present two films she is currently appearing in – the romantic comedy full of provocative chaos “Splitsville” (2025, dir. Michael Angelo Covino), which she also produced under her TeaTime Pictures banner, and the comedy “Materialists,” an exploration of a somewhat toxic relationship triangle by one of today’s most lauded directors, Celine Song, and co-starring Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans.
Johnson will receive the KVIFF President’s Award before the screening of “Materialists” on July 6.
KVIFF ANNOUNCES THE FINAL ENTRY IN THE CRYSTAL GLOBE COMPETITION
In early June, the Karlovy Vary Film Festival announced 11 films that will be vying for the main prize in the festival’s Crystal Globe Competition. The 12th film, Iran’s “Bidad,” remained secret to protect the safety of the film’s delegation. At Karlovy Vary, director Soheil Beiraghi will present the world premiere of his story of the young singer Seti who refuses to accept the fact that women in Iran are not allowed to perform in public. In defiance of her country’s religious laws, she decides to sing in the street. Her performances quickly gain in popularity, and Seti becomes a star for a young generation that no longer wants to be oppressed by the regime.
“Bidad” was made as an independent production; otherwise, it would never have been approved by the censors because of its critical tone. Even so, Beiraghi was investigated by the authorities during filming. It was necessary to withhold announcement of the film’s inclusion in the festival’s program until he and the members of his crew could safely travel out of Iran. A few days ago, the festival team heard that they were on their way, and so they now can announce the full Crystal Globe Competition with all 12 participating films.
GUESTS OF THE FESTIVAL
The following guests will be accompanying their films at Karlovy Vary:
The world premiere of “Out of Love” will be presented by the film’s star, French actress Camille Cottin, whom audiences will recognize from the series “Call My Agent!” (2015).
Hungarian director Bence Fliegauf, winner of the Silver Bear at the Berlinale, will be on hand for the world premiere of “Jimmy Jaguar.”
The international premiere of “Rebuilding” will be presented by American filmmaker Max Walker-Silverman, who returns to Karlovy Vary three years after coming to town with his feature film debut “A Love Song,” which was shown in the Horizons section in 2022.
The melancholic, touching, and funny “The Love That Remains” – a story of fading love and the dissolution of a marriage whose world premiere was at this year’s Cannes Film Festival – will be introduced by Icelandic director Hlynur Pálmason.
Mexican director Michel Franco returns to Karlovy Vary after just one year to present his provocative love story of a Mexican dancer and an American philanthropist, “Dreams.” The film, which stars Jessica Chastain in the role of the philanthropist, had its world premiere at this year’s Berlinale.
Ukrainian filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov, winner of a Pulitzer Prize and an Oscar for his “20 Days in Mariupol,” will be in town to present his latest documentary, “2000 Metres to Andriivka.” Chernov’s film again rewrites the definition of war documentary. The historical drama “Two Prosecutors,” which had its world premiere in the main competition in Cannes, will be introduced by another Ukrainian director, Sergei Loznitsa.
American director, actor, and screenwriter Jay Duplass will accompany the screening of the comedy “The Baltimorons.” This melancholic yet humorous duet about a newly sober man who forms an unexpected bond with his dentist was an audience favorite at the SXSW festival.
Italy’s Paolo Genovese, known for directing original, intelligent, and popular films such as “Perfect Strangers” and “Superheroes,” presents his latest undertaking – the romantic comedy “Madly.”
Georgian director Dea Kulumbegashvili will introduce her second feature film, “April.” This uncompromising drama, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, tells the story of a gynecologist who illegally helps village women terminate their pregnancies.
Argentinian actor Nahuel Pérez Biscayart was named best actor at the 2014 Karlovy Vary festival for his performance in “All Yours” (dir. David Lambert) and received a César Award for his role in “120 BPM” (dir. Robin Campillo). This year, he returns with “Kill the Jockey” (dir. Luis Ortega).
Italian actor Valerio Mastandrea is known to Karlovy Vary audiences thanks to his appearances in “Viva la Liberta” (2013, dir. Roberto Andò) and “Piazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy” (2012, dir. Marco Tullio Giordana). At this year’s festival, he will present “Feeling Better,” which he directed and in which he plays the main role.
Director Mark Jenkin, whose previous film “Enys Men” was a revelation at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, is coming to Karlovy Vary for the world premiere of his short film “I Saw the Face of God in the Jet Wash,” which is being shown in the festival’s Imagina section.
TRIBUTE TO JIŘÍ BARTOŠKA
Karlovy Vary will pay tribute to its president Jiří Bartoška with the opening film “We’ve Got to Frame It! (A Conversation With Jiří Bartoška in July 2021),” directed by Milan Kuchynka and Jakub Jurásek, screenings of the film “Tiger Theory,” and the exhibition “Jiří Bartoška – KVIFF President.”
“We’ve Got to Frame It!” captures an affable, informal exchange with Kuchynka, in which Bartoška touches upon a myriad themes, from his grammar school days and the Velvet Revolution, to his encounters with stars – and this conveyed with “playful ease, blistering irony and affectionate wisdom.”
