50th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

03.07.2015 to 11.07.2015
Karlovy Vary


In 2015, the International Film Festival celebrated its 50th anniversary. Winner of the Crystal Globe, the festival's top award, is the U.S. independent production "Bob and the Trees" which also got the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. A Commendation of the Ecumenical Jury was given to "Song of Songs" by Eva Neymann from the Ukraine. Other award winning films were the Austrian drama "Jeder der fällt hat Flügel" (Those Who Fall Have Wings) by Peter Brunner (Special Jury Award) and "Babai" by Visar Morina (Best Direction). Richard Gere was honoured by a Crystal Globe for his outstanding contribution to world cinema. Photo: The jury with the film delegation of "Bob and the Trees", from left: Rob Cristiano (producer), Vit Polacek, Matt Gallagher (actor) , Rita Weinert, Bob Tarasuk (actor), Lothar Strüber, Michael Otrisal; in front: director Diego Ongaro

Link: Festival homepage

Awards

Directed by:
2015

The central character is Bob, a lively North American logger. His whole life is riddled with mistakes: in his job, with his family and in his relationships. Nevertheless, he has the courage to take responsibility for all of them, which allows him to transform his whole life into a message of hope. The film is simply told, but with truth and honesty. Bob, the main character in the film, is played by Bob Tarasuk himself, who in real life is a logger, not an actor.

Song of Songs
Directed by:
2015

The Ukrainian film “Song of Songs” deals with spiritual issues in a very original way. The director Eva Neymann uses stylized images to recreate the atmosphere of a Jewish shtetl at the beginning of the 20th century which no longer exists. The biblical Song of Songs serves as background for the story of a young boy’s dreams and childhood love.