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Karlovy Vary

The Ecumenical Jury at Karlovy Vary 2025 awarded their Prize to "Rebuilding", directed by Max Walker-Silverman, his second feature film, and a Commendation to "Cinema Jazireh", directed by Gözde Kuran, about a woman in Taliban ruled Afghanistan. The main prize of the festival, the Crystal Globe, went to the documentary "Better Go Mad in the Wild" (OT: Raději zešílet v divočině, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, 2025), directed by Miro Remo. The jury of the international film critics (Fipresci) chose "Out of Love" (OT: Les enfants vont bien, France, 2025), directed by Nathan Ambrosioni, as their prize winning competition film. Actor Stellan Skarsgård received a Honorary Crystal Globe and actress Vicky Krieps the KVIFF President's Award.

At the opening ceremony on 4 July the festival paid tribute to its longstanding President, actor Jiři Bartoška, who died in May 2025. Part of the homage was the world premiere of "We've Got to Frame It! (a conversation with Jiří Bartoška in July 2021)", directed by Milan Kuchynka and Jakub Jurásek, screened subsequently. At the end of the festival the film received the Aufdience Award. 

Link: Festival website

Awards
2025

A quiet, divorced Colorado rancher who lost everything in a wildfire is relocated to an emergency relief camp with other displaced survivors. As these strangers come to know one another, each rediscovers hope through the creation of friendships and family bonds.

With a delicate touch, the director explores themes of community, the blended family, profound human generosity, selflessness, and cooperation. This austere and visually striking film is a beautiful, life-affirming story that offers hope in the face of hardship, both personal and environmental.

Directed by:
2025

A mother, having survived her family’s massacre under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, disguises herself as a man to locate her missing son.

The film, with its gritty cinematography and nuanced editing, deftly places contemporary global issues within the context of Leila’s journey, such as war, oppression of women and the marginalized, gender, sex trafficking, and child abuse.  The film is a testament to hope, resistance to tyranny, and the power of profoundly human networks working together. “Cinema Jazireh” has the exceptional potential to make the audience care about what is happening in the world.

Jury

Ecumenical Jury
President

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