Cannes may be right around the corner and Tribeca may be wrapping up, but we’re almost two months away from the start of the 53rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Today KVIFF announced that legendary filmmaker Milos Forman will be honored with his signature Czech film “Love of a Blonde” being selected as the opening night film. Before the opening ceremony, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra will perform music from Forman’s films other films “The Firemen’s Ball,” “Taking Off,” “Valmont,” “Amadeus” and “Hair,” among other selections.
Richard Linklater and the Austin Film Society to be honored at 2018 Karlovy Vary Film Festival
Forman, who passed away on April 13 at the age of 86, is also known for “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest,” “The People vs. Larry Flynt” and “Man on the Moon.” Forman won the Best Director Oscar for both “Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Amadeus.” Both of those films also won Best Picture.
In a statement, KVIFF’s president Jiří Bartoška noted, “Miloš Forman was not only an excellent filmmaker, but also a great friend of the Karlovy Vary festival. We have decided to remember him not through laudatory speeches, but through what he symbolized – film. And although local audiences will know ‘Loves of a Blonde’ from its numerous showings on television, they will surely appreciate the chance to see it on the big screen. We are also convinced that our foreign guests who do not often get the chance to see Forman’s Czech films – which significantly influenced the direction taken by Czech cinema – will welcome the screening as well.”
Additionally, the festival announced that last one of last year’s honorees, Casey Affleck, will appear in a new trailer that will appear before each screening. Almost all of these short previews, which feature former honorary recipients, have been directed by Ivan Zachariáš. They are also quite funny with the John Malkovich being a particular favorite. Familiar faces such as Jude Law, Danny DeVito, Andy Garcia and, yes, Forman have participated previously.
Casey’s participation is only surprising in that he’s kept a mostly low profile after allegations of sexual harassment, which were settled out of court, resurfaced in the wake of the #MeToo movement. The 2017 Best Actor winner for “Manchester by the Sea” did not attend the 90th Academy Awards to not distract from the ceremony, but he’ll appear. The festival released a still of his preview below. He’ll next be seen in “Light of My Life,” which he also directed, and will also reunite with David Lowery for “The Old Man and the Gun” alongside Robert Redford later this fall.
The 53rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival runs from June 29 through July 7.
