The 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is on the horizon. In only ten days, cinephiles, critics, and talent will arrive in the resplendent spa town, the home to KVIFF located 90 minutes outside of Prague, to partake in Central Europe’s leading film festival from July 3-11. To go along with the stacked lineup—which involves the Crystal Globe competition, Proxima, Special Screenings, and more—KVIFF will also honor cinema’s legends and bright stars.
Two weeks ago, the festival announced that Jesse Eisenberg would receive the President’s Award. To commemorate the recognition, “The Double,” Richard Ayoade’s comedically bleak Dostoyevsky adaptation from 2013 that stars Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska, will screen. Joining Eisenberg is Maggie Gyllenhaal; she’ll also be bestowed with the President’s Award. Her latest picture, “The Bride!,” will most likely have its final festival bow at KVIFF as part of the accolade.
KVIFF is now ready to round out its honorees. Two-time Academy Award winning actor Dustin Hoffman, Academy Award winning actress Juliette Binoche, and three-time Academy Award winning cinematographer Robert Richardson, are set to accept the Crystal Globe for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema (prior recipients include Stellan Skarsgård, Russell Crowe, Julianne Moore, and more). “The Graduate,” “Certified Copy,” “Three Colors: Blue,” and “In-I in Motion” will be presented, as will Jana Hojdová’s new documentary “Robert Richard: The White Devil.”
Academy Award nominated actor Jeffrey Wright, whose incredible performance in “Basquiat” will screen during KVIFF, is receiving the President’s Award. Legendary Czech actress Magda Vášáryová is set to receive the President’s Award too. Harvey Keitel, who previously took home the Crystal Globe in 2004, returns to the festival to present “Mean Streets.” Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon, Travis and Sosie Bacon will appear to show their film “Family Movie.”
Per the festival’s tradition, a new festival trailer will screen. Prototypically, the trailer features a prior Crystal Globe winner, ranging from Věra Chytilová to Jude Law, winkingly poking fun of the festival trophy and the very concept of enticing celebrities with lifetime achievement awards. This year, Skarsgård, who was honored last year, stars in the trailer.
With the World Cup in full swing, it only makes sense that KVIFF would program Juan Cabral and Santiago Franco’s “The Match.” The documentary, which premiered at Cannes this past May, looks back on the 1986 World Cup game between Argentina and England, which produced Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal, to think about the historical and political context behind the monumental meeting. Bookending “The Match” is writer/director Noah Segan’s “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,” a film starring John Turturro that debuted at Sundance 2026.
The festival is bursting with other titles, including banner Berlinale works, like Alain Gomis’ “Dao,” Grant Gee’s “Everybody Digs Bill Evans,” Markus Schleinzer’s “Rose,” and İlker Çatak’s Golden Bear winner “Yellow Letters.” Also, Cannes highlights, such as Jane Schoenbrun’s thrilling slasher sex comedy “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,” Sandra Wollner’s Un Certain Regard winner “Everytime,” Marine Atlan’s Critics’ Week Grand Prize selection “La Gravida,” Cristian Mungiu’s Palme d’Or winner “Fjord,” and more.
Retrospective titles include John Cassavetes’ “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie,” Ken Loach’s “Kes,” Věra Chytilová’s “Tainted Horseplay,” Mrinal Sen’s ‘The Outsiders,” and Jonathan Glazer’s “Sexy Beast.”
Those films are set to accompany the Crystal Globe, Proxima, and Special Screenings to round out a festival that looks as strong as its surroundings are beautiful.
