“A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things” Triumphs at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
The 58th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) in the Czech Republic concluded with a significant victory for Mark Cousins' documentary "A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things." This essayistic portrait of British artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, directed by the Scottish-Irish filmmaker, won the prestigious Crystal Globe. Cousins’ film delves deep into themes of gender, climate, and creativity, reflecting on the artist’s transformation after her 1949 climb of a Swiss glacier. Accepting the award, Cousins remarked, "My film is also about shock, about the transformation of artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham after she climbed a Swiss glacier in 1949. It’s about a woman who lived her life to the fullest."
Norwegian director Lilja Ingolfsdottir’s "Loveable" also emerged as a standout, earning both the Special Jury Prize and the Best Actress Award for Helga Guren. Ingolfsdottir, who has ties to the Prague Film School, expressed her gratitude by stating, "The award proves to me that as filmmakers we can go deep. Even though we’re afraid of each other, we still need each other."
The Best Director Award was presented to Nelicia Low from Singapore for her atmospheric thriller "Pierce." Meanwhile, the Best Actor Award was shared between Ton Kas and Guido Pollemans for their roles in the Dutch-Belgian film "Three Days of Fish," which explores a complex father-son relationship. Guido Pollemans, accepting on behalf of both actors, delivered his colleague’s speech during an impromptu etude.
The jury, chaired by Geoffrey Rush and including Christine Vachon, Sjón, Eliška Křenková, and Gábor Reisz, also awarded two Special Mentions. Adam Martinec’s "Our Lovely Pig Slaughter" received one, keeping the award in the Czech Republic. The other went to the German-French drama "Xoftex," directed by Noaz Deshe, which sheds light on the issue of migration.
The Právo Audience Award, a highly anticipated honor, went to Jiří Mádl’s "Waves." The film, which centers on the role of Czechoslovak Radio during the events of August 1968, garnered a remarkable score of 1.05 and 54,181 votes. Director Mádl, alongside producer Monika Kristl, thanked the audience and their families, with Mádl adding, “I’d like to thank most of all the audience for surfing the festival waves with us.”
In the Proxima Competition, Slovak filmmaker Martin Pavol Repka’s "March to May" received a Special Mention, while the Proxima Grand Prix was awarded to "Stranger," an episodic film by Chinese director Zhengfan Yang. The Proxima Special Jury Prize went to Paolo Tizón’s "Night Has Come," a documentary exploring the militant environment in contemporary Peru.
As the festival concluded, Jiří Bartoška, the president of KVIFF, extended an invitation to the 59th KVIFF, scheduled for July 4-12, 2025, in Karlovy Vary.
Complete List of Awards at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF)
Crystal Globe Competition:
- Crystal Globe (Grand Prix):
"A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things" / Mark Cousins / UK / 2024 - Special Jury Prize:
"Loveable" (Elskling) / Lilja Ingolfsdottir / Norway / 2024 - Best Director Award:
"Pierce" / Nelicia Low / Singapore / 2024 - Best Actress Award:
Helga Guren / "Loveable" (Elskling) / Norway / 2024 - Best Actor Award:
Ton Kas and Guido Pollemans / "Three Days of Fish" / Netherlands, Belgium / 2024 - Special Jury Mention:
"Our Lovely Pig Slaughter" / Adam Martinec / Czech Republic / 2024 - Special Jury Mention:
"Xoftex" / Noaz Deshe / Germany, France / 2024 - Právo Audience Award:
"Waves" / Jiří Mádl / Czech Republic / 2024
Proxima Competition:
- Proxima Grand Prix:
"Stranger" / Zhengfan Yang / USA / 2024 - Proxima Special Jury Prize:
"Night Has Come" (Vino la noche) / Paolo Tizón / Peru, Spain, Mexico / 2024 - Proxima Special Mention:
"March to May" / Martin Pavol Repka / Czech Republic / 2024
Non-Statutory Awards:
- Grand Prize of the Ecumenical Jury:
"Loveable" (Elskling) / Lilja Ingolfsdottir / Norway / 2024 - Ecumenical Jury Commendation:
"Panopticon" (Panoptikoni) / George Sikharulidze / Georgia, France, Italy, Romania / 2024 - Europa Cinemas Label Award:
"Loveable" (Elskling) / Lilja Ingolfsdottir / Norway / 2024 - FIPRESCI Award (Crystal Globe Competition):
"Loveable" (Elskling) / Lilja Ingolfsdottir / Norway / 2024 - FIPRESCI Award (Proxima Competition):
"Night Has Come" (Vino la noche) / Paolo Tizón / Peru, Spain, Mexico / 2024