Viggo Mortensen’s ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’ to Open Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

The big picture

• The 2024 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will feature stars including Viggo Mortensen and Clive Owen receiving awards and hosting screenings.
• The festival will also showcase legendary author Franz Kafka with films by the likes of Soderbergh
  Kafka
  and the work of Nicole Holofcener.
• Attendees can expect a line-up from filmmakers such as Michel Franco and a concert with British band Kosheen at the opening ceremony.

With less than two weeks to go until Eastern Europe's prestigious Karlovy Vary International Film Festival kicks off its 2024 iteration, it looks like the stars are heading to the Czech Republic. A stacked lineup of guests and honorees was announced to be featured at the 58th edition of the festival, several of which will host special screenings and workshops with attendees. Leading the charge is the three-time Oscar nominee Vigo Mortensenwho will receive the KVIFF President's Award during the opening ceremony and share his recent endeavor as a director The dead don't hurt to start the festivities.

Mortensen is loved internationally for his impressive film career, working with acclaimed directors from David Cronenberg a Renny Harlin, Jane Campion, Brian De Palma, and many more while receiving awards from around the world. He is best known for his turn as Aragorn The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but his career is varied and he now has more efforts behind the camera, starting in the 2020s Falling. This is not the first time that he is honored by KVIFF in some way, since Matt Ross's Captain Fantasticwhich featured an acclaimed turn by Mortensen, won the audience award at the festival in 2016. Joining him in receiving the President's Award at this year's festival Mr. Spade i children of men star Clive Owen i Rush alum and the MCU's Baron Zemo Daniel Brühl. Owen's 2004 award-winning romantic drama closer will be screened in his honor during the closing ceremony, while Brühl will share his directorial debut next door.

CEO of Aerofilms Ivo Andrew he was excited at the thought of wearing Mortensen's The dead don't hurt to the Czech public before its wider release in the country. The movie showcases all the skills of the acclaimed actorfrom its presence on the front screen Vicky Krieps in his eyes as a director, writer and producer, and in his ears as a composer. Andrele said of the occasion:

“We are excited to bring a truly unique experience to Czech audiences this year. On July 4, we will be premiering the opening film of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival – The Dead Don't Hurt – in cinemas across the country. Just a few days later, the opening ceremony of the festival that traditionally attracts the most media attention We believe that many film lovers in our territory will enjoy the proposal to see such a great and outstanding film on their local screens and experience it for themselves. some of the best content of the festival.

Steven Soderbergh, Nicole Holofcener, Michel Franco and more will appear at KVIFF

As announced with the official film selections last month, KVIFF 2024 will accompany its celebrations of Eastern European cinema with a retrospective of the legendary auteur Franz Kafka. The festival will screen several films related to his work and life, among them Steven Soderberghbiopic/mystery thriller Kafka as well as its reissued and very different version Mr. Kneff. However, attendees will be in for a rare treat as the Oscar winner is confirmed to attend both screenings in person as part of the retrospective. The Czech Republic will be joined by another Academy candidate, Nicole Holofcenerwho will participate in a tribute to his award-winning career presenting three of his best features, including the 2010 Please give2013 I say no moreand last year You hurt my feelings.

Rounding out the guest list are a handful of filmmakers in attendance to share their latest features, incl Michel Franco, Juho Kuosmanen, Sergei Loznitsa, Rúnar Rúnarsson, Daniele Luchettii You West. In addition, Franco will mentor a master class included in KVIFF's Future Frames program for emerging artists. The act also announced it Benicio del Toro will be the protagonist of this year's promotional trailer for the festival that will be unveiled at the opening ceremony. Karlovy Vary will open with a bang, as the trailer and screening of The dead don't hurt it will also be accompanied by a concert with the British band Kosheen and the Czech Republic's Eurovision entrant Aiko which will be free to the public. Finally, attendees can expect to see a unique exhibition at this year's festival, as a Czech-Slovak photographer Tone Stano shares his collection of shots capturing the many stars who have appeared at the event over the years.

It all kicks off for the KVIFF on June 28 and will go on till July 6. You will find more information about the festival on its official website.