Viggo Mortensen and Clive Owen Among Big Names at Karlovy Vary IFF

Karlovy Vary will open its doors to the prestigious 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival from 28 June to 6 July 2024.

Get ready for an incredible week full of cinematic gems, meetings with prominent figures from the film industry, and unique experiences in this beautiful spa town.

Big names announced include actor Viggo Mortensen, Oscar-winners Geoffrey Rush and Clive Owen, and director Steven Soderbergh.

Stars will grace the red carpet at the opening and closing ceremonies held in the Grand Hall of the Thermal Hotel, a landmark brutalist building in the heart of Karlovy Vary’s spa zone.

The opening concert on June 28 features the popular British band Kosheen in front of the Czech Hotel Thermal, with free admission for the public.

This year’s 58th Karlovy Vary IFF will feature Oscar-winning star Clive Owen, actor-director Viggo Mortensen, known as Aragorn in Peter Jackson´s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, or renowned American filmmaker Steven Soderbergh. The main protagonist of the new official festival trailer will be actor and producer, Oscar winner Benicio del Toro.

The festival will also pay tribute to Francine Maisler, one of the world’s most renowned casting directors, known for her work on films like Dune, Tree of Life, and Birdman.

The festival jury will include famous Australian actor Geoffrey Rush who was catapulted to worldwide fame for his role as the oddball pianist in the drama The Shining. In 2022, Geoffrey Rush was awarded the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival​ for his outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema.

This year’s extensive retrospective will be dedicated to world-famous writer Franz Kafka, who was born in Prague. The 100th anniversary of his death was also recently commemorated. A film by cult film-maker David Lynch (Twin Peaks series) and the classic Kafka by director Steven Soderbergh stand-out in the selection of films. Read more about Czech writers including Kafka HERE.

If you want to see any of the festival films in Karlovy Vary, you need to buy a Festival Pass. This provides you with multiple tickets to multiple films, depending on which option you choose (one-day, three-day, five-day, and full festival). Tickets can be booked via the app or at one of the 25 on-site box offices.

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