Suche
Mein Konto
Karlsbad celebrates: main prize awarded for daring dropout documentary!
Miro Remo wins grand prize at 59th Karlovy Vary Film Festival; Hollywood stars and over 130 films delight the audience.
Karlsbad celebrates: main prize awarded for daring dropout documentary!
July 12, 2025 is all about filmmaking and creativity, as the main prize of the 59th International Karlovy Vary Film Festival was awarded today in picturesque Karlovy Vary. The crystal globe, which is endowed with 25,000 US dollars (around 21,400 euros), went to the Slovakian director Miro Remo for his documentary film “It's Better to Go Crazy in the Wilderness”. The film tells the gripping story of two twin brothers who lead an alternative life as dropouts on a farm in the Czech Bohemian Forest. This charming homage to life far away from society was highlighted by the jury as a “funny homage to the art of staying true to yourself”.
Hollywood star Michael Douglas caused quite a stir at the beginning of the festival by presenting a restored version of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,” a film he co-produced. He was honored with a crystal globe to make up for an award from 1998. At the closing gala, the Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård, known from films such as “Good Will Hunting” and “Dune”, was honored for his life's work. This was the first edition of the festival since the death of longtime president Jiri Bartosek in May, and it attracts tens of thousands of visitors from around the world each year.
Prize winners at a glance
This year's awards ceremony was peppered with other highlights and honors that underlined the diversity and talent of the filmmakers:
| Price | film | director | Country of origin | amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix – Crystal Globe | “Better Go Mad in the Wild” | Miro Remo | Czech Republic/Slovakia | $25,000 |
| Special Jury Prize | “Bidad” | Soheil Beiraghi | Iran | $15,000 |
| Best Director (ex aequo) | “The Visitor” | Vytautas Katkus | Lithuania/Norway/Sweden | |
| Best Director (ex aequo) | “Out of Love” | Nathan Ambrosioni | France | |
| Best Actress | “Don’t Call Me Mom” | Nina Knag | Norway | |
| Best Actor | “When a River Becomes the Sea” | Pere Vilà Barceló | Spain | |
| Pravo Audience Award | “We’ve Got to Frame It!” | Milan Kuchynka/Jakub Jurasek | Czech Republic |
The Karlovy Vary Film Festival is one of the oldest in the world and offers not only the opportunity to see the latest cinematic works, but also the chance to see film stars up close. It positions itself alongside other important festivals such as Cannes or Venice and contributes to cultural diversity. This year the jury had to evaluate a strong selection of films with female leads and less controversial guests compared to previous years.
The important prize winners and their outstanding contributions make the festival an unforgettable event. It remains to be seen what stories the filmmakers will present to us in the coming year.