The organization of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival has announced the winners of the 2023 event, with the Bulgarian-German co-production “Blaga’s Lessons” (“Urotcite na Blaga”) and the German-Iranian co-production “Empty Nets” (“Toorhaye khali”) taking home top honors.
“Blaga’s Lessons” won the Grand Prix award, which includes a $25,000 cash prize for director Stephan Komandarev, to be split with the film’s producer.
Meanwhile, “Empty Nets” won the Special Jury Prize, securing a $15,000 prize for its director, Behrooz Karamizade, which will also be split with the film’s producer.
Other winners include Best Director for Babak Jalali for the US production “Fremont” and the French entry, “The Edge of the Blade,” directed by Vincent Perez, which won The Pravo Audience Award.
Read on for the full list of winners.
Crystal Globe Contest
Members of the jury:
Dora Bouchoucha, Tunisia
Patricia Clarkson, United States
John Nein, United States
Olmo Omerzu, Czech Republic / Slovenia
Barry Ward, Ireland
GRAND PRIZE – CRYSTAL GLOBE (25,000 USD)
The economic prize is shared equally by the director and the producer of the award-winning
movie.
“Lessons from Blaga” (“Urotcite na Blaga”)
Directed by: Stephan Komandarev
Bulgaria, Germany, 2023
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE (15,000 USD)
The economic prize is shared equally by the director and the producer of the award-winning
movie.
“Empty nets” (“Toorhaye khali”)
Directed by: Behrooz Karamizade
Germany, Iran, 2023
BEST DIRECTOR AWARD
Babak Jalali for the movie “Fremont”
United States, 2023
BEST ACTRESS AWARD
Eli Skorcheva for her role in the film “Blaga’s Lessons” (“Urotcite na Blaga”)
Bulgaria, Germany, 2023
BEST ACTOR AWARD
Herbert Nordrum for his role in the film “The Hypnosis” (“Hypnosen”)
Sweden, Norway, France, 2023
SPECIAL MENTION OF THE JURY
“Dancing on the edge of a volcano”
Directed by: Cyril Aris
Germany, Lebanon, 2023
PRÁVO PUBLIC AWARD
“The Edge of the Sword” (“Une affaire d’honneur”
Directed by: Vicente Pérez
France, 2023
next contest
Members of the jury:
Dana Linssen, Netherlands
Marija Razgutė, Lithuania
Simon Safránek, Czech Republic
Barbara Wurm, Austria
Meng Xie, People’s Republic of China
PROXIMA GRAND PRIZE (15,000 USD)
The economic prize is shared equally by the director and the producer of the award-winning
movie.
“Birth”
Directed by: Yoo Ji-young
South Korea, 2022
SPECIAL PRIZE OF THE PROXIMA JURY (10,000 USD)
The economic prize is shared equally by the director and the producer of the award-winning
movie.
“guras”
Directed by: Saurav Rai
India, Nepal, 2023
SPECIAL MENTION OF THE JURY
“Brutal Heat” (“Brutální vedro”
Directed by: Albert Hospodářský
Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, 2023
CRYSTAL GLOBE FOR OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD CINEMA
Russell Crowe, New Zealand
AWARD OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FESTIVAL FOR THE CONTRIBUTION TO CZECH CINEMATOGRAPHY
Daniela Kolářová, Czech Republic
AWARD OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FESTIVAL
Alice Vikander, Sweden
Ewan McGregor, United Kingdom
Robin Wright, United States