Karlovy Vary trailer breaks tradition

One of the highlights of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival opening ceremony is the unveiling of the official trailer, which may not sound too exciting but always stars a cinematic icon in a specially commissioned short.

The shorts traditionally star a Crystal Globe winner from the previous year and poke fun at the prestige of the award.

In one, Jude Law is seen smashing the award to create a hood ornament for his car. In another, John Malkovich disappoints a cab driver with his ‘lifetime achievement’ award, as opposed to a prize for best actor or best director. Last year, Helen Mirren was seen trying to hide it away, only for the accolade to mysteriously reappear in a prominent position.

But this year, Czech cinematographer Miroslav Ondříček has broken with tradition by actually getting some enjoyment from the Crystal Globe, which he won at KVIFF in 2004 for his outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema.

The cinematographer, an avid fan of the Prague-based football team Slavia, is seen watching a match against rivals Sparta on television. Set to the music of Amadeus, the film for which Ondříček received an Oscar nomination, he becomes irritated as a fly crawls across the screen.

But he is quickly inspired as sunlight shines through the orb of his Crystal Globe, casting colours on the portrait of a bare-chested woman, bringing a smile to his face.

The spot, first played at KVIFF’s opening ceremony on Friday night, was directed by Ivan Zachariáš, who has made all the previous shorts.

The trailer has yet to be made available so in the meantime, here are some previous efforts…