Just like in many parts of life, making a film is a team effort. And so is putting together the lineup of a big film festival. Just ask Karel Och, the artistic director of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF).
“I don’t think I’ve ever used a singular whenever I talk about the selection, because I would be ashamed to use the singular, because clearly, from day one until the moment we share the movies with the audience, this is teamwork,” he tells THR. “The beauty of this teamwork is that, if you are lucky, you have a team full of strong individuals, just like I do.”
Which means that “the discussions are amazing, because you learn from your colleagues, from the emotionality of your colleagues, from the intelligence of your colleagues,” Och explains. “Sometimes, they convince you that their suggestions are better for the festival and for the program. I’m 52, so I’m the oldest, but the youngest member of our team is not even 30 years old, and it works perfectly.”
For the double anniversary of the fest’s 60th edition in its 80th year of existence, he and his programming team have scoured the globe for new movies from established filmmakers and first features from new voices alike.
