Jiří Bartoška, Actor and Karlovy Vary Film Festival President, Dies at 78
Czech actor and president of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival Jiří Bartoška died on Thursday at the age of 78.
After graduating from the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno, he first worked at the Husa na Provázku Theatre and the Činoherní studio in Ústí nad Labem, before becoming a mainstay of the ensemble at Theatre Na zábradlí in the early 1980s. After leaving Na zábradlí in the early 1990s, he continued performing intermittently at Bez zábradlí Theatre and other theaters in the Czech Republic.
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He made his film debut in 1975 with 'The Playground' (Hřiště). He appeared in nearly 70 Czech films and starred in popular television series. He received the 1999 Czech Lion Award for best supporting actor for the film 'All My Loved Ones' (Všichni moji blízcí), which he also produced. In 2016, he was awarded the Czech Lion for outstanding contribution to Czech cinema.
Bartoška played a key role in saving the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. He served as its president from 1994. Together with its long-time artistic director Eva Zaoralová, they transformed the second oldest film festival in Europe into a modern, internationally respected film showcase.
Alongside his work with Karlovy Vary, he continued acting in television, film and dubbing, and on stage at the Kalich Theatre, where he appeared in the play 'Moje hra.'
In 2023, Bartoška received the First-Class Medal of Merit from the president of the Czech Republic for his services to the state in the field of culture and arts.
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The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) on Tuesday unveiled the lineup of the main competition and other sections for its 59th edition, including a competition movie from Iran whose title and creators will only be shared closer to the fest 'for the safety of its makers.' The fest in the Czech spa town, whose 2025 edition will be running July 4-12, also unveiled its competition jury, including Mexican producer Nicolás Celis (Alfonso Cuarón's Oscar-winning Roma) and Czech actor and director Jiří Mádl (Waves). More from The Hollywood Reporter 'The Real Housewives of London' Cast: Who's Starring in Glitzy Brit-Bound Installment? Pierce Brosnan Talks 'MobLand' Finale, James Bond and Who Sophie's Real Dad Is in 'Mamma Mia!' 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The competition further features the international premiere of Max Walker-Silverman's Rebuilding, which is set in his native Colorado and tells the story of the reticent Dusty (Josh O'Connor), whose ranch has burned down in a devastating wildfire, and Catalan director Pere Vilà Barceló's When a River Becomes the Sea, 'an uncompromising, introspective probe into the soul of a girl who is sexually abused.' KVIFF's Proxima competition program, which aims to put the spotlight on bold works by young filmmakers and renowned auteurs alike, features the likes of Davi Pretto's Future Future, set in a near future where the development of artificial intelligence has brought with it increasing neurological problems, and Daniel Vidal Toche's The Anatomy of the Horses, whose plot summary says: 'Defeated in combat, Ángel returns home to his village in a remote part of the Peruvian Andes. When he arrives, however, he finds the place has completely changed. What was the 18th century is now the present day. What has become of the ideals of the revolution he fought for?' The Proxima lineup also includes Paula Ďurinová's Action Item, an 'activist anatomy of burnout, set in Berlin,' and the Armenian crime drama Thus Spoke the Wind by director Maria Rigel, described as a 'cryptic, visually and aurally mesmerizing film, viewed through the eyes of a child forced to grow up too soon.' Ammar al-Beik's TrepaNation, filmed in a Syrian refugee camp that opened on the outskirts of Berlin in 2014. 'Visual artist and filmmaker Ammar al-Beik has a cubicle assigned to him for seven months and, in order to survive here, he has to film, document, and rebel against the conditions of life in exile, and also against the established rules of documentaries and features,' its synopsis reads. In its special screenings lineup, KVIFF will present the likes of the European premiere of Paul Andrew Williams' Dragonfly and the world premiere of The Czech Film Project, directed by Marek Novák and Mikuláš Novotný. 'At the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, Wim Wenders invited several of his esteemed colleagues to a hotel room, where he filmed their reflections on the future of film,' reads a synopsis for the movie. 'This exclusive documentary survey, Room 666, inspired two Czech producers to engage in a similar undertaking in collaboration with the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. During last year's festival, they thus invited around 30 Czech or Czech-based filmmakers from all generations and asked them 'what makes Czech film Czech?'' 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Disregarding budgetary constraints, these filmmakers from countries, such as Bangladesh, Lithuania, Norway, and Colombia, push the boundaries while keeping in mind the necessary connection between a film and its audience.' And he emphasized: 'The Karlovy Vary IFF has always addressed political issues through powerful individual stories, fully supporting artists and their freedom of expression. Today, we are announcing 11 titles from the usual dozen films in the Crystal Globe Competition. The remaining one comes from Iran; for the safety of its makers, it has been decided to postpone its announcement until closer to the festival.' Check out the full lineup for the 59th KVIFF, as well as its jury members below. CRYSTAL GLOBE COMPETITION Cinema Jazireh Director: Gözde Kural Turkey, Iran, Bulgaria, Romania, 2025, 124 min, world premiere Divia Director: Dmytro Hreshko Poland, Ukraine, Netherlands, USA, 2025, 79 min, world premiere Les Enfants vont bien / Out of Love Director: Nathan Ambrosioni France, 2025, 111 min, world premiere Jimmy Jaguar Director: Bence Fliegauf Hungary, 2025, 112 min, world premiere Quan un riu esdevé el mar / When a River Becomes the Sea Director: Pere Vilà Barceló Spain, 2025, 180 min, world premiere Raději zešílet v divočině / Better Go Mad in the Wild Director: Miro Remo Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, 2025, 77 min, world premiere Rebuilding Director: Max Walker-Silverman USA, 2025, 95 min, international premiere Sbormistr / Broken Voices Director: Ondřej Provazník Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, 2025, 104 min, world premiere Se meg / Don't Call Me Mama Director: Nina Knag Norway, 2025, 108 min, world premiere Svečias / The Visitor Director: Vytautas Katkus Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, 2025, 111 min, world premiere A Vida Luminosa / The Luminous Life Director: João Rosas Portugal, France, 2025, 99 min, international premiere PROXIMA COMPETITION La anatomía de los caballos / The Anatomy of the Horses Director: Daniel Vidal Toche Spain, Peru, Colombia, France, 2025, 106 min, world premiere Avant / Après / Before / After Director: Manoël Dupont Belgium, 2025, 80 min, world premiere Ayspes asatc qamin / Thus Spoke the Wind Director: Maria Rigel Armenia, 2025, 92 min, world premiere Balur Nogorite / Sand City Director: Mahde Hasan Bangladesh, 2024, 99 min, world premiere Forenses / Forensics Director: Federico Atehortúa Arteaga Colombia, 2024, 91 min, international premiere Futuro Futuro / Future Future Director: Davi Pretto Brazil, 2025, 86 min, world premiere Kako je ovde tako zeleno? / How Come It's All Green Out Here? Director: Nikola Ležaić Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, 2025, 114 min, world premiere Na druhé straně léta / The Other Side of Summer Director: Vojtěch Strakatý Czech Republic, Croatia, 2025, 85 min, world premiere Neplatené voľno / Action Item Director: Paula ĎurinováSlovak Republic, Czech Republic, Germany, 2025, 69 min, world premiere Regen fiel auf nichts Neues / Rain Fell On the Nothing New Director: Steffen Goldkamp Germany, 2025, 85 min, world premiere Renovacija / Renovation Director: Gabrielė Urbonaitė Lithuania, Latvia, Belgium, 2025, 90 min, world premiere TrepaNation Director: Ammar al-Beik Syria, Germany, France, 2025, 222 min, world premiere Vgainoun mesa ap ti Margo / They Come Out of Margo Director: Alexandros Voulgaris Greece, 2025, 91 min, world premiere SPECIAL SCREENINGS Dragonfly Director: Paul Andrew Williams United Kingdom, 2025, 98 min, European premiere Duchoň Director: Peter Bebjak Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, 2025, 99 min, world premiere Hore je nebo, v doline som ja / Promise, I'll Be Fine Director: Katarína Gramatová Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, 2024, 93 min, European premiere Illi baqi minnak / All That's Left of You Director: Cherien Dabis Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, 2025, 145 min, European premiere Karavan / Caravan Director: Zuzana Kirchnerová Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Italy, 2025, 102 min Letní škola, 2001 / Summer School, 2001 Director: Dužan Duong Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, 2025, 102 min, world premiere Projekt český film / The Czech Film Project Director: Marek Novák, Mikuláš Novotný Czech Republic, 2025, 83 min, world premiere A Second Life Director: Laurent Slama France, 2024, 74 min, European premiere Tehran, Kenarat / Tehran Another View Director: Ali Behrad Iran, United Kingdom, 2025, 92 min, European premiere CRYSTAL GLOBE JURY Nicolás Celis Mexican producer, his films include the Oscar-winning Roma (Alfonso Cuarón). One of Latin America's film industry key figures, he has also produced films by Tatiana Huezo, Amat Escalante and Jacques Audiard. Babak Jalali Filmmaker, screenwriter and producer whose second feature Radio Dreams won the Tiger Award at Rotterdam IFF in 2016. With Fremont he won Best Director at KVIFF 2023 and the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards. Jessica Kiang Film critic, essayist and programmer with bylines in Variety, Sight & Sound, Criterion, Mubi, The New York Times, The LA Times, The Washington Post, Film Comment and Rolling Stone, among other outlets. She is now a member of the selection committee of the Berlinale. Jiří Mádl One of the Czech Republic's most popular actors, now also established as a writer and director. His third directorial effort Waves won the Audience Award at KVIFF 2024 and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Tuva Novotny One of the most prominent and successful actresses in the Nordics today. 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