Myanmar film “Fruit Picking,” about a friendship between two women working at a factory in a rural region that develops into a lesbian romance, won the top prize at the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
The Crystal Globe was presented Saturday night to director Aung Phyoe at a lavish closing ceremony in the picturesque Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary, home to one of the international film circuit’s oldest and most highly regarded festivals. The prize carried a $25,000 award.
“I can’t believe it,” director Aung Phyoe declared as he accepted the award. “This is my first film, and this is my first prize. It is a great honor.”
He thanked his producers for believing in him even when he did not believe in himself, as well as his mother, whom he said would now be happy. He also thanked his partner “for suffering through all the years I worked on the film.”
The best actor prize went to Ghassan Saad, a 70-year-old nonprofessional actor, for his performance in “Pipes,” a Lebanese-Saudi-Qatari production. Swiss-Czech actor Anna Schinz won best actress for her role in the social drama “A Happy Family.”
An emotional Schinz struggled to hold back tears as she accepted the award.
“This film was an incredible journey, and I have never felt so free,” she said. “My son told me, ‘I hope you bring home a soccer trophy tonight.’”
Danish filmmaker Mads Mangel received the best director award for “The Guest,” which also won the Special Jury Prize.
“This is my debut film,” Mangel said in his acceptance speech. “I chose excellent actors, and I would not be standing here without them. They gave 100% of themselves.”
He said festivalgoers had approached him throughout the week to tell him how deeply the film had affected them.
Describing “The Guest” as a family drama, Mangel dedicated the jury prize to his family, who had supported him through difficult periods. He also thanked his fiancée, joking that she had instructed him: “If you win, don’t forget to thank your hot wife.”
“So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, my hot wife,” he said.
Binoche calls for artists to be given a voice
Lifetime achievement honors were presented to two acclaimed performers, French star Juliette Binoche and American actor Jeffrey Wright.
Binoche, president of the European Film Academy, added another honor to a collection that includes the Academy Award for best supporting actress for “The English Patient.” She received the Crystal Globe for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema.
Juliette Binoche
(Photo: MICHAL CIZEK/AFP)
A tribute reel included scenes from several of her most celebrated films, including “The Unbearable Lightness of Being,” adapted from Czech author Milan Kundera’s novel and filmed in Prague, as well as “Three Colors: Blue,” “Chocolat” and “Caché.”
Binoche appeared deeply moved and struggled to contain her tears.
“I thank all the directors I have worked with. I don’t do that very often. Truly,” she said. “I have been lucky in my life and my career. I have two wonderful and patient children.”
In her speech, Binoche also spoke about artists and residents in the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Ukraine who, she said, were unable to create or express themselves.
“I think of them,” she said. “We need artists to tell stories, to tell the truth. Passion is at the very heart of what we do. Life passes very quickly, so let us give as much of ourselves as possible. We must come together. We need to give them a voice.”
Jeffrey Wright: ‘Our strength is to create’
American actor Jeffrey Wright traveled from London, where he is filming the espionage series “The Agency,” to accept the festival president’s award.
Wright’s career includes major television roles in “Boardwalk Empire,” “Angels in America” and “Westworld,” as well as appearances in “The Hunger Games,” “The Batman” and three James Bond films: “Casino Royale,” “Quantum of Solace” and “No Time to Die.”
Jeffrey Wright
(Photo: MICHAL CIZEK/AFP)
He has also worked with prominent directors including Woody Allen, Ang Lee, Michael Mann, Jonathan Demme, Wes Anderson and Jim Jarmusch.
“Karlovy Vary is my favorite film festival in the world,” Wright said. “I am always received here with love.”
“There are forces in the world now that want to divide us, but our strength as Americans is to create, not to destroy,” he added.
No Israeli films selected this year
No Israeli film appeared in any of the festival’s sections this year, a notable absence given Karlovy Vary’s history of embracing Israeli cinema.
In 1999, Arik Kaplun’s “Yana’s Friends” won the Crystal Globe for best film. In 2005, Eyal Halfon’s “What a Wonderful Place” received the Special Jury Prize, while Uri Gavriel won best actor.
Yossi Madmony’s “Restoration” won the Crystal Globe in 2011, and Moshe Folkenflik received the best actor award in 2018 for his performance in “Redemption,” directed by Madmony and Boaz Yehonatan Yaacov.
One of the closing ceremony’s most moving moments was a tribute to film figures who died over the past year. Alongside Robert Redford, Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton and Udo Kier, the montage included the late Israeli journalist and festival figure Edna Fainaru.
Fainaru, who died recently, had been a beloved friend of the festival and had previously served on one of its juries.