Crystal Globe Awards opens in Czech town of Karlovy Vary

Twelve films are competing for the coveted prize, the winner of which will be announced at the closing ceremony on Saturday.

Transcript

00:00The usually peaceful Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary is alive with activity as it hosts the

00:0758th International Film Festival.

00:11The star of the opening ceremony was Vigo Mortensen, known for his role as Aragon in

00:16the Lord of the Rings series.

00:18He appeared on the red carpet before winning the festival's President's Award.

00:23This is a very important celebration of cinema that we have every year here in Karlovy Vary.

00:34This year there was a special screening of the film Real by Oleg Sentsov, a film director

00:40who documented his experience in the Ukrainian Defence Force.

00:44The material is about a real war, you will see how it happens, but there is no action,

00:52everything happens in one trench and all the information you get through sound.

00:58Sentsov filmed much of the footage accidentally after switching on his helmet camera while

01:04he was in the trenches.

01:05The Ukrainian director was able to capture an evacuation operation on the front line,

01:11which was given the codename Real.

01:14Sentsov discussed the film and his experiences of war with Czech President Petr Pavel.

01:23Some of the soldiers in the footage are no longer alive and the festival's audience paid

01:44tribute to their memory.

01:54The film Real is unlikely to fill the multiplexes,

02:04but it can remind people that the monstrosity of war is ongoing and right on their doorsteps.

02:10This year the festival is showing 200 films from all over the world.

02:1812 films are competing to win the coveted Crystal Globe Award.

02:22The winner will be announced at Saturday's closing ceremony.