Cousins scoops top prize at Karlovy Vary

Honour for portrait of the artist 'Willie' Barns-Graham at Czech festival

by Richard Mowe

Mark Cousins wins Grand Prix Crystal Globe at the closing ceremony of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Mark Cousins wins Grand Prix Crystal Globe at the closing ceremony of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Photo: Film Servis Karlovy Vary

A documentary portrait of the Scottish modernist painter Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, by film-maker Mark Cousins, has won the top prize at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which ended with an awards ceremony tonight.

A Sudden Glimpse To Deeper Things scooped the accolade from a jury that included indy film producer Christine Vachon and Australian actor Geoffrey Rush.

British actor Clive Owen said festivals such as Karlovy Vary are needed “now more than ever.”
British actor Clive Owen said festivals such as Karlovy Vary are needed “now more than ever.” Photo: Film Servis Karlovy Vary

Cousins, accepting the award, the Grand Prix Crystal Globe, said 'Willie' Barns-Graham “lived completely, truly and utterly – let’s all try to do that.”

A divorce story, Loveable, won the Crystal Globe jury prize, as well as three other awards categories, taking home the FIPRESCI, Ecumenical and Europa Cinemas Label prizes with its examination of a woman adjusting to a new life.

The directing prize went to Nelicia Low for the Singapore/Taiwan/Poland production Pierce, an intricate account of a family torn by a fencing scandal.

Actor honours were shared by Ton Kas and Guido Pollemans for Three Days Of Fish, a film from the Netherlands and Belgium, directed by Peter Hoogendoorn. A refugee camp offering, Xoftex, directed by Noaz Deshe, won a special mention in the Crystal Globe category for its story of Syrian and Palestinian asylum seekers. A Czech/Slovak family saga by Adam Martinec, Our Lovely Pig Slaughter, also won a special mention.

Karlovy Vary Proxima selection honoured Stranger by Zhengfan Yang. The Proxima special jury prize went to Paolo Tizón’s drama from Peru, Spain and Mexico, Night Has Come, and the Czech film March To May, by Martin Pavol Repka, also won a special mention.

The Pravo Audience Award was awarded to the Czech/Slovak Cold War radio resistance drama Waves, directed by Jiri Madl.

Actor Clive Owen who was honoured for a career achievement, said that Festivals such as Karlovy Vary are “more important, vital and needed more than ever.”

58th Karlovy Vary Film Festival Winners:-

  • Special jury prize
  • Loveable (Norway)
  • Directed by Lilja Ingolfsdottir
  • Best Director
  • Nelicia Low, Pierce (Singapore, Taiwan, Poland)
  • Best Actress
  • Helga Guren, Loveable
  • Special jury mentions
  • Xoftex (Germany, France)
  • Directed by Noaz Deshe
  • Our Lovely Pig Slaughter (Czech Republic, Slovakia)
  • Directed by Adam Martinec
  • Proxima Grand Prize
  • Stranger (USA, China, Netherlands, Norway, France)
  • Directed by Zhengfan Yang
  • Proxima Special Jury Prize
  • Night Has Come (Peru, Spain, Mexico)
  • Directed by Paolo Tizón
  • Special Jury Mention
  • March To May (Czech Republic)
  • Directed by Martin Pavol Repka
  • Audience Award
  • Waves (Czech Republic, Slovakia)
  • Directed by Jiri Madl
  • Ecumenical Jury Grand Prize
  • Loveable
  • Ecumenical Jury Commendation
  • Panopticon (Georgia, France, Italy, Romania)
  • Directed by George Sikharulidze
  • FIPRESCI Prize
  • Loveable
  • FIPRESCI Prize, Proxima Section
  • Night Has Come (Peru, Spain, Mexico)
  • Directed by Paolo Tizón
  • Europa Cinemas Label prize
  • Loveable
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