Bulgarian film Blaga’s Lessons wins main prize at Karlovy Vary Film Festival

Blaga’s Lessons by Bulgarian director Stephan Komandarev won the Grand Prix – Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Eli Skorcheva picked up the Best Actress Award for the lead role  in the social drama about an elderly woman forced to abandon her moral principles after losing all her savings . The Best Actor Award went to Herbert Nordrum for his role in the Scandinavian absurd psychological comedy The Hypnosis.

The Special Jury Prize went to the Iranian film Empty Nets by Behrooz Karamizade.

The Best Director Award went to Babak Jalali for Fremont, a comedy drama about new beginnings in life. The Lebanese documentary Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano, about a group of filmmakers facing obstacles in their creative work due to the difficult situation in the country, received the Special Jury Mention.

The Proxima Grand Prix went to Birth, a South Korean film about partners who have to make a life-changing decision due to unexpected pregnancy and the Proxima Special Jury Prize was awarded to the Czech film Brutal Heat by Albert Hospodářský.

The American actress Robin Wright and Czech actress Daniela Kolářová both received the President’s Award at the festival’s closing gala ceremony on Saturday night.

Hollywood actor Russell Crowe was presented with the Crystal Globe for his contribution to world cinema and Swedish actress and producer Alicia Vikander received the President's Award at the festival’s opening.

The 57th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival screened more than 140 feature films and documentaries.