Culture Minister Klempíř arrives in Karlovy Vary after skipping festival opening

Culture Minister Oto Klempíř (Motorists) arrived in Karlovy Vary today, where the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is taking place. The minister did not attend the festival's opening ceremony on Friday.

Klempíř explained his absence from Friday's opening ceremony by saying that the evening should belong to films and the festival's organisers, not to political disputes or conflict. Last week, he addressed participants at the Strážnice International Folklore Festival, where he was met with boos and whistles from some members of the audience.

During the opening ceremony, host Marek Eben noted that this year's event marks the festival's 60th edition. "There are anniversaries to which you have to invite people you hope won't come," he remarked, a comment that some attendees interpreted as a reference to Klempíř's absence.

Klempíř has also recently faced criticism over proposed legislation to change the funding system for Czech public-service media.