Karlovy Vary mourn honorary citizen and actor Jiří Bartoška with black flag and memorial site

The spa town of Karlovy Vary has joined the outpouring of grief over the death of actor Jiří Bartoška, long-time president of its international film festival. A black flag now flies above the town hall and a public memorial will be set up in Smetanovy sady. Hotel Thermal, the heart of the annual festival, also plans to create a tribute space near the iconic red carpet. Bartoška, awarded honorary citizenship in 2023, was remembered by Mayor Andrea Pfeffer Ferklová as “an exceptional and truly unique person.”