Czech-Slovak documentary wins top prize at Karlovy Vary

The main prize at the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival went to the Czech-Slovak documentary Better Go Mad in the Wild by Slovak director Miro Remo, which follows the lives of two peculiar men in their sixties in the forests of the Šumava mountains. It is the first time in eight years that the Crystal Globe has been awarded to a Czech film.

The Special Jury Prize was presented to the Iranian drama Bidad by Soheil Beiraghi, while the Best Director Award was shared by Nathan Ambrosioni (Out of Love) and Vytautas Katkus (The Visitor). Pia Tjelta took home Best Actress for Don’t Call Me Mama, and Àlex Brendemühl won Best Actor for When a River Becomes the Sea. A Special Mention was given to rising Czech star Kateřina Falbrová for Broken Voices.

In the Proxima competition, the Grand Prix went to Sand City by Mahde Hasan (Bangladesh).