The new festival TV spot features last year's winner of the Karlovy Vary IFF President's Award and Academy Award® winner for the film Manchester by the Sea, Casey Affleck. The shooting was done by longtime creator of the Karlovy Vary TV spots, director Ivan Zachariáš (Wasteland). Interestingly, the American actor was not happy with the first version of the script, so he rewrote it according to his own ideas. Filming took place this January in North Hollywood.

"I think this is a very nice surprise for the audience," said the festival's president Jiří Bartoška.

And how did they manage to get another such famous name in the TV spot? "Last year he was in Karlovy Vary, where he won the award for his contribution to the world of cinema. He watched the TV spots we do. He saw us shoot with Hellen Mirren, Danny DeVito, Miloš Forman. He was excited and so were we when he agreed," Bartoška added.

Loft 3+kk na prodej s terasou, Praha Modřany, Praha 4

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Affleck obviously enjoyed filming the TV spot

According to the Executive Director of the festival, the most difficult thing was to organize the shooting, because the actor is very busy.

"Ivan Zachariáš was in Los Angeles for work, we were there with Karel Och on our way to Sundance, and Casey gave us one week in the year, and it turned out to be the one when we were all there, so the timing was great. It was obvious he enjoyed it," added Mucha.

The TV spot was revealed on Friday, June 29th.

It was prior to the opening film Loves of a Blonde from 1965, as a tribute to the deceased director Miloš Forman. This famous film was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Oscar. In addition to this film, Friday evening was in the spirit of Forman films, thanks to the opening concert of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, which featured compositions from the amazing films The Firemen's Ball, Taking Off, Valmont, Amadeus and Hair.

"Miloš Forman was not only a great filmmaker, but also a great friend of the Karlovy Vary festival. We decided to remember him not through a panegyric speech, but through what he symbolized – film."

Tim Robbins celebrated "our beach" at the outdoor cinema

Right at the beginning, the famous actor was honored by the presenter announcing that some fans of the film consider his character Andy an embodiment of Jesus Christ.

"It is always dangerous when people start to say things about Jesus Christ. People often ask me why this film has such an impressive impact. And I tell them that it has to do with the fact that a lot of people live lives full of bad relationships, they don't have a good job, they succumb to it. Inside of us all, however, there is a kind of spirit that wants to overcome this situation it has gotten into and which is a celebration of freedom. During my travels around the world, I see people who understand much more than we in the United States what it's like to live in a country where you are oppressed by the government or something else. And despite all this, they found their way to live freely. I believe you understand. You lived in a similar state for many years. You were in a non-free country," Robbins explained the presenter's comment before the screening.

His introduction of film delighted 2,260 movie enthusiasts who came to the outdoor cinema to take pictures and listen to the actor Tim Robbins. After five minutes, he spoke to the spectators and, before leaving the stage, he added:

"No matter what state you live in, what limits you, there is a great spirit of freedom in all of us and it will always want to go to the beach. So I'm gonna celebrate your beach with you tonight."

Prodej luxusního rodinného domu na Praze 6, Praha 6

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What else is going on at Karlovy Vary's outdoor cinema

The outdoor cinema in Karlovy Vary will be busier than usual during the 53rd International Film Festival. During the many years of the festival, it has become a legendary and favourite place for film fans. In addition to the festival screenings, it will also be the venue of the Evening of the City of Karlovy Vary and the Day with Czech Radio.

Monday it will be dedicated to the Day with Czech Radio, which has prepared a luxurious return to 1968, both through the screenings and the concert of Vladimír Mišík. On Wednesday, the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra and Ewa Farna will perform at the Evening of the City. Festival screening will return to the cinema on Friday by showing the Russian film Summer. On the last day of the festival, visitors to the outdoor cinema will see the same film as the guests of the festival's closing ceremony, the French comedy Sink or Swim.

The luxurious outdoor cinema in Karlovy Vary belongs to the city. In recent years, however, it is not in a good state and there is not enough money for an overall reconstruction. Prior to the beginning of the festival, the most important places were repaired – the orchestra stage, which was in danger of collapsing, as well as the screening wall.