The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is a definite Czech and film world highlight. Now in its 46th year; movies screened here often go on to win awards at other festivals around the world. More than 180 films are shown every year; only chosen are films made after January 1 of the previous year that haven’t been shown in competition at any other major film festival. They are all having their first showing in the Czech Republic and many are having their European or even world premières as well. The festival has a good track record in picking winners to debut. One example is Nowhere in Africa; a German film, which won the Special Jury Prize here in 2001 and went on to win an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film 2002. The event is officially categorized as a non-specialized festival with a feature film competition. Prizes include the Grand Prix – Crystal Globe for best feature film; Special Jury Prize; Best Director; Best Actress; Best Actor and the jury has the option of choosing two special mentions. Other prizes include Grand Prix for best documentary film; East of the West Award; Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema; Festival President’s Award and an Audience Award.

On tap this year will be tributes to Denis Villenueve and Samuel Fuller as well as also be a special focus on young Greek cinema. Their website, www.kviff.com is continuously updated as programme information is confirmed.

Part of the festival’s charm is its openness. KVIFF is one of the few major festivals open to the public. Occurring every year at the start of summer holidays; tons of students and young people flood the streets to enjoy the fruits of the festival. This mix of actors, directors and other film professionals with normal movie lovers and young people give the festival a unique atmosphere that can’t be experienced at any of the larger, perhaps more well-known movie showcases.

Tickets: Besides being relaxed and open, the festival ticket prices of 65 CZK (roughly 2.50 EUR or 2.20 GBP) are laughingly cheap. The challenge lies in securing the darn things. Advance reservations can be made online June 27-28. Tickets are sold for and issued only for the given day and the next day. So tickets issued 3 July are only for films shown on 3 and 4 July. An hour prior to each screening all unsold tickets to that film will be sold at all participating ticket offices. There’s a Festival Pass available which gives holders a discount on individual tickets, plus the chance to get up to three free tickets a day and free access to screenings that aren’t sold-out. It can be purchased as a one, three or five day pass, or one for the entire festival.

Accommodations: Karlovy Vary isn’t a huge town, but their tourist infrastructure is quite good. That being said, beds are hard to come by during the festival. Book immediately. Lodging is being coordinated by a couple of agencies. The Good Bed Agency (222 51 37 84, info@goodbed.cz, www.goodbed.cz ) and Kawek (353 22 45 94, travel@kawex.cz, www.kawex.cz) may be able to help.

Any other information you could even dream of wanting can be found at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festivals’ website: www.kviff.com

Getting there: Karlovy Vary has good frequent bus and train connections from Prague. The Student Agency has direct bus service that takes just a little over two hours. Buses leave from the Florenc station and usually make at least five trips a day. Tickets can be purchased at the Student Agency window inside the station. Direct trains go from the main station, Hlavní nádraží and take nearly three and a half hours. There aren’t as many trains; perhaps two-three a day. Check www.idos.cz for both train and bus schedules; or go to the stations to get times and buy tickets.

More information:
Info Centre: Lázeňská 1, Karlovy Vary, 355 32 11 76
Mo - Fr 09:00 - 17:00
Sa - Su 10:00 - 17:00
www.karlovy-vary.cz
Aren’t here when the festival is on or don’t like movies? If you are looking for a day or weekend trip from Prague, Karlovy Vary is an excellent option. It’s the largest spa town in the Czech Republic and noted for all the famous people who have taken the waters. Have a sip in Karlovy Vary and you’ll have shared a drink with Russian Tsar Peter the Great, Beethoven, Mozart and Sigmund Freud.

The city dates back to King Charles’ IV time when, as the story goes, he and his entourage accidently stumbled upon a thermal spring. He proclaimed it had curative powers and, in true King Charles style, had a town built around the spring. Fast forward a bunch of years and you can easily see walking through town the influence Art Nouveau had on 19th century architects. The Mill Colonnade, Emperor’s Baths and the Thermal Spring Colonnade were built then. Just about every celebrity who visited the city was thanked by town officials with an honorary naming of some city monument or path. At the beginning of the 20th century, Karlovy Vary was one of the most popular spa cities in Europe. Two world wars and Communism saw a decline in its fortunes, with the state regulating all facilities and tourist primarily limited to Russians. Today, it is one of the most visited Czech tourist spots for foreign visitors outside of Prague. You’ll still see a heavy Russian influence in the architecture and language translations.

Many people head to Karlovy Vary for the spas. Here, the treatments are best for those with digestive, motor system or metabolic disorders. Note – most of the spas here are more medical in nature than relaxing. Be sure to ask some questions regarding procedures before signing up. Many people spend up to three weeks, aided by doctors, therapeutic treatments and mineral water, to cure what ails them. If you are looking purely to indulge, look for “wellness programs” that offer saunas, whirlpools, steam baths, wraps and massages.

Non-spa people can see a variety of other interesting sites here. The famous “spa wafers” hail from Karlovy Vary; as does the Czech spirit Becherovka (museum at T.G.M. 57, 353 17 01 77, www.becherovka.cz), Mattoni drinking water and glassmaker Moser. Other important sites to snap for your photo album include the Thermal Spring Colonnade whose geyser shoots out 2000 litres of mineral water a minute, and is the only spring used for baths. Karlovy Vary is an easy walking city, with most attractions located in the “spa centre.” The Mill Colonnade is the largest and offers six springs. Colonnades were historically built to offer people a pleasing spot to stroll while drinking the restorative waters. Go ahead and stick a cup into the fountain and sip like the locals! You can also buy a souvenir sipping cup from one the many stands set-up all along the colonnades. Take a climb in the nearby forest to the Diana lookout tower. Located 547 meters above sea level, you’ll get a grand view of the countryside. Or be lazy and take the cable car up the hill.

Restaurants and accommodation range the gamut from 5-star all the way to pensions and pubs. The Grandhotel Pupp (Mírové náměsti 2, 353 10 96 30, www.pupp.cz) is one of the most luxurious and includes its own Roman baths. A more affordable option is Villa Basileia (Mariánskolázeňská 4, 353 22 41 32, www.villabasileia.cz.) Situated in a former countess’ summer house, you’ll be close to the city centre, but with easy access to the area’s hiking and cycling paths. They offer in-house massages and can arrange treatments at nearby spas.

Getting there: Karlovy Vary has good frequent bus and train connections from Prague. The Student Agency has direct bus service that takes just a little over two hours. Buses leave from the Florenc station and usually make at least five trips a day. Tickets can be purchased at the Student Agency window inside the station. Direct trains go from the main station, Hlavní nádraží and take nearly three and a half hours. There aren’t as many trains; perhaps two-three a day. Check www.idos.cz for both train and bus schedules; or go to the stations to get times and buy tickets.

More information:
Info Centre: Lázeňská 1, Karlovy Vary, 355 32 11 76
Mo - Fr 09:00 - 17:00
Sa - Su 10:00 - 17:00
www.karlovy-vary.cz