Set in the peaceful charm of the former Bohemia, Karlovy Vary was formerly known as Marienbad. The annual Film Festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the world dating back to 1946 and is backed by the Ministry of Culture and hosted by the Grand Hotel Pupp. 
Focusing largely on Eastern Europe, the core of the programme is the FIAPF which this year includes can only include feature films that have not been shown in competition at any other international festival. Distribution pre-premieres and films awarded from other festivals also form part of the programme. A dazzling array of independent films, retrospectives and the latest Czech films are also screened and evaluated by an international jury headed this year by Luis Miñarro.
The 49th festival includes seven world and five international premieres, including two Czech films, in the main feature competition. 
New York-based Latvian filmmaker Signe Baumane’s presents the festival’s first ever animation in competition: although ROCKS IN MY POCKETS can be described as a comedy about depression set against a backdrop of Latvia’s history at the start of the 20th century
Georgian filmmaker George Ovashvili (The Other Bank) will be attending with his film CORN ISLAND, that looks at the link between nature and the human race. Russian director Angelina Nikonova’s second feature, WELKOME HOME is a black comedy about an immigrant community in today’s New York; and Czech director Miroslav Krobot will present his debut, NOWHERE IN MORAVIA, a slow-burning bucolic drama shot through with moments of rueful comedy. 
From Belgium’s David Lambert will be there to present I’M YOURS, that centres on the unlikely relationship between a Belgian baker and an Argentinian man. Biting comedy PARIS OF THE NORTH from Icelandic filmmaker Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson (Either Way), focuses on an alcoholic teacher and his hippy father. And from the US, Low Down, director Jeff Preiss latest drama explores Los Angeles’ artistic scene in the seventies, focusing on the drug addiction of talented but deeply flawed jazz pianist Joe Albany (John Hawkes), seen through the eyes of his daughter Amy-Jo (Elle Fanning). 
Before the Iron Curtain went up Karlovy Vary was a unique showcase of films from Central and Eastern Europe and the former-Soviet Union. The East of the West strand also covers Turkey and The Balkans. This year is kicks off with AFTERLIFE, Hungarian director Virag Zomboracz first feature that presents a positive spin on bereavement. The World premiere of BOTA also screens in this section and is the debut of Albanian directors, Iris Elezi and Thomas Logoreci. Set in a remote and marshy location of the country, it looks at everyday life in a small cafe. CORRECTIONS CLASS, by Russian director Ivan Tverdovsky, looks at the unusual but important subject of ‘special needs’ in schools. 
The 49th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival runs from 4-12 July 2014.
OFFICIAL SELECTION – COMPETITION
Grand Prix – Crystal Globe
CORN ISLAND/ Simindis kundzuli
Directed by: George Ovashvili
Georgia, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, 2014
Special Jury Prize
FREE FALL / Szabadesés
Directed by: György Pálfi
Hungary, France, South Korea, 2014
Best Director Award
György Pálfi
for the film Free Fall / Szabadesés
Hungary, France, South Korea, 2014
Best Actress Award
Elle Fanning
for her role in the film Low Down
Directed by: Jeff Preiss
USA, 2014
Best Actor Award
Nahuel Pérez Biscayar
for his role in the film All Yours / Je suis à toi
Directed by: David Lambert
Belgium, Canada, 2014
EAST OF THE WEST – FILMS IN COMPETITION
East of the West Award
CORRECTIONS CLASS / Klass korrektsii
Directed by: Ivan I. Tverdovsky
Russia, Germany, 2014
Special Mention
BARBARIANS / Varvari
Directed by: Ivan Ikić
Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, 2014
DOCUMENTARY FILMS IN COMPETITION
Best Documentary Film over 30 minutes long
Waiting for August
Directed by: Teodora Ana Mihai
Belgium, 2014
Special Mention
STEADINESS/ Sitzfleisch
Directed by: Lisa Weber
Austria, 2014
Best Documentary Film under 30 minutes long (5 000 USD)
Autofocus
Directed by: Boris Poljak
Croatia, 2013
Special Mention
The Queen / La reina
Directed by: Manuel Abramovich
Argentina, 2013
FORUM OF INDEPENDENTS
Independent Camera Award
Anywhere Else / Anderswo
Directed by: Ester Amrami
Germany, 2014
Audience Award
The Magic Voice of a Rebel / Magický hlas rebelky
Directed by: Olga Sommerová
Czech Republic, 2014,
Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema
William Friedkin
USA
Mel Gibson
USA
Festival President´s Award
Zdeněk Svěrák
Czech Republic
Award of International Film Critics (FIPRESCI)
Rocks in My Pockets
Directed by: Signe Baumane
USA, Latvia, 2014
NON-STATUTORY AWARDS
The Ecumenical Jury Award
CORN ISLAND/ Simindis kundzuli
Directed by: George Ovashvili
Georgia, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, 2014
Special Mention
ROCKS IN MY POCKETS
Directed by: Signe Baumane
USA, Latvia, 2014
FEDEORA Award
BOTA
Directed by: Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci
Albania, Italy, Kosovo, 2014
Europa Cinemas Label Award
FREE FALL / Szabadesés
Directed by: György Pálfi
Hungary, France, South Korea, 2014
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Karlovy Vary, Carlsbard, Czech Republic. MT