Geoffrey Rush Joins Jury as 'Our Lovely Pig Slaughter' Debuts at Karlovy Vary Film Festival

The 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, scheduled from June 28 to July 6, 2024, in the Czech Republic, promises a compelling lineup of films and notable industry figures. Among the highlights is the debut of 'Our Lovely Pig Slaughter,' directed by Adam Martinec, in the Crystal Globe Competition.

Geoffrey Rush, the Academy Award-winning actor, joins the Crystal Globe Jury alongside Christine Vachon, Gábor Reisz, Sjón, and Eliška Křenková. Rush's participation is seen as a significant endorsement of the festival's prestige. 'Rush will bring a high level of expertise to the jury,' said Karel Och, the festival's artistic director.

The Crystal Globe Competition features 12 titles, including 'Our Lovely Pig Slaughter' from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Directed by Adam Martinec, the film explores the traditional Czech event of zabijačka, or pig slaughter, through a mix of actors and non-actors, including Martinec's own father.

Karel Och described 'Our Lovely Pig Slaughter' as 'charming, funny, and sad,' noting its homage to the Czechoslovak New Wave. The film is produced by Breathless Films and coproduced by filmsomnia, with support from the Czech Film Fund, the Moravian-Silesian Region Film Foundation, and the Slovak Audiovisual Fund.

The festival's official selection includes 32 films, with 15 being directorial debuts. Other notable films in the Crystal Globe Competition are 'Rude to Love' from Japan, 'Banzo' from Portugal, France, and the Netherlands, and 'The Hungarian Dressmaker' from Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

The Proxima Competition will feature 10 films, including world premieres and international premieres. The Proxima Jury includes Mohamed Kordofani, Bianca Balbuena, Daniela Michel, Wouter Jansen, and Adéla Komrzý.

The festival's diverse lineup reflects its commitment to showcasing a wide range of genres and themes. 'The 58th KVIFF official selection offers a unique epicenter of genres and themes vibrating through the contemporary cinema,' said Karel Och.

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival approaches, and the anticipation builds for a celebration of cinematic artistry and storytelling. With Geoffrey Rush on the jury and a robust selection of films, the festival promises to be a significant event in the film calendar.

Key Takeaways

• The 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival takes place from June 28 to July 6, 2024.
• Geoffrey Rush joins the Crystal Globe Jury alongside other industry figures.
• 'Our Lovely Pig Slaughter' debuts in the Crystal Globe Competition, exploring traditional Czech pig slaughter.
• The festival features 32 films, including 15 directorial debuts, in its official selection.
• The Proxima Competition includes 10 films, with world and international premieres.