Johnny Depp, Mel Gibson, Javier Bardem, Helen Mirren, Harvey Keitel, Milos Forman, Danny DeVito, Casey Affleck, Andy Garcia, John Malkovich — what reads like a who’s who of Hollywood star power is just part of the list of big names who have starred in trailers for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, whose celebrating its 60th anniversary edition in its 80th year July 3-11.
The shorts, typically held in black-and-white and directed by Ivan Zachariáš, debut during the opening ceremony of the film fest in the picturesque Czech spa town. And they have a reputation for being offbeat, eccentric, and, yes, full of attitude. Many feature a previous Karlovy Vary honoree to show what they, allegedly, did with their award.
“The idea of shooting festival trailers featuring distinctive representatives of world cinema was born” to a add excitement and extend the collaboration with big names beyond the dates of the fest, KVIFF has highlighted. “It’s not always easy in terms of organization, but the result is a unique series of trailers featuring world-famous personalities that has no equal at any other international festival.”
In 2024, Bardem joined the illustrious list of stars to make their mark with a KVIFF festival trailer, which referenced the oplatky, the popular local delicacy that is a thin circular wafer. Check it out here.
Depp is also among the Hollywood names to become part of the list of bold-named people who have been featured in one of the popular trailers. In his case, it pokes fun at Depp’s lack of a fest award. Watch that trailer here.
2010 honoree Law is the star of one of several car-themed trailers that have made KVIFF laugh, even if they have seen it multiple times before. After all, Law manages to put his festival statuette to particularly creative use, as you can see here.
An older festival trailer starring Gibson features the star interrupting a break-in, while Garcia also learns about break-ins in his short film.
Check out those two trailers right here. First, here is Mel Gibson!
And here comes Andy Garcia!
Affleck, on the other hand, takes a trip to a pawn shop in the Czech fest trailer, in which he starred — with a surprise ending, as you will find out, if you haven’t seen it before, right here.
Meanwhile, Mirren wants to store her fest statue, which keeps mysteriously appearing next to an Oscar statuette, in its box in a different take on Karlovy Vary winners’ and trophies’ destinies.
In another KVIFF trailer, John Malkovich, in his black-and-white turn has an awkward “oh”-moment in a taxi. Get ready for that right here.
Last but not least, there are more KVIFF trailers featuring big names, which you have to watch by going elsewhere. But don’t worry, we have you covered via links.
The first trailer stars Keitel drinking in a bar, while the second sees DeVito’s sleep getting disturbed by a phone call. And the final KVIF trailer stars the late legendary Czech director Miloš Forman in a short, in which he ends up finding a healthy use for his trophy.
