A film from Iran that has been kept secret so far to ensure the safety of its delegation, along with Dakota Johnson, Stellan Skarsgard, Peter Sarsgaard and Vicky Krieps, has joined the lineup for the 59th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF).
Known as a popular stop on the film festival circuit for many stars, Karlovy Vary had previously already unveiled a visit from Michael Douglas this year.
The 12th and final film of this year’s Karlovy Vary Crystal Globe main competition program is Iran’s Bidad from director Soheil Beiraghi, which tells the story of young singer Seti who refuses to accept the fact that women in Iran are not allowed to perform in public. “In defiance of her country’s religious laws, she decides to sing in the street,” according to a synopsis. “Her performances quickly gain in popularity, and Seti becomes a star for a young generation that no longer wants to be oppressed by the regime.”
Bidad was made as an independent production. “Otherwise, it would never have been approved by the censors because of its critical tone,” KVIFF highlighted. “Even so, director Soheil Beiraghi was investigated by the authorities during filming. It was necessary to withhold announcement of the film’s inclusion in the festival’s program until he and the members of his crew could safely travel out of Iran. A few days ago, the festival team was overjoyed to hear that they were on their way.”
While the stars have aligned for the world premiere of Bidad, the stars have also lined up to travel to the Czech festival.
Swedish film and theater actor Skarsgard, recipient of a Golden Globe award, will return to Karlovy Vary to be presented the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema. He will also present his new film Sentimental Value, directed by Joachim Trier, which won the Grand Prix at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
At the KVIFF opening ceremony, the KVIFF President’s Award will be presented to Krieps (Phantom Thread, Bergman Island), winner of a European Film Award for best actress for Marie Kreutzer’s Corsage and “one of today’s exceptional acting talents,” said KVIFF organizers. The festival will be showing Anna Cazenave Cambet’s film Love Me Tender, starring Krieps.
Also at the opening ceremony, the fest will present the KVIFF President’s Award to Sarsgaard, who most recently starred in director Tim Fehlbaum’s September 5. He has also wrapped production on Warner Bros.’ The Bride!, which also stars Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley and is set for release later this year. Directed by his wife, Maggie Gyllenhaal, the film takes place in 1930s Chicago and puts a spin on the classic Frankenstein story. In Sarsgaard’s honor, the festival will screen the journalism drama Shattered Glass (2003).
Also on the first weekend of KVIFF 2025, namely on Sunday, July 6, Johnson will be honored with the KVIFF President’s Award and present her two latest films, Michael Angelo Covino’s Splitsville and Celine Song’s Materialists. “Dakota Johnson continues her family’s multigenerational acting tradition, as represented by her grandmother Tippy Hedren and both of her parents, award-winning Hollywood stars Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson,” fest organizers said. It should thus not come as a surprise that her film debut was at age 10, when she appeared in Crazy in Alabama (1999, directed by Antonio Banderas).”
In addition to this year’s festival honorees, various other big names are also expected in Karlovy Vary. For example, the world premiere of Out of Love will be presented by the film’s star, French actress Camille Cottin, whom audiences know from Call My Agent! and House of Gucci, among others. The international premiere of Rebuilding will be presented by Max Walker-Silverman, who returns to Karlovy Vary three years after presenting his feature film debut A Love Song there. Another American coming to town is Jay Duplass, who will attend the screening of his comedy The Baltimorons.
Mexican director Michel Franco returns to Karlovy Vary after just one year to screen his latest film Dreams, which stars Jessica Chastain and had its world premiere at this year’s Berlinale. Also, Mstyslav Chernov, winner of a Pulitzer Prize and an Oscar for his 20 Days in Mariupol, will be in town to present his latest documentary, 2000 Metres to Andriivka. Finally, the historical drama Two Prosecutors, which had its world premiere in the main competition in Cannes, will be introduced by its director, Sergei Loznitsa.
