Czech Director Transforms Festival Trailers into a Karlovy Vary Institution — One Star at a Time

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) has become a significant cultural event in the Czech Republic, attracting audiences not only for its cinematic offerings but also for its unique trailers. These pre-show spots have evolved into a festival hallmark, showcasing edgy and often outrageous short films featuring past festival guests. The trailers frequently involve the iconic Crystal Globe statuette, which is presented in creatively humorous scenarios.

Ivan Zachariáš, a Czech commercial and film director known for his accolades at the Cannes Lions, has been the creative force behind these trailers. His work has become a topic of discussion among festival attendees, who often speculate about which trailer will be shown before each screening.

Zachariáš began his journey with KVIFF in 2004, initially creating a series of short trailers featuring actor Eddie Marsan. However, the current iteration of the trailers started in 2008 when festival organizers Jiří Bartoška and Kryštof Mucha approached him to develop a more consistent concept. This led to the creation of short black-and-white films featuring actors and directors who had previously been honored by the festival, often incorporating the award in humorous ways.

In the inaugural year of this new approach, Zachariáš managed to shoot four films, featuring notable figures such as Miloš Forman, Harvey Keitel, and Danny DeVito within a tight timeframe in New York and Connecticut. A subsequent day of filming took place in Prague with Czech filmmaker Věra Chytilová.

While Zachariáš has faced challenges in his role, including years when he was unable to produce the trailers, he has always returned to the task. He noted that the pressure of limited shooting time and the anticipation of audience feedback can be stressful, making the years he passed the responsibility to Martin Krejčí somewhat of a relief.

The process of selecting the star for each trailer begins early in discussions with Mucha. However, the journey to finalize an idea can be fraught with difficulties. Zachariáš often finds himself in a cycle of missed calls while grappling with creative concepts, yet he has consistently managed to deliver.

The production of these trailers is not without its challenges. For instance, the shoot with Benicio del Toro proved particularly difficult due to his limited availability. Zachariáš had only two hours to capture the necessary footage while del Toro was filming The Phoenician Scheme with Wes Anderson in Berlin. The team had to meticulously plan every camera position in advance, moving quickly from shot to shot. Del Toro’s voiceover was recorded in his hotel room while he was preparing for his next scene, adding to the complexity of the shoot.

Zachariáš has also experienced memorable moments during production. One notable instance involved Johnny Depp, who arrived three hours late but maintained a positive demeanor. Zachariáš had requested Depp to bring a guitar case as a prop, which contained a vintage Gibson Les Paul Goldtop. The guitar was intended to be used in a scene where it would be slammed into a door, but Depp forgot to remove it from the case. Fortunately, the guitar survived the shoot unscathed.

The trailers often depict the KVIFF statuettes in unconventional and humorous situations, a concept that originated from Zachariáš’s belief in not taking oneself too seriously. He emphasized that while the award may not carry the same weight as an Oscar, the humor infused into the trailers reflects a broader cultural perspective rather than a strictly Czech one.

Zachariáš expressed his enjoyment in creating these trailers, despite the inherent stress of the process. Recently, he has taken on the additional role of composing music for the trailers, which he finds fulfilling. His goal is for audiences to enjoy the trailers and feel a sense of pride in the festival, which attracts a diverse array of talented individuals willing to participate in the project without compensation.

As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.

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Published on 2026-07-03 16:05:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk