PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) - The 41st International Film Festival in the western Czech spa of Karlovy Vary opened Friday with a world premiere of Time, a new film by Korean director Kim Ki-duk.
Cuban-American actor Andy Garcia, whose acting credits include The Untouchables and The Godfather: Part III, was to receive the festival's top award at the evening opening ceremony, organizers said. Czech President Vaclav Klaus was expected to be among the dignitaries and celebrities present.
Garcia, a staunch critic of Fidel Castro's regime whose family left the island when he was five, recently starred in and directed The Lost City, a tale of his native Cuba.
Garcia, was one of three movie stars, together with U.S. producer Robert Shaye and Czech filmmaker Jan Nemec, who will receive the Crystal Globe award for their outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema during the festival, which runs through July 8.
In what is a top event of this kind in central and eastern Europe, Karlovy Vary's 2006 edition offers a program of more than 200 feature films and dozens of shorts.
The seven-member prize jury, led by director Goran Paskaljevic will pick from 15 films in the main competition to receive the top prize, the Crystal Globe.
Norway's Reprise, directed by Joachim Trier, Sherrybaby by U.S. director Laurie Collyer, My Quick Way Out by Spain's Miguel Albaladejo and the French film The Girl Is Mine, directed by Virginie Wagon, are among the entries.
Movies from Germany, Sweden, Finland, Mexico, Iran, Korea and other countries also will be shown.
Lower budget, independent films will be screened alongside the main event, as well as films that won awards at other festivals.
? The Canadian Press 2006