Full length transcripts of the podcast
KVIFF Wrap Up Show
KVIFF 2025 – Wrap Up Show
In this special episode of Stream Close Up, host Brian recaps the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, reflecting on nine filmmaker conversations from the Crystal Globe competition. From OndÅ™ej Provazník’s Broken Voices to Miro Remo’s Better Go Mad in the Wild, the films explored themes of trauma, resilience, politics, and identity. The wrap-up highlights recurring threads: cinema as dialogue, blending fiction with lived experience, and the risks and rewards of casting non-professional actors. A panoramic look at the stories and voices that defined KVIFF 2025.
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Keywords: KVIFF 2025, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Crystal Globe competition, European cinema 2025, Stream Close Up podcast, filmmaker interviews, best films Karlovy Vary.
Pere Vila Barcelo
Pere Vilà Barceló – When a River Becomes the Sea
Catalan filmmaker Pere Vilà Barceló discusses his haunting drama When a River Becomes the Sea, which screened in the Crystal Globe Competition at the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2025. Shot around Girona, the film explores the aftermath of sexual assault through the eyes of a young woman, Gaia, portrayed by Claud Hernández. Pere speaks about his autodidact filmmaking path, interviewing more than 100 women as part of his research, and his bold cinematic choices — including a seven-minute blackout sequence.
Keywords: Pere Vilà Barceló interview, When a River Becomes the Sea, Catalan cinema, Karlovy Vary 2025, gender-based violence in film, Girona filmmaker.
Miro Remo
Miro Remo – Better Go Mad in the Wild
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Slovak filmmaker Miro Remo won the Crystal Globe for Best Picture at Karlovy Vary 2025 with his documentary Better Go Mad in the Wild. The film portrays twin brothers Franta and Onda living a primitive, artistic life in the Slovak mountains. Remo shares how he earned their trust, the creative use of mirrors and animals as narrative devices, and how tragedy struck when Franta passed away just after the festival. A deeply human story of resilience and love.
Keywords: Miro Remo interview, Better Go Mad in the Wild, Crystal Globe Best Film, Slovak documentary, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, twin brothers.
Nathan Ambrosioni
Nathan Ambrosioni – Out of Love
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French filmmaker Nathan Ambrosioni won the Best Director Crystal Globe (shared with Vytautas Katkus) at Karlovy Vary 2025 for Out of Love. At just 25, Ambrosioni already has three features under his belt. Out of Love tells the story of Jeanne, who unexpectedly becomes guardian of her sister’s children after their mother disappears. The director reflects on his evolution from teenage horror films to mature dramas, his meticulous framing, and how absence, family, and resilience define his work.
Keywords: Nathan Ambrosioni interview, Out of Love, Best Director Karlovy Vary, French cinema, family drama, young filmmaker.
Gözde Kural
Gözde Kural – Cinema Jazireh
Turkish director Gözde Kural talks about Cinema Jazireh, her second Afghanistan-set feature, which premiered in the Crystal Globe Competition at Karlovy Vary 2025. The film tells the story of Leila, who must disguise herself as a man to search for her son, and Zaboor, a boy forced into gender performance. Kural explains her long connection to Afghanistan, the dangers of filming on location, and how hope persists amid oppression. The conversation also explores parallels with current political struggles in Turkey.
Keywords: Gözde Kural interview, Cinema Jazireh, Afghan women in film, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Turkish cinema, bacha posh.
João Rosas
João Rosas – The Luminous Life
Portuguese filmmaker João Rosas reflects on The Luminous Life, which competed for the Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary 2025. The film continues a long-running narrative Rosas began in earlier shorts, following Nicolau and friends through coming-of-age in Lisbon. Rosas explains his process of casting non-actors, his fascination with urban landscapes, and how cemeteries and city spaces shape identity. Comparisons to Richard Linklater and François Truffaut highlight his unique approach to slow, naturalistic storytelling.
Keywords: João Rosas interview, The Luminous Life, Lisbon cinema, Portuguese filmmaker, Karlovy Vary 2025, coming-of-age film.
Vytautas Katkus
Vytautas Katkus – The Visitor
Lithuanian director Vytautas Katkus earned the Best Director Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary 2025 for his debut feature The Visitor. Known for his painterly cinematography and roots as a cinematographer, Katkus crafts a meditative exploration of nostalgia, loneliness, and family ties. He discusses casting non-actors, slow cinema influences, and his thematic continuity from earlier shorts Community Gardens and Cherries.
Keywords: Vytautas Katkus interview, The Visitor, Best Director Karlovy Vary, Lithuanian cinema, slow cinema, father-son themes.
OndÅ™ej Provazník
OndÅ™ej Provazník – Broken Voices
Czech director OndÅ™ej Provazník presents Broken Voices, which premiered in the main competition at Karlovy Vary 2025. Inspired by a true scandal in an elite Czech girls’ choir, the film examines trust, manipulation, and the complexity of predatory power dynamics. Provazník explains his shift from documentaries to fiction, the casting of young non-professional actors, and how ambiguity shapes the story. He also reflects on filming during an industry strike and balancing sensitivity with authenticity.
Keywords: OndÅ™ej Provazník interview, Broken Voices, Czech cinema, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, choir abuse scandal, Czech director.
Nina Knag
Nina Knag – Don’t Call Me Mama (Se Meg)
Norwegian filmmaker Nina Knag unveils her debut feature Don’t Call Me Mama, which competed for the Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary 2025. The film follows Eva, a teacher whose affair with an 18-year-old Syrian asylum seeker challenges empathy, desire, and power dynamics. Knag reflects on her background in casting, her fascination with water as a recurring motif, and her collaborative creative process. She also shares the news that actress Pia Tjelta won the festival’s Best Actress award for her role in the film.
Keywords: Nina Knag interview, Don’t Call Me Mama, Pia Tjelta Best Actress, Norwegian cinema, asylum seeker film, Karlovy Vary 2025.
Dymtro Hreshko
Dmytro Hreshko – Divia
Ukrainian documentarian Dmytro Hreshko premieres Divia, the only documentary in the Crystal Globe Competition at Karlovy Vary 2025. The film chronicles the environmental toll of war in Ukraine, juxtaposing haunting drone shots of landscapes scarred by conflict with the resilience of nature and those who protect it. Speaking while serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Hreshko discusses working with de-miners, the mythological roots of the film’s title, and the importance of cultural resilience.
Keywords: Dmytro Hreshko interview, Divia, Ukrainian war documentary, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, environmental impact of war, Ukrainian cinema.