Russell Crowe received the festival’s Crystal Globe for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema earlier at the opening ceremony with MC Marek Eben and hosted by festival president Jiří Bartoška. Russell Crowe accepting the award said: “I’ve been to so many film festivals that are completely disorganised and absolute hellscapes. But I have to congratulate the organisers of this festival, it runs like clockwork, everything’s on time.”

Alicia Vikander, the star of the opening film Firebrand, also received a Crystal Globe. She was accompanied by her husband Michael Fassbender at the after party. 

But Russell Crowe was not the only actor with a band to dominate the opening ceremony. Johnny Depp, who was last year’s star guest, was invited to create a festival trailer for this year’s edition, which was shown at the opening ceremony. The short film showed Depp doing a parody of himself being interviewed about his visit to the Karlovy Vary Festival and being asked if he received an award at the festival. The trailer drew laughs and delighted the audience.

Other stars expected to grace the festival red carpet this year include Robin Wright and Ewan McGregor.