Karlovy Vary Film Festival Honors 'Fruit Gathering' With Top Prize

WHO:

The Hollywood Reporter - Aung Phyoe directed "Fruit Gathering."

The Hollywood Reporter - Mads Mengel directed "The Guest."

The Hollywood Reporter - Anna Schinz won best actress for her role in "A Happy Family."

The Hollywood Reporter - Ghassan Saad won best actor for his role in "Pipes."

The Hollywood Reporter - Juliette Binoche received the KVIFF Crystal Globe Award.

Deadline - Dustin Hoffman received the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema.

Deadline - Jesse Eisenberg and Maggie Gyllenhaal received the Festival President’s Awards.

WHAT:

The Hollywood Reporter - "Fruit Gathering" won the Grand Prix — Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Special Jury Prize went to "The Guest."

The Hollywood Reporter - "Lover, Not a Fighter" won the Grand Prix in the Proxima competition.

The Hollywood Reporter - The best director award went to Mads Mengel for "The Guest."

The Hollywood Reporter - The Grand Prize of the Ecumenical Jury went to "The Lion at My Back."

The Hollywood Reporter - The FIPRESCI prize for the best film in the Crystal Globe Competition was awarded to "Only Beautiful Things to Look at."

The Hollywood Reporter - The FIPRESCI honor for the best film in the Proxima Competition went to "Petty Thieves."

WHERE:

The Hollywood Reporter - The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival took place in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

WHEN:

The Hollywood Reporter - The 60th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival concluded on a Saturday.

WHY:

The Hollywood Reporter - The jury praised "Fruit Gathering" for its portrayal of work and friendship, which transitions into themes of obsession and queer desire.

The Hollywood Reporter - The jury lauded "The Guest" for its exploration of motherhood, filial duty, and mental illness.

HOW:

The Hollywood Reporter - The jury described "Fruit Gathering" as a "lush and meditative portrait" that evolves into a drama.

The Hollywood Reporter - The jury noted Mads Mengel's direction as providing a "seat at the table" with a "superb ensemble of actors."

(UPDATED July 12, 2026 07:46 UTC)

At the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, "Fruit Gathering" won the Grand Prix — Crystal Globe, with Aung Phyoe as its director, while Mads Mengel's "The Guest" took home the Special Jury Prize and he was also awarded best director. Anna Schinz received the best actress award for her performance in "A Happy Family," and Ghassan Saad won best actor for his role in "Pipes," with Juliette Binoche and Dustin Hoffman also recognized for their contributions to cinema. The festival concluded with several other honors, including the FIPRESCI prize for "Only Beautiful Things to Look at" and the Grand Prize of the Ecumenical Jury awarded to "The Lion at My Back."