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Attendees of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) tend to rave about the lineup of stars attending, the celebratory atmosphere that takes over the picturesque Czech spa town during the event – and those action-packed opening ceremonies.

Past years have seen the likes of ice skaters, horses, flames, and bloodbaths getting the fest off to the races with a bang and leaving guests breathless. This year’s 58th edition of Kviff kicked off on Friday with a kind of best-of collection of characters and themes from past ceremonies.

As has become tradition, the fun and excitement is served up by the Caban brothers. They are Michal Caban, director of opening and closing ceremony, Kviff, director, choreographer, and master of ceremonies, and his brother Šimon Caban, co-director of opening and closing ceremony, Kviff, architect, stage designer, and director.

Michal Caban, in an email interview, told THR about the duo’s inspirations,...

When asked to picture a black-tie opening ceremony for a big film festival, you will likely think of immaculately dressed people clapping and enjoying glasses of wine or champagne before or after the show. You will also likely imagine a comedic monologue and laughter filling the event venue.

What you might not picture is flames, ice skaters on stage or dancers flying through the air. But those are exactly the kind of wild action scenes that the opening ceremony of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) in the Czech Republic has become known for.

What has been called Central Europe’s biggest cinema party of the summer pulls out all the stops to ensure that the audience in the crowded oval-shaped cinema hall of the Hotel Thermal, which can accommodate up to around 1,150 guests, is on the edge of their seats and ready to burst into thunderous applause and cheers.

Blood and gore was the theme of the opening night of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, devised by brothers Michael and Simon Caban. The aim was to evoke gothic films from the silent era - accompanied by the ranks of the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra. On stage, left, is Festival President Jiří Bartoška. Photo: Richard Mowe With a healthy dollop of blood and gore in a horror film pastiche filled with writhing female forms and a grim reaper with an axe plus a sweetness and light romantic comedy as the opening choice, the 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival launched itself in a traditionally eclectic style.

Uma Thurman - another Crystal Globe honoree at the opening of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Photo: Richard Mowe The rocky horror show was devised by the brothers Caban (Michael and Simon) with a strong influence from Gothic silent movies all washed...