55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

The 55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival took place from August 20 to August 28, 2021, in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

A total of 144 films were presented at the festival, including 29 world premieres, twelve international and two European premieres. Serbian-French-Luxembourgish-Bulgarian-Lithuanian co-produced film As Far as I Can Walk won the Crystal Globe. The festival paid tributes to Jan Svěrák and Martin Scorsese's The Film Foundation.

Juries
The following were appointed as the juries at the 55th edition:

Crystal Globe Jury
 * Eva Mulvad (Denmark)
 * Marta Nieradkiewicz (Poland)
 * Christos Nikou (Greece)
 * Christoph Terhechte (Germany)

FIPRESCI Jury
 * Birgit Beumers (United Kingdom)
 * Eirik Bull (Norway)
 * Adéla Mrázová (Czech Republic)

East of the West
 * Alise Ģelze (Latvia)
 * Atanas Georgiev (North Macedonia)
 * Michal Hogenauer (Czech Republic)
 * Tonia Mishiali (Cyprus)
 * Ariel Schweitzer (France)

The Ecumenical Jury
 * Pierre-Auguste Henry (France)
 * Angelika Obert (Germany)
 * Joel Ruml (Czech Republic)

FEDEORA Jury
 * Natascha Drubek-Meyer (Germany)
 * Mihai Fulger (Romania)
 * Nino Kovačić (Croatia)

Europa Cinemas Label Jury
 * Linda Arbanová (Czech Republic)
 * Erika Borsos (Hungary)
 * Gregor Janežič (Slovenia)

Crystal Globe

 * Highlighted title and dagger (†) indicates Crystal Globe winner.
 * Highlighted title and double-dagger (‡) indicates Special Jury Prize winner.

East of the West

 * Highlighted title and dagger (†) indicates East of the West winner.
 * Highlighted title and double-dagger (‡) indicates East of the West Special Jury Prize winner.

Awards
The following awards were presented at the 55th edition:

Official selection awards
Grand Prix – Crystal Globe
 * As Far as I Can Walk by Stefan Arsenijević

Special Jury Prize
 * Every Single Minute by Erika Hníková

Best Director
 * Dietrich Brüggemann for Nö

Best Actress
 * Éléonore Loiselle for Wars

Best Actor
 * Ibrahim Koma for As Far as I Can Walk

Special Jury Mention
 * The Staffroom by Sonja Tarokić
 * Vinette Robinson for her performance in Boiling Point
 * Jelena Stanković for cinematography in As Far as I Can Walk

Other statutory awards
East of the West Grand Prix
 * Nuucha by Vladimir Munkuev

East of the West Special Jury Prize
 * Sisterhood by Dina Duma

East of the West Special Jury Mention
 * Intensive Life Unit by Adéla Komrzý

Právo Audience Award
 * Zátopek by David Ondříček

Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema
 * Michael Caine (Great Britain)

Festival President's Award for Contribution to Czech Cinematography
 * Jan Svěrák (Czech Republic)

Festival President's Award
 * Ethan Hawke (United States)

Non-statutory awards
Award of International Film Critics (FIPRESCI)
 * The Exam by Shawkat Amin Korki

The Ecumenical Jury Award
 * As Far as I Can Walk by Stefan Arsenijević

Ecumenical Jury Commendation
 * The Staffroom by Sonja Tarokić

FEDEORA Award
 * Otar's Death by Ioseb "Soso" Bliadze

FEDEORA Jury Special Mention
 * Intensive Life Unit by Adéla Komrzý

Europa Cinemas Label Award
 * As Far as I Can Walk by Stefan Arsenijević