Dustin Hoffman, Maggie Gyllenhaal Receive Top Honors at Karlovy Vary Film Festival

Dustin Hoffman and Maggie Gyllenhaal were the marquee honorees at the opening night of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Hoffman accepted the festival's Crystal Globe for his contributions to world cinema, while Gyllenhaal received the President's Award during the black-tie celebration.

Who Else Attended the Opening?

Jesse Eisenberg and Harvey Keitel were among the stars who walked the expanded red carpet in the Czech spa town. The ceremony was emceed by Czech TV host Marek Eben.

What Did the Honorees Say?

In his acceptance speech, Hoffman reflected on his career and a past conversation with Robert Redford. He told the audience, "Decades ago, when I worked with Robert Redford when he was a young child of 65, Redford said to me: 'You never think about a body of work while you’re making movies, because you’re busy building the body.'" Hoffman, who turns 89 soon, expressed gratitude for a lifetime in film.

Gyllenhaal charmed the crowd with anecdotes from a study abroad semester in Prague, where she visited Karlovy Vary as a 19-year-old. She connected that formative experience to her eventual path as a director, quipping, "It took me a while to realize that that was a better job for me." The festival also holds a special place in her career, as she won a best actress award there in 2006 for Sherrybaby.

The opening ceremony featured a stage show tracing the festival's history and the unveiling of a new festival trailer starring Stellan Skarsgård.