The Karlovy Vary festival regularly acquaints its viewers with American independent movies and new acting talents; it was here, after all, that the teenage Leonardo DiCaprio, Scarlett Johansson and Keira Knightley got one of their first breaks. This year, the very young Thomasin McKenzie made her way to Karlovy Vary with the film Leave No Trace. “Good morning, I am happy to be here with you in Karlovy Vary,” the eighteen-year-old actress from New Zealand read a greeting to the audience in Czech.
After praising the beauty of Karlovy Vary, the actress characterized the filming of the drama about an independent and rebellious young woman as the high point of her life and then read a message from direct Debra Grannik, who couldn’t attend because of the US premiere of the movie. „The Karlovy Vary film festival is close to my heart, thanks to its diverse programming. I was here a few years ago and it greatly inspired me,” read part of the message by the director, who also directed the successful drama Winter’s Bone, which launched the career of actress Jennifer Lawrence.
