Festivals In Germany

Changing of the guard at Karlovy Vary festival

Zaoralova had just been feted by the collected members of the Czech press last year and won the Medal of Merit from the Czech president for helping rebuild what had become a lackluster fest fraught with politics. Although Karlovy Vary has a long and star-studded history, having been founded in 1946, it had been deeply compromised under the pre-Velvet Revolution regime, which at one point took to holding it in Moscow in alternate years.

Och joined the fest in 2001 and established his rep by curating Karlovy Vary's documentary sections and tributes, and scouting groundbreaking pics from abroad. As a result, Zaoralova considered the 37-year-old Vysocina native her natural heir apparent.

The new a.d. similarly credits his mentor for helping lead a young team of four main programmers who travel the globe all year.

The principal goal in finding the 200-plus films for Karlovy Vary remains the same, says Och. "Every festival tries to -- and I'm not going to be different -- discover a new talent. Every film is at least a European premiere."

The pool of possibilities consists of no fewer than "all the promising young filmmakers from Eastern Europe," says Och. He adds that he'd also like to see "some unusual animation from Poland, some genre crossover … (and) hopefully a really interesting Czech film (as a) world premiere."

Building a kind of brand loyalty is also in the brief, he adds. "It's not difficult to get someone to come once, but it's difficult to get them to come twice."

Audiences will detect a consolidation of sections this year, with the sidebar previously dedicated to pics from Cannes, Open Eyes, now blended into existing sections such as Horizons or Another View.

Meanwhile, such restored classics as "Taxi Driver" will no longer screen under the title Treasures From the Archives. They'll screen under the hipper moniker Out of the Past.

The fest's educational component is also a priority, Och says, taking evident pride in exposing young Czechs -- and many foreign film vets -- to the work of pioneers they likely have rarely seen on the bigscreen.

Travel Snapshots: Famous Festivals to Experience When Visiting Germany

Carnival, also called the “Fifth Season” in Germany, is a festival celebrated throughout the many regions of Germany. Each region’s celebrations are unique to the area. Carneval begins six days prior to the fasting period of the Lenten season which begins with Ash Wednesday. This time is used to celebrate with feasting, parades and floats, dancing in the streets and costume balls. The most popular parade is the televised Rose Monday Parade in Cologne. Oktoberfest is an enormous two week beer festival held in Munich, Germany. Starting in late September until the first Sunday in October, this world famous celebration offers amusement rides, parades with brass bands and delicious Bavarian cuisine. Beer tents are everywhere! Oktoberfest is a colorful and exciting extravaganza. Last 2010 marked the 200th anniversary of its beginning. This popular German tradition annually hosts over 6 million visitors worldwide on the more than 100 acres Theresienwiese. All ages enjoy Oktoberfest! International film lovers flock to Berlin every year for the International Film Festival. Over 400 films, with many premiers, from around the world are highlighted during the Berlin International Film Festival. Known as Berlinale, this is one of the most important European film festivals, besides Cannes and Venice. Over 200,000 people attend the star-studded parties and special events annually. If you love movies, this is one festival you do not want to miss. Located at Potsdamer Platz, it is easy to get there using the subway/metro. A free shuttle bus is also offered. Would you love to be part of a huge mass of music lovers dancing in the streets? Love Parade is an enormous dance party held in July in Berlin, Germany. DJs from around the world come together to participate in this all-nighter. Get plenty of sleep before the party because this is one weekend where you will not want to miss a thing. Local nightclubs and restaurants stay open all night. Not for the fainthearted, however, the Love Parade has been known to get wild!

Festivals in Germany, Bayreuth Festival, Oktoberfest, Ard International Music Competition, Landshut Wedding, Festspiele Balver Hhle

Rock Festivals in Germany, Southside Festival, Jägermeister Music Tour, Live Earth Concert, Hamburg, Rock Hard Festival, United Metal Maniacs

Jazz Festivals in Germany, Jazz Baltica, Jazz Baltica 2009, MSrs Festival, Viersen Jazz Festival, Jazzfest Berlin

Germany, the culture

Film Festivals in Germany, Berlin International Film Festival