The A-list rendez-vous for, in and about Eastern Europe and Eastern European film has announced the first titles that will be part of its 2007 edition. Running between June 29 and July 7, the 42nd Karlovy Vary Film Festival will take place in the Czech spa town of the same name (perhaps better known abroad as Karlsbad). Four competition titles have been announced so far, including the Korean Podo-namulul Be-a-ra (Pruning the Grapevine) from Min Boung-hun and three European titles. From the Czech Republic: the local hit Vratné lahve (Empties), the new film from the Oscar-winning father-and-son duo Jan and Zdenek Sverák (Kolja/Kolya). From Poland: Plac Zbawiciela (Saviour Square), the new film from Polish director Krzysztof Krauze, who went home a tripple winner at the 2005 Karlovy Vary Film Festival for his painter biopic Mój Nikifor (My Nikifor). They will be joined by the new Russian film Prostye veshchi (Simple Things) from director Alexei Popogrebsky, one of the co-directors of 2003 critical hit Koktebel.

Further announced European titles playing in sidebars in Karlovy Vary include Svobodnie planie (Free Floating) from Russian director Boris Khlebnikov, the other co-director of Koktebel; the documentary 4 Elements from Dutch-German director Jiska Rickels; Czech film Pravidla lži from Robert Sedláček; François Ozon's colourful melodrama Angel; Ivan Vyrypaev's Russian drama Ejforija (Euphoria); Sam Garbarski's European co-production Irina Palm starring Marianne Faithful; Foreldrar (Parents) from Icelandic director Ragnar Bragason and Ex Drummer from Flemish director Koen Mortier. Fritt vilt (Cold Prey) from Norway's Roat Uthaug will be playing as part of the Midnight Screenings. Special programmes include retrospectives of the Shochiku Nouvelle Vague and the New Hollywood of the 1970s, a tribute to Czech animator Bretislav Pojar, a tribute to US director William Wyler and a Focus on New Italian Directors.