Andy Garcia received aCrystal Globe award for Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema at the openingceremonies of the 41st Karlovy Vary International Film.

The festival will see theEuropean premiere of Garcia's directorial debut, The Lost City, about a family torn apart by the communistrevolution in Cuba. Garcia's own family fled the island when he was five.

With a nod to his host's ownexperiences living under communism, Garcia told the ceremony audience, "I can't think of a better place to share something that I'm a part of and a movie thatI consider my life's work."

The opening ceremonyconcluded with the world premiere of Kim Ki-Duk's Time. The Korean director said little by way ofintroduction to the film but instead made only "tick-tock" noises into themicrophone.

International guests andsuch Czech dignitaries as President Vaclav Klaus, attended the festival'sopening ceremony at the Hotel Thermal.

Klaus is to meet Saturdaywith Czech film-makers who are seeking to revive efforts to increase statesupport for their industry.

In May, the Czech parliamentfailed to override a presidential veto of a measure that would have increasedthe size of the state fund for cinematography from the current $3m to at least$9.6m a year.

Local industryrepresentatives will also meet with politicians from the parties that appearlikely to form the next Czech government following elections in early June.