The Karlovy VaryInternational Film Festival (July 1-9) has lined up tributes to Sam Peckinpah,Guy Maddin and Japanese animation director Kihachiro Kawamoto for its 2005edition.

Kawamoto will celebrate his80th birthday at Karlovy Vary, the first international festival topresent a retrospective of his work. He is currently shooting a new feature, ShishaNo Sho, which the festival hopes toscreen.

The festival programme willinclude five films by Peckinpah as part of a tribute to the director: PatGarrett And Billy The Kid,The Wild Bunch, Ballad Of Cable Hogue, Straw Dogsand Bring Me the Head Of Alfredo Garcia.

The tribute to Guy Maddinwill be included in a focus on Canadian film, organised in cooperation withTelefilm Canada. The director and screenwriter's film The SaddestMusic In The World screened at lastyear's festival.

Non-competition sectionswill focus on experimental films; independent directors; Canadian, Czech andNorwegian cinema; and the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Karlovy Vary is the mostimportant Category 'A' international film festival in Central andEastern Europe.