KARLOVY VARY INTERNATIONAL
FILM FESTIVAL—JULY ’99

       “THE DOGWALKER” had its World Premiere on July 3 at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic. Screening at 10:30 on the evening of the second day of the festival, the theatre was packed with people sitting and standing in the aisles. Director Paul Duran, producer Vera Anderson and star Will Stewart all spoke before the film. Paul and Will even managed to speak a little Czech to the crowd of mostly young people and students who always flock to the festival from all across Europe.

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Dogwalker Poster

          The second scheduled screening was two days later and it sold out the 250 seat Richmond Theater almost as soon as tickets went on sale. The reception to the film was so phenomenal it prompted Daily Variety to write “The fest has seen its first breakout hit—director Paul Duran’s U.S. indie film “THE DOGWALKER,” here in its world preem. Demand for tickets has earned the pic a third screening in the 1,000-plus seat Great Hall.”
          With over 120 films screening at the 10 day event (including other popular favorites “GO” and “LOCK, STOCK, AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS”) and no advance written notice, the filmmakers (including Will’s mom, Alice) set out to spread the word, writing in the extra screening time on posters, putting up additional ones, handing out flyers and talking to everyone they could.

         At 8:45 on the day of the third screening, the filmmakers arrived at the Great Hall. A couple of sleepy people were slowly filtering in (parties don’t start until midnight and usually go until four in the morning). “Oh well,” thought director Duran, “We had a good run of it.” But he spoke too soon, because by the time the film started, the theater was jammed (1,150 tickets sold!), with more still coming in.
       Yet even with the high profile the film achieved, Duran still had to deal with a little post Communist-era mistaken-identity snafu as he was detained on his last day by festival security who thought he was an imposter with a fake badge. What does it take to get a little respect?

 Paul, Will, Vera and Alice in Karlovy Vary