Robert Richardson Receives Karlovy Vary’s Crystal Globe, Presented by Harvey Keitel

The 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival honored cinematographer Robert Richardson on Sunday, naming him the recipient of the festival’s highest accolade, the Crystal Globe for outstanding artistic contributions to world cinema. The award marked the festival’s 80th year and was presented during the Grand Hall at Hotel Thermal in Karlovy Vary, where Richardson was met with a standing ovation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Richardson, a three-time Oscar winner, was described by the outlet as being known in part as “The White Devil,” a nickname tied to his long white hair and his reputation for relentless pursuit of cinematic perfection. He arrived at the ceremony and later took the stage after the award presentation, as festival attendees gathered for what the report characterized as a red-carpet moment for a widely recognized figure in international filmmaking.

When Richardson addressed the crowd, he said he was not an actor, and he appeared with a piece of paper, which he referenced during his remarks. He used the award moment to reflect on the festival environment, saying that he looks out over “the streets here” and sees “so many people” and “so many young people,” and he framed the Crystal Globe as representing a “singular future.”

Richardson said he believes the festival’s role includes spotlighting films that audiences “rarely see,” and he described those works as holding “art form” value. He also connected the honor to broader distribution hopes for smaller productions, saying he was looking toward a future in which “more countries can be reached through streaming or whatever at no cost for everyone to be able to see what we cannot see.”

Harvey Keitel, the Hollywood actor and director, delivered the Crystal Globe to Richardson, according to the report. Keitel was introduced as the person handing Richardson the festival’s top honor, aligning two internationally known film figures at the Czech event’s 80th-year celebration.

The Hollywood Reporter also characterized Richardson’s own praise as directed at both the award and Keitel, describing his remarks as highlighting appreciation for the recognition and for the film community represented by Keitel. Richardson’s statements emphasized the festival’s audience and youth draw, and his comments pointed to expanding access to a wider range of films.

With the presentation completed at Karlovy Vary, the focus for festival-goers shifts back to screenings and the broader award season around the Crystal Globe program. The remarks also underline how festival honors can function as a platform for creators to discuss distribution, access, and the future of film viewership beyond traditional release pathways.