Jiri Bartoska Death and Obituary – Jiri Bartoska, a distinguished Czech actor and the long-standing president of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, has died at the age of 78. A festival spokesperson confirmed his passing, noting that Bartoska had been battling cancer for the past 11 years. His death marks the end of an era in Czech cinema and international film festival culture.
Born in Decin, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) in 1947, Bartoska began his acting journey in local theatre in Brno before moving to Prague in 1978 for a residency. His film career began at age 28 with Hriste (1976), and he rose to fame with the role of hunter Sokol in Jan Schmidt’s prehistoric trilogy Settlement of Crows, On the Big River, and Call of the Tribe. He went on to star in over 70 productions across film and television, establishing himself as one of the Czech Republic’s most respected performers.
Bartoska was appointed president of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in 1994, at a pivotal time when the festival was transitioning back to an annual event after previously alternating with the Moscow Film Festival. In collaboration with artistic director Eva Zaoralova (1994–2010) and later Karel Och (2010–present), Bartoska transformed Karlovy Vary into a premier destination on the global film festival circuit. Under his leadership, the festival attracted cinematic talents from both Eastern and Western Europe and welcomed global stars including Michael Douglas, Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro, and Russell Crowe.
Remarkably, Bartoska combined his festival leadership with a continuing acting career. In 1998, he appeared in Sekal Has to Die, which premiered at Karlovy Vary and earned him a Czech Lion nomination for best supporting actor. The film won 11 Czech Lions in total. He followed this with a role in All My Loved Ones (1999), portraying a violinist in a moving World War II drama. His performance earned him a Czech Lion for best supporting actor.
Beyond film, Bartoska also had a strong presence in television, appearing in series such as The Ambulance (1984) and A Perfect Scoundrel (1994). He remained a central figure at Karlovy Vary throughout his presidency, known for his charismatic opening speeches and warm rapport with festival-goers. His likeness even adorned festival merchandise, becoming a beloved symbol of the event.
In recognition of his significant contributions to Czech arts and culture, Bartoska received an honorary Czech Lion award in 2017 and the Czech Republic’s Medal of Merit (First Class) in 2023 from President Petr Pavel. He is survived by his wife Andrea Bartoskova and their children, Katerina and Janek.
The Karlovy Vary Film Festival has paid tribute by blacking out its social media profile and posting a photo of Bartoska with a black heart. The 59th edition of the festival will take place from July 4–12, 2025, and is expected to honor his memory.
