Watched by an audience that included a group of HFPA members, Golden Globe winner John Travolta received another Globe when he was presented with the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival for Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema. One of the oldest film festivals in the world, KVIFF is considered throughout the industry as a kind of bridge between western and eastern cinema.

The  annual event is held in the spa town of the same name, known for its geothermal hot springs and located in the northwest corner of the Czech Republic. This year the jury was headed by Agnieszka Holland, the well-known Polish director who studied in Prague in the late 1960’s.

  “Being an actor is such an interesting journey,” said Travolta. “We are asked to reflect humanity, mankind. It is our own personal interpretation of that. It does not mean you are going to agree with that or even like it. I’ve said it before – to be or not to be. I am glad that you allow me to be.”

  The presentation was followed by the opening night film, Michel Gondry’s Mood Indigo. But on Day 2, Travolta was back on stage, first to introduce an open air screening of Grease to more than 2,200 eager film fans, many of whom are students who annually camp out to attend this event, and laterg to introduce the premiere of his new film Killing Season, a psychological thriller/action/anti-war story in which he stars with Robert DeNiro.

 The festival features Master Classes with visiting filmmakers, including Oliver Stone, who received a lifetime achievement honor.