To mark the 50th anniversary of Miloš Forman’s Oscar-winning masterpiece One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will host a special screening of the newly restored classic. Honouring the Czech-born director’s legacy, Michael Douglas will return to the festival to present the film he co-produced.
Hollywood legend Michael Douglas will make a much-anticipated return to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) this summer to present a newly restored version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, marking the 50th anniversary of Miloš Forman’s Oscar-sweeping classic.
The screening will be held as part of the festival’s “Out of the Past” section, dedicated to landmark works of cinema. Douglas, who co-produced the 1975 masterpiece and received an Academy Award for Best Picture, will personally introduce the film at a special gala event. He will be joined by fellow producer Paul Zaentz—nephew of the late Saul Zaentz, with whom Douglas co-produced the film—as well as members of Forman’s family.
Forman, a long-time supporter of KVIFF, remains a towering figure in the festival’s history. Over the years, he, Douglas, Zaentz, and cast member Danny DeVito have all been honoured with the festival’s prestigious Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema.
“We are truly honoured to present One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest on its 50th anniversary,” said Kryštof Mucha, KVIFF’s Executive Director. “The presence of Michael Douglas, Paul Zaentz, and the Forman family will make this an unforgettable moment in the festival’s history.”
Adapted from Ken Kesey’s seminal novel, the film follows the rebellious Randle McMurphy—immortally portrayed by Jack Nicholson—whose defiance of institutional control in a psychiatric ward becomes a timeless allegory of freedom and resistance. The film not only marked a turning point in Forman’s career but also reshaped cinematic storytelling with its raw emotional force and ensemble performances.
Upon its release, Cuckoo’s Nest made Oscar history, becoming only the second film to win the “Big Five”: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Douglas’s last appearance at KVIFF dates back to 1998, when he and Saul Zaentz were jointly celebrated with Crystal Globes. Paul Zaentz, a key figure in the production of Forman’s Amadeus and Goya’s Ghosts, has also produced several acclaimed films, including The English Patient and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
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