Russell Crowe is coming to the 2023 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

He may or may not appear as an official guest, but Hollywood star Russell Crowe (of L.A. Confidential, Gladiator, and most recently The Pope’s Exorcist fame) will be in town during the 2023 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which kicks off in the Czech spa town from June 30.

The actor scooped festival media by announcing his visit personally through social media. Crowe has confirmed that he’ll be in Karlovy Vary on opening night, June 30, as part of his “Indoor Garden Party” tour along with his band The Gentlemen Barbers and American singer Marcia Hines.

Given that the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has not officially announced Crowe’s attendance, the star may just coincidentally be in town during the festival’s opening night. It would seem likely, however, that Crowe would take part in the festival’s opening ceremony, and perhaps even be awarded one of the festival’s main awards.

Each year, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival hands out a pair of awards at the opening and closing ceremonies to internationally-acclaimed guests. Crowe might as well pick up a Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema while he’s in town. Other recent recipients have included Geoffrey Rush last year and Michael Caine and Johnny Depp in 2021.

Perhaps the actor would even bring one of his new films to the festival; his behind-the-scenes horror movie The Georgetown Project and Aussie actioner Land of Bad are both slated for release this summer.

Russell Crowe’s Indoor Garden Party is, as Crowe himself describes, “an event, a band, a happening. The personnel changes, but it’s always big, like a festival where I gather people I admire, musicians and storytellers, and we put on a show.” The show will reportedly include both musical performances and storytelling interludes from the actor.

Before appearing in Karlovy Vary on June 30, Crowe will bring his Indoor Garden Party to Malta on June 17 and Catanzaro, Italy on June 20, where he’ll have a chance to treat locals to the flavorful Italian accent he employed in The Pope’s Exorcist.

Location, tickets, and further details about Russell Crowe’s Indoor Garden Party event in Karlovy Vary on June 30 have yet to be revealed.

Last year, Crowe was named Rome’s “Ambassador to the World” by mayor Roberto Gualtieri. He was also named GQ’s Global Icon of the Year, but refused service at a Japanese restaurant in Melbourne in February for not wearing the correct attire.

This year’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will be held in the Czech spa town from June 30 through July 8. A detailed schedule and other international guests for this year’s festival have yet to be announced, but festival organizers revealed the first look at the 2023 KVIFF earlier last week.