Oscar-winning actor and producer Michael Douglas will return to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival next month to present a newly restored version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, marking the 50th anniversary of Miloš Forman‘s acclaimed drama that swept the Academy Awards in 1976.
The Oscar-winning producer will personally introduce the 1975 film at a special gala screening as part of the festival’s Out of the Past section. Douglas will be joined by fellow producer Paul Zaentz, nephew of the late co-producer Saul Zaentz, and members of Forman’s family for the July presentation.
The screening honors both the film’s milestone anniversary and Karlovy Vary’s historical connection to the production. Forman maintained a close relationship with the Czech festival throughout his career, and Douglas, Zaentz and co-star Danny DeVito have all received the festival’s Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema.
50th anniversary celebrates Historic Oscar sweep
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest made Academy Award history as only the second film to win all five major categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. The achievement placed it alongside 1934’s It Happened One Night in a select group of films to accomplish the rare “Big Five” sweep. 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs remains the only other film to win all five awards.
Douglas and Saul Zaentz won the Best Picture Oscar for their producing work, while Forman claimed Best Director honors. Jack Nicholson earned Best Actor for his portrayal of rebellious gambler Randle McMurphy, and Louise Fletcher won Best Actress for her performance as the authoritarian Nurse Ratched. Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman received the adapted screenplay award for their work based on Ken Kesey’s novel.
The film’s success marked a turning point in Forman’s career, establishing the Czech-born director as a major force in Hollywood cinema. The recognition paved the way for his subsequent international successes, including 1984’s Amadeus and 1996’s The People vs. Larry Flynt.
Set in a mental institution, the drama follows McMurphy’s defiance of institutional authority as he challenges the rigid system that confines patients. The story serves as a powerful examination of freedom versus control, themes that resonated with audiences and critics during the mid-1970s.
Festival celebrates long-standing connections
Douglas last visited Karlovy Vary in 1998, when he and Saul Zaentz received Crystal Globe honors from the festival. His return after 27 years underscores the enduring relationship between the festival and the film’s creative team.
“We are truly honored to present ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ on its 50th anniversary,” says KVIFF Executive Director Kryštof Mucha. “The presence of Michael Douglas, Paul Zaentz, and the Forman family will make this an unforgettable moment in the festival’s history.”
Saul Zaentz continued working with Forman after Cuckoo’s Nest, serving as producer on Amadeus and 2006’s Goya’s Ghosts. His additional producing credits also include acclaimed films such as The English Patient. His son Paul Zaentz would help produce the 1988 Prague-set Milan Kundera adaptation The Unbearable Lightness of Being and 1999’s The Talented Mr. Ripley; most recently, he produced the 2020 Netflix miniseries and Cuckoo’s Nest spinoff Ratched.
The festival’s decision to feature the restored version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest reflects the ongoing effort to preserve and present classic cinema to new audiences. The restoration work ensures that Forman’s vision will continue reaching viewers with enhanced technical quality while maintaining the artistic integrity of the original production.
Forman’s connection to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival extends beyond the Cuckoo’s Nest screening, representing a broader relationship between the festival and Czech filmmakers who achieved international recognition. His support of the festival throughout his career exemplified the cultural bridge between Czech cinema and Hollywood productions.
The July screening will mark one of the big moments for the 2025 festival, which will be the first following the death of longtime president Jiří Bartoška in May. Other special events at the year’s festival will include a tribute to 1940s Hollywood icon John Garfield, the presentation of a restored print of the Czech classic Ecce Homo Homolka, and the honoring of Czech editor Jiří Brožek, who will receive the Festival President’s Award.
Lead photo: Michael Douglas and Jiří Bartoška at the 1998 Karlovy Vary Film Festival courtesy KVIFF
