THE APEX TIMES
Harvey Keitel tells Karlovy Vary festival that film and arts can “cure our biases”
In an interview during his third visit to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the veteran actor said film festivals provide an “aesthetic force” to change culture, and he discussed learning about identity through performance.
Harvey Keitel said in a recent interview that film, and the festival circuit that brings artists and audiences together, can help societies “cure our biases” and become “human beings instead,” linking the arts to cultural change amid what he described as a tumultuous global moment.
Keitel made the remarks during his third trip to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, The Hollywood Reporter reported. The festival, now in its double anniversary edition, is running through July 11, according to the interview account, and Keitel spoke on Sunday as Karlovy Vary’s 60th edition played out in its 80th year.
In the conversation, Keitel said the arts offer something beyond “words alone” when it comes to changing culture. He attributed the framing to Aristotle, describing film and other arts as an “aesthetic force,” and he pointed to major international festivals as places where artists “can come and show their wares” and share perspectives on life.
Keitel also argued that acting and theater can be personally instructive, describing performance as a way to learn about oneself through art. He said he broadened his understanding of identity when he became involved in the New York theater scene, where he encountered people of different beliefs.
The veteran actor said he has not directed a film, according to the same interview, and he discussed practical guidance for actors as he talked about what he looks for in stories and performances. The interview also addressed his current creative work, including a project he said he is developing with his wife.
Beyond his individual remarks, Keitel’s comments place festival programming and public discourse at the center of how the film industry frames its social role. By emphasizing bias, cultural difference, and the prospect of peaceful coexistence, he tied the festival experience to the broader question of whether the arts can influence how people talk about identity and conflict.
With Karlovy Vary still underway as of the interview, the remarks arrive during a period when festivals are simultaneously competing for attention and functioning as platforms for new films, press coverage, and industry networking, giving Keitel’s statements a direct connection to this year’s on-site public programming.
Why It Matters
- The comments underscore how high-profile artists participating in major festivals use those platforms to address public issues such as bias and cultural understanding.
- By tying change to festival-based “aesthetic force,” Keitel’s remarks reflect the industry’s ongoing effort to position film as more than entertainment during a period of heightened international tensions.
- Keitel’s focus on self-knowledge through acting speaks to how performers and casting audiences discuss identity, community, and representation in film.
- If Keitel’s project with his wife advances, festival visibility and press coverage during Karlovy Vary can affect how quickly industry partners learn about and assess new work.
- The interview’s discussion of leadership in film creation, including his decision not to direct, highlights distinct career pathways in a medium where roles behind the camera shape production and costs.
Key Facts
- Harvey Keitel made remarks in an interview during his third visit to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
- Keitel said “words alone are not enough to change a culture,” arguing that film and the arts provide an “aesthetic force” and quoting Aristotle to frame that view.
- He described film festivals as a place where artists can share how they feel about life with people, naming festivals such as Karlovy Vary, Cannes, and Tribeca in the interview account.
- Keitel said acting can help people learn about themselves, and he discussed how joining New York theater exposed him to people with different beliefs.
- The Hollywood Reporter reported that Keitel said he is working on a film with his wife.
- The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival was described in the interview report as running through July 11.