Dame Judi Dench honoured at Czech film festival

Dame Judi Dench with Karlovy Vary film festival president Jiri Bartoska. Photo © KVIFF

Veteran British actress Dame Judi Dench is to be honoured by the Karlovy Vary film festival as the annual event gets underway in the Czech Republic.

The 76-year-old Oscar winner is in the picturesque spa city to introduce the opening night film, a new adaptation of Jane Eyre, in which she appears.

Dench will receive the Crystal Globe award for her outstanding contribution to world cinema at a ceremony later.

John Turturro will also be feted at the festival, which runs until 9 July.

The US actor, star of Barton Fink and the Transformers films, will receive the event's President award.

A jury, led by Hungarian director Istvan Szabo, will decide which of 12 movies will receive a Crystal Globe next week.

The festival, renowned for its relaxed atmosphere, has been running since 1946.

This latest honour is one of several that Dame Judi - known to millions for her role as M in the James Bond films - has accepted recently.

Last month, she received a fellowship from the British Film Institute and was given the Freedom of the City of London.