Johnny Depp receives warm welcome at Karlovy Vary film festival

Hundreds of people waited for hours outside the Thermal Hotel on Friday for the official arrival of actor, producer, and musician Johnny Depp on the red carpet at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

Depp appeared at about 2 p.m., greeted people, gave dozens signatures, and seemed to enjoy the cheering from the crowd. The actor showed the same enthusiasm when presenting his new film, Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan, with other members of the crew including director Julien Temple.

According to CTK sources, the esplanade by the hotel was even more crowded for Depp's arrival than during the opening of the festival. People were standing on the stairs and ledges of the houses on the opposite side of the Tepla River; some even sat on the railings alongside the river.

Girls and women were the most vocal fans of Depp in the crowd. The actor gave an impression of modesty, and without any hesitation he signed photos, cinema tickets, and other items for fans by the red carpet.

Some fans in the crowd were costumes from Depp's most famous roles, such as Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean and The Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland.

Afterwards, Depp introduced the documentary film Crock of Gold, which follows musician and poet Shane MacGowan, frontman for the Anglo-Irish Celtic punk band The Pogues.

Depp has been a long-time friend of MacGowan. Along with Depp, MacGowan's wife Victoria Clarke, director Julien Temple, and producer Stephen Deuters came to Karlovy Vary to present the documentary.

Before the screening and to the amusement of the audience and Depp himself, Temple called Depp the 'King of Bohemians'.

In addition to Friday's screening, Depp will also introduce his new film Minimata on Saturday, a drama in which he plays the main role.

Depp has been nominated for an Academy Award three times, and won the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild prize for Best Actor. He has also won 14 People's Choice Awards presented by film fans.