The film tells of the adolescent boy Sebbe, who after his father’s death lives in a small flat with his mother. She drowns her grief in alcohol, and he puts up with her outbursts of aggression in silence, because she means the world to him. He can’t help her or even defend himself against his classmates’ bullying. His helplessness turns to desperation, culminating in an insane backlash. He truly had no intention to make a bomb. It just turned out that way… Sebbe was directed by Babak Najafi, who is originally from Iran, but has lived in Sweden for twelve years. He studied at the Dramatiska Institutet of Stockholm University’s College of Film, Radio, Television and Theatre. He has already created several short and documentary films, but Sebbe is his feature-length debut. The film captivated the jury at this year’s Berlinale, winning the award for Best Debut. “I wanted to tell a story about separation, an important feeling in my life and something 
very complex. I felt it was a good starting point for a story. […] Then, regarding the theme of poverty, I felt that most feature films I had seen were not dealing with this subject. When you live in Western Europe, you’re so comfortable in your life. You forget about – or don’t want to see – those on the wrong side of society, because it’s easier. I felt it was important to talk about it," said Babak Najafi in an interview with Cineuropa. For a higher degree of authenticity, the director entrusted the starring role to non-actor Sebastian Hiort, and along with Eva Melander, both give excellent performances. On Monday at 15:30 in Trenčín’s ODA Festival Cinema, the Argentinean film The Man Next Door (2009) will be presented by its star Rafael Spregelburd and producer Fernando Sokolowicz. Respected designer Leonardo (R. Spregelburd) lives with his family in an exclusive Le Corbusier house. But one day in the house next door, a car salesman named Victor moves in, who would like to remodel his new house according to his own needs and desires, and begins to bore a large window opening directly across from Leonardo’s view outside… The picture was directed by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprant, who have been in 
collaboration for ten years. They have worked in television and cinema, creating experimental productions awarded with numerous prizes. The Man Next Door is their third feature film. Both confess an admiration of architecture, which is reflected in the film. “When we chose the lead character’s occupation, we thought that an industrial designer would be the most functional choice. A sophisticated person who values design and sees his house as a work of art. This just elevates the damage provoked by his neighbor by opening a window on the dividing wall, which could give him a straight view into Leonardo’s abode. It could nearly be considered a desecration of the house,” said co-director Mariano Cohn in an interview with Remezcla. The Man Next Door won the cinematography award at this year’s Sundance. Photographs can be found at artfilmfest.sk in the Press section. The Art Film Fest International Film Festival Trenčianske Teplice/Trenčín is made possible through the financial support of the Audiovisual Fund and the European Union Programme MEDIA. Organizers: ART FILM, n. o., Forza, a. s. Co-organizers: the Town of Trenčianske Teplice, the City of Trenčín, the Trenčianske Teplice Health Spa General Sponsors: Dôvera Medical Insurance, AquaCity Poprad Main Sponsors: Tatra banka, Slovnaft, Veolia Voda – Central Slovakian Waterworks, OHL ŽS, Alison Slovakia Official Transport Provider: Lancia Logistics Sponsor: DHL; Free student cinepasses provided by: Prvá stavebná sporitelna (First Housing-Construction Savings Bank) Sponsor of the Slovak Season section: Zlatý Bažant; Sponsors: AVI Studio, Baske Guest House, Park Hotel na Baračke Official Suppliers: HUBERT J.E., Kláštorná, GS design, Philips, A Briliant Media Sponsors: Slovak Television, Markíza Television, FilmBox, CSTV, Central Europe Television, Rádio Europa 2, Rádio Hit FM, Pravda, .týždeň, Markíza, Pardon, Cinemax, Kam do mesta, zoznam.sk, Boomerang Media, SITA, euroAWK, superobed.sk
