Slovak actresses alongside Jude Law in Art Film Fest premiere

For Slovak actresses Lucia Siposová and Gabriela Marcinková, it was the pinnacle of their careers to date: performing onscreen with stars like Jude Law and Anthony Hopkins in an opening picture for a prestigious film festival. And at the upcoming Art Film Fest, they will appear in the Slovak premiere of the very same world-spanning film – 360.

Directed by the respected Fernando Meirelles, creator of the famed City of God, the film is doubtlessly one of the most attractive pictures in the Art Film Fest’s European Corner section.
 
”Aside from its gripping plot and appealing presentation, the film is notable for its inclusion of Slovak actresses among icons such as Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins and Rachel Weisz. And in the introduction, even Bratislava herself makes a brief appearance,” says section programmer and Art Film Fest’s director Peter Nágel.

With its mosaic-like storyline, 360 is an exploration of sexual behaviour, depicting a shadowy affair playing out across various continents, airport concourses and anonymous bars and hotels, devoid of any semblance of romance. The plot is propelled by themes of betrayal, inequality, sexism and the growing gap between the rich and the poor.

In Vienna, a cascade of tortuous twists is set in motion by a liaison between a British businessman and a young Slovak prostitute, played by none other than Lucia Siposová, whose several gutsy scenes in the film include one with Jude Law. Gabriela Marcinková, a student at Bratislava’s Academy of Performing Arts, appears alongside Russian star Vladimir Vdovichenkov.

The world-famous director Fernando Meirelles insisted that the two sisters – Anna and Mirka from Bratislava – should be played by actual Slovaks, and after a successful audition the two Slovak actresses were cast in this co-production between the United Kingdom, Austria, France and Brazil.

“Since it was my first experience working on an international project, I was very nervous on set. But the entire crew did their best to make me feel relaxed, something I deeply appreciated. The work and the atmosphere were wonderful,” said Marcinková, who introduced the film with her colleagues at the opening of the well-known London Film Festival.
 
“It was an enormous career opportunity and an incredible experience. I’m very grateful to have appeared in such a star-studded film," added Siposová.

Art Film Fest 2012 – the 20th International Trenčianske Teplice/Trenčín Film Festival
The festival is held under the auspices of Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico.

Organizers: ART FILM, n.o., FORZA, a.s.

Co-organizers: The Town of Trenčianske Teplice, the City of Trenčín, Kúpele Trenčianske Teplice

Financial Support: The Audiovisual Fund

General Sponsors: KOOPERATIVA poisťovňa Vienna Insurance Group, Privatbanka

Main Sponsors: Omnia Holding SE, Slovnaft, AquaCity Poprad, Hydrotour Travel Agency

Official Transport Provider: Lancia

Logistics Sponsor: DHL

Student cinepasses for only €5 provided by Prvá stavebná sporiteľňa, a. s.

Sponsors: TIPOS, Slovak Telekom, Penzión Baske, Cinemax, Forza CZ, Omnia Motors, Omnia 2000, DOMO Omnia, Omnia KLF

Official Suppliers: Moët, Hotel Pax – the festival spa hotel, NAY Elektrodom, Esterle&Esterle, LampART, Stredná odborná škola polygrafická

Main Media Sponsors: Radio and Television of Slovakia, Pravda, Rádio FM, zoznam.sk

Media Sponsors: TA 3, TV JOJ, Film Europe Channel, Central Europe Television, Rádio Europa 2, .týždeň, Eurotelevízia, Pardon, OK!, Kinečko, Kam do mesta, Focus, GONG SK, Boomerang Media, SITA tlačová agentúra, Pay-Per Vision Media, euroAWK, Bittner-print, moviemania.sk, filmneweurope.com

Partners: The Trenčín Self-governing Region, the European Commission Representation in Slovakia, the Slovak Film Institute, Celtima SK, Hotel Flóra, the Bratislava Culture and Information Centre