Reminding us that there is more to life than money, the 20th Art Film Fest got off to a flying start on Saturday in Trenčianske Teplice and Trenčín. ”I’m thankful to be able to meet people at this festival who strive to reveal the essence of humanity. That’s the only thing we can truly pass on to future generations,” said world-renowned director Andrei Konchalovsky at the opening ceremony, shortly after receiving the festival’s Golden Camera award at Trenčianske Teplice’s Kursalon.
During the same ceremony, festival founder Peter Hledík presented another Golden Camera to prominent Slovak cinematographer Dodo Šimončič, and French actress Emmanuelle Béart accepted the Actor’s Mission Award in the form of a plaque, which she will personally place today in Trenčianske Teplice’s Festival Park. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the festival also screened a sneak preview of Woody Allen’s latest comedy To Rome with Love before its official opening.
Among the guests was Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who proclaimed the ART FILM FEST International Film Festival as Slovakia’s premiere celebration of cinema culture and one of its highest-quality brands.
ART FILM FEST’s programme this year includes seven brand-new releases culled from the recent Cannes IFF, in their exclusive Slovak premieres. In the International Competition of Feature Films, the Blue Angel will go to one of 12 pictures bearing awards from top international festivals such as Sundance, Locarno and the Berlinale. 37 shorts from around the world, including several Oscar nominees, will vie for the Blue Angel for Best Short Film in the International Competition of Short Films.
This year’s array of fascinating films will continue with sections like Around the World, European Corner, Czech Joy, Love and Anarchy, Eastern Promises, Focus: New British Cinema and Late Night Show.Slovak Season will offer audiences domestic new releases, including Marek Ťapák’s Dancing on Broken Glass, Juraj Krasnohorský’s Tigers in the City and Old Souls’ Day from director Stanislav Párnický, as well as Marek Šulík and Jana Bučková’s remarkable Roma-focused documentary Bells of Happiness.
And the programme will be topped off by the thematic section Leaving the Cinema, presented on the occasion of Art Film Fest’s 20th anniversary. The section is an homage to the classic cinemas and 35 mm celluloid projectors that, with the rapid adoption of digital technology, will be history before we know it.
Visitors will also be treated to an abundant variety of musical performances. Trenčianske Teplice’s Kursalon will feature live music every evening, hosted by versatile musician Oskar Rózsa. Festival screenings will be held in Trenčianske Teplice at Prameň Cinema, the Cinema Tent and the Spa Hall, as well as in Trenčín at ArtKino Metro, two auditoriums at Cinemax and the Cinematograph on the city’s main square. The festival runs until 23 June.
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: značka Moët, Hotel Pax – the festival spa hotel, NAY Elektrodom, Esterle&Esterle, MF team, LampART, Stredná odborná škola polygrafická
Main Media Sponsors: Slovak Radio and Television, 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 News Agency, 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, the Embassy of Israel in Slovakia, CzechTourism, Celtima SK, Hotel Flóra, KURSALON, versity, the Bratislava Culture and Information Centre, Hollywood Classic Entertainment, Niagara, Magic Box Slovakia, the Italian Cultural Institute in Bratislava, Istituto Luce – Cinecittá, Character – Film Development Association
