The 30th jubilee edition of the Art Film IFF – the largest and oldest film festival in Slovakia – began yesterday with a festive opening ceremony at Kunsthalle in Košice. On this occasion, both the guests and the organizers recalled the previous 29th editions. The first one took place in Trenčianske Teplice in 1993.
Meanwhile the festival has developed and grown. In 2016, its home moved to the metropolis of the Eastern Slovakia – the city of Košice. Here, the organisers had found the best conditions for the festival to shape it into today’s Art Film IFF. The once intimate display of documentary films that were screened only in one cinema hall has grown into the form in which we know it today.
The Chairman of the Košice Self-Governing Region Rastislav Trnka reminded the guests during the evening that Košice is truly a film city and the proof of this is the virtual film trail, thanks to which visitors can get to know up to 80 locations that have appeared in 50 Slovak and foreign films.
The Mayor of Košice, Jaroslav Polaček, also expressed his support for Art Film in his speech: “Thirty years is really a long time, but the city of Košice wants to guarantee that the festival continues for another ten years based on a new contract. Help, strength and endurance are attributes that remind us that we must protect this festival.”
The Art Film IFF has always been attended by acting and directing legends such as Sophia Loren, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Gérard Depardieu, Roman Polanski and Juraj Jakubisko, who have received honorary awards such as the Actor’s Mission and the Golden Camera. Yesterday, two other important personalities of Slovak and world cinema received the Golden Camera award.
One of the awardees is Slovak director Miloslav Luther, who this year released his most recent feature film, The Dormant Account: “It is a great honour for me! This award also belongs to my dear colleagues whom I have come to know over the years. I would like to leave a legacy to my followers: As you face various offers, opportunities and temptations, think that one day you will ask your conscience what you have done and what you have failed to do. I wish you that the failures are as few as possible.”
The Golden Camera Award was also received by the prominent Romanian director Cristi Puiu, one of the founders of the Romanian New Wave: “I’m not good at speeches. I just want to say a few words. I don’t know exactly what my contribution to the world of film is, but I do know that my parents have had a big influence on who I am today, and that’s why I dedicate this award to them.”
During the gala evening, the organisers honoured the memory of Milan Lasica, the actor and to this day the only president of Art Film, who was awarded the honorary Actor’s Mission award last year. A tribute was also paid to Ctibor Bachratý, Art Film’s senior photographer, who has been with the festival since its beginnings. As part of the accompanying program, visitors will have the opportunity to see a selection exhibition of his festival photos.
The opening ceremony has kicked off one of the biggest film events in our country. Košice is the Slovak capital of film these days, as the Art Film IFF 2024 will bring a number of exclusive film premieres, expert lectures, masterclasses and a rich accompanying program.
The 30th edition of the International Film Festival Art Film will take place thanks to the support of:
Organiser: ART FILM FEST s.r.o.;
Co-organizers: City of Košice, K13 – Košice cultural centers, ART FILM FEST, n.o., LGM, s.r.o., FORLIVE;
The festival was financially supported by: Audiovisual Fund
The festival is co-financed by the Košice self-governing region from the Terra Incognita program;
Senior advertising partner: Slovenská elektrizačná prenosová sústava, a.s.;
Main partners: Národná lotériová spoločnosť TIPOS, Východoslovenská energetika, EUK-Force, SPP, CODES Brand House;
Automotive partner: PORSCHE; Official hotel: Hotel Yasmin;
Main media partners: TV JOJ, Pravda, Eurotelevízia;
Advertising partners: construction company Adefex, Jadrová a vyraďovacia spoločnosť, a.s., Best Press, U. S. Steel Košice, Betpres, Transpetrol, SLOVAKIA TRAVEL, ANTIK Telecom, Cinema Úsmev, CORE LABS, Lucka spring water;
Technological partners: NOV, ZEBRA, DELTA OnLine, ARICOMA, BigON;
Official contractors: DKC Veritas, Eastern Slovak Museum in Košice, Krušovice BOHÉM, BARZZUZ, DOMOS SLOVAKIA, Restaurant Contessa, Café Slávia; Official wine: Kubbo Select and Ostrožovič;
Media partners: JOJ PLAY, JOJ 24, Film Europe, Rádio KOŠICE, aktuality.sk, Forbes, Korzár, Slovenka, SITA, TASR, See & Go, BigMedia, Košice City Guide, Film.sk, Visit Košice, diva.sk, zenskyweb.sk, MOJAkultúra;
Partners: Východoslovenská vodárenská spoločnosť, Nadácia CEF, Slovnaft, AUPARK Košice, Carmeuse Slovakia, JOJ Cinema, Hydrotour travel agency, Taper, YumEarth, KAIFER advokátska kancelária s.r.o., Deva, WITKOWITZ SLOVAKIA, Košice Airport, ECO Technologies, CPK Slovakia, Casa Trade – Casablanca cafe, DC MEDICAL, KPK Reklama, Kvitok, HAIR Factory Košice, Kvety Garomi, Air Taxi, Tesco Stores SR, a.s.;
Financial awards partners: CANON, Filmarina;
Catering partners: Ohnisko – Fire Dining & Brew Bar, Pub u kohúta, El Nacional, Maiko Sushi, Café de Paris, Tabačka Kulturfabrik; BISTRO Blanc, Andiamo GROUP, BENZE; Red Velvet Cake Bar; Tahiti, Café Veritas
