Art Film Fest\u2019s International Competition of Feature Films presents the latest works of world-class filmmakers. Their films vie for Blue Angels in four different categories \u2013 Best Film, Best Director, Best Female Performance and Best Male Performance. Between 15 and 23 June 2018, Ko\u0161ice\u2019s cinemas will be screening a total of 13 in-competition titles.<\/p>\n
Customs agent Lara and African immigrant Adja\u2019s paths first cross at an Icelandic airport, later in a small town. Despite their cultural differences and uncertain goals in life, an unusual bond forms between the two. Presenting a clear-eyed perspective on the local social impacts of the refugee crisis, And Breathe Normally<\/strong> (Andi\u00f0<\/em> e\u00f0<\/em>lilega, 2018) is coming to Ko\u0161ice with Sundance\u2019s Directing Award in tow.<\/p>\n What Will People Say<\/strong> (Hva vil folk si, 2017) is the coming-of-age tale of 16-year-old Nisha. The Oslo-born daughter of Pakistani immigrants lives a double life \u2013 by day she is her parents’ modest daughter; by night she paints the town red with her friends. But when her father discovers her charade, he makes a drastic decision to protect her from life’s dangers.<\/p>\n In Butterflies <\/strong>(Kelebekler, 2018), a trio of Turkish siblings set out on a bizarre journey to their native village to see their father. Upon arriving, the frustrated astronaut with no practical experience, sickly voice actor and mentally unstable teacher learn that their father has just passed away, leaving a dying wish concerning his funeral. Their encounters with bizarre representatives of the village community are peppered with black humour and the occasional exploding chicken. The film won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.<\/p>\n The gritty, yet enchanting When the Trees Fall<\/strong> (Koly padajut dereva, 2018) tells the story of Larysa, who lives in an old-world village idyll, one which she would gladly escape from. Ideally with her beloved Scar. He, however, gets mixed up with the criminal underworld. Then there is little Vitka, who rejects he predetermined upbringing and sets adrift into the dreams and surreal images of her personal fantasy world.<\/p>\n The delicate, moving Land <\/strong>(2018) chronicles the hardships of a Native American family from the Prairie Wolf reservation after their youngest son is killed in action in Afghanistan. From that point on they find themselves confronted with the US government\u2019s absurd set of rules regarding the repatriation of his body, eventually coming to realize what is truly important to them and their tribe.<\/p>\n The Polish film Nina<\/strong> (2018) is a portrait of a strong yet confused woman trapped somewhere between the roles of wife and daughter. Nina and her husband Wojtek\u2019s attempts to have a child have failed, and their 20-year-long marriage is going nowhere. When they meet a young woman, Magda, they decide to propose that she become a surrogate mother for their child. But things get complicated when Nina grows attracted to the free-thinking Magda.<\/p>\n The Last Self-Portrait <\/strong>(2018) is Slovak documentarian Marek Kubo\u0161\u2019s latest film, an unconventional act of self-reflection. Using his finished but unreleased work, he presents a singular, honest confession about why he is considering ending his film career. For answers to his less-than-simple questions, he looks to fellow filmmakers, as well as to figures outside his field.<\/p>\n Gripping psychological thriller The Guilty <\/strong>(Den Skyldige, 2018) unfolds in real time, using a handful of actors, a simple setting and an ingenious script to create an effect of constantly escalating tension. At a Copenhagen police station, officer Asger is working the night shift, handling calls with evident disinterest \u2013 until he receives one from a young woman who, in a panic, says she has been kidnapped. The film captivated audiences at Sundance and Rotterdam, where it won the Audience Award.<\/p>\n Soldiers. Story from Ferentari<\/strong> (Soldati. Poveste din Ferentari, 2017) is the story of an odd couple \u2013 the introverted anthropologist Ali and the Roma ex-con Alberto, who meet in Ferentari, one of Bucharest\u2019s poorest neighbourhoods. Ali intends to write a paper on the musical genre manele<\/em>, a facet of local culture dominated by the mafia. Alberto wants to help the young man, but their romance complicates everything.<\/p>\n Fresh from its successful premiere at this year\u2019s Cannes Film Festival, The Load<\/strong> (Teret, 2018) is based on shocking recent history. In 1999, during the NATO bombing campaign of Serbia, lorry driver Vlada has to travel from Kosovo to Belgrade carrying an unidentified consignment. As he moves through the dismal landscape, he realizes that he will have to reckon with the consequences of his actions when the war ends.<\/p>\n The protagonist of Oblivion Verses<\/strong> (Los Versos del Olvido, 2017) is the elderly caretaker of a remote mortuary. Following nearby civil unrest, he discovers the body of an unidentified young woman, and despite imminent danger, he embarks on a magical odyssey, intent on giving her a proper burial. Upon its premiere at Venice, the film was honoured with the Best Screenplay award and the FIPRESCI Prize.<\/p>\n At Cannes this year, international critics gave the FIPRESCI Award for best debut to the film One Day<\/strong> (Egy nap, 2018). 40-something Anna\u2019s life is a juggling act of responsibilities \u2013 the household, her job, dealing with financial woes… But she almost never sees her husband. She sees that she’s losing him, while also realizing that she can\u2019t always predict the future.<\/p>\n The poetic tale Crush My Heart <\/strong>(Zerchlag mein Herz, 2018) is reminiscent of a lucid dream. In the outskirts of Vienna, Roma mafia man Rocky rules his \u201cfamily\u201d with an iron fist. He son Pepe falls in love with Slovak girl Marcela, who comes to work off her father\u2019s debt. But instead of accepting her into his \u201cfamily\u201d, Rocky has something altogether different in mind for her. Screened in its world premiere, Crush My Heart<\/strong> is the debut film of Ko\u0161ice-born Austrian director Alexandra Makarov\u00e1.<\/p>\n The 26th Art Film Fest is being held in Ko\u0161ice from 15 to 23 June 2018. The full programme, as well as the opportunity to reserve seats at screenings via the MyCinepass system, can be found at the festival website.<\/p>\n Organizers:<\/strong> ART FILM FEST s.r.o., FORZA, a.s. General sponsor:\u00a0<\/b>Slovensk\u00e1 elektriza\u010dn\u00e1 prenosov\u00e1 s\u00fastava, a.s.<\/p>\n Main partners:<\/strong> Tipos; Transpetrol; V\u00fdchodoslovensk\u00e1 energetika \u2013 a member of Innogy; Slovnaft; Nad\u00e1cia SPP Art Film Fest\u2019s International Competition of Feature Films presents the latest works of world-class filmmakers. Their","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9353,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,17,27],"tags":[110],"class_list":["post-11445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-films","category-news","category-press-news","tag-aff2018"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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\nCo-organizers:<\/strong> The City of Ko\u0161ice, K13, the Ko\u0161ice Self-governing Region
\nThe festival is held under the auspices of<\/strong> the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic.
\nFinancial support:<\/strong> The Audiovisual Fund
\nThe festival is made possible by the financial support of<\/strong> the Ko\u0161ice Self-governing Region.<\/p>\n
\nOfficial festival automobile:<\/strong> MOTOR – CAR Ko\u0161ice, Official festival hotel:<\/strong> Hotel Yasmin
\nFestival logistics partner:<\/strong> DHL Express Slovakia, Official festival transport provider:<\/strong> Czech Airlines
\nSponsors:<\/strong> NOVIS Insurance Company, Slovak Business Agency, Keramon, Kino \u00dasmev, Taba\u010dka Kulturfabrik, \u017delezni\u010dn\u00e1 spolo\u010dnos\u0165 Slovensko, Aupark, Pan-European University, Film Europe Media Company, Omnia 2000, Omnia KLF, Omnia Holding SE, LGM, CPK Slovakia
\nOfficial suppliers:<\/strong> Barzzuz, Pilsner Urquell, NOV s.r.o. Zebra, Tuli, Lyvina, Grand Bari Budi\u0161
\nMain media partners:<\/strong> TVJOJ, Kinos\u00e1la, JOJ Cinema, Nov\u00fd \u010cas, Aktuality.sk
\nMedia partners:<\/strong> \u010ceskoslovensko Channel, Festival Cinema Channel, R\u00e1dio Expres, R\u00e1dio Ko\u0161ice, SME, Korz\u00e1r, Forbes, Kam do mesta, webnoviny.sk, Bigmedia, Home media, Codes, Ko\u0161ice City Guide, Film.sk, www.kinecko.com
\nPartners:<\/strong> Autocont, Pension Horse Inn, Teledom, Carpano, KPK Reklama, Podnikate\u013eka Slovenska, Ko\u0161ice Region Tourism, Sli.do, Slovak Film Institute, Esterle&Esterle, Kinoservis, NeoDCP, EKKL, Mihyring – motoristick\u00fd are\u00e1l, ElevArt, Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic, Visit Ko\u0161ice, BigON, ECOHolding, GOSH<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"