Press release
\n14 June 2018, Bratislava<\/p>\n
The 26th edition of the Art Film Fest International Film Festival begins this very Friday in Ko\u0161ice. The nine-day cinema celebration will surely appeal to every film lover thanks to its enticing programme, featuring films awarded at international festivals, major blockbusters and even brand-new titles making their world premieres on Ko\u0161ice\u2019s silver screens.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are pleased to see that the festival is expanding.<\/em> In addition to its home in Ko\u0161ice, this year\u2019s edition is making a sojourn to Spi\u0161sk\u00e1 Nov\u00e1 Ves with four screenings, which will serve as a testing ground for the festival\u2019s potential further expansion into other towns of East Slovakia.<\/em> Art Film Fest is the largest and most-frequented film festival in Slovakia, with a one-of-a-kind selection of international and Slovak cinema,\u201d <\/em>says the event\u2019s artistic director, Peter N\u00e1gel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n N\u00e1gel\u2019s mention of the latest cinematic releases is confirmed by Art Film Fest\u2019s multiple premieres of titles never before screened. Among them is The Last Self-Portrait<\/strong> (2017), Slovak director Marek Kubo\u0161\u2019s unique confessional look at his own life, exploring the liminal space between documentary and fiction. The film is among those competing for the Blue Angel in the International Competition of Feature Films.<\/p>\n The International Competition of Short Films will include the premiere of the Slovak\/Portuguese short Fight<\/strong> (2018). In it, director Eva Kri\u017ekov\u00e1 observes a fight between two people, Andrea and Joao, that appears to be their only way to achieve intimacy. The audience listens in on their thoughts about relationships and solitude, asking whether all of us fight against one another or at each other\u2019s side.<\/p>\n An autograph signing with cast and crew will precede the premiere of Slovak\/Czech thriller Intimate Enemy<\/strong> (2018) from director Karel Jan\u00e1k, screened as part of the section Slovak Season. Starring Vojt\u011bch Dyk and Gabriela Marcinkov\u00e1, the film looks at what happens when an AI-equipped home begins to turn on, and even threaten, the young couple who occupy it.<\/p>\n The life of controversial mountaineer Pavel Pochyl\u00fd is portrayed in the documentary The Spider<\/strong> (2018), also featured in the Slovak film section. Director \u013dubom\u00edr Slivka captures the various facets of the complicated man, surrounded by myth and legend, who overcame all the Tatras’ most significant challenges.<\/p>\n A premiere cinematic screening also awaits three episodes of the original television series Constructing Slovakia<\/strong> (2018), Bibiana Be\u0148ov\u00e1\u2019s look at Slovakia\u2019s various industrial landmarks, including Jan Anton\u00edn Ba\u0165a\u2019s footwear factory in Partiz\u00e1nske, the arms factory in Dubnica nad V\u00e1hom and Bratislava\u2019s winter harbour.<\/p>\n In another festival exclusive, three episodes of the upcoming series Ex-Prime Ministers<\/strong> (2018) look at former Slovak leaders Milan \u010ci\u010d, J\u00e1n \u010carnogursk\u00fd, Mikul\u00e1\u0161 Dzurinda and their legacy from the perspectives of recent graduates of Bratislava’s Academy of Performing Arts. In three of the series\u2019s six auteur documentaries, the young filmmakers aim to offer a fresh, unencumbered view of these figures and their times. Art Film Fest\u2019s audiences will have the unique opportunity to see these \u201cworks in progress\u201d from a series that has yet to be completed.<\/p>\n The festival will also be awarding several distinguished filmmakers and performers. During the opening ceremony, the Golden Camera<\/strong>, recognizing filmmakers for their extraordinary contributions to international film, will go to director Agnieszka Holland<\/strong>, Golden Globe laureate and two-time Oscar nominee, as well as Russian director Alexei German Jr.<\/strong>, winner of numerous awards at festival of note.<\/p>\n With the Actor’s Mission Award<\/strong>, the festival acknowledges major figures of screen acting; this year’s first recipient is Zuzana Maur\u00e9ry<\/strong>, who will accept the award this Saturday, 16 June 2018. One week later, Art Film Fest will also present the award to Czech actress Ivana Ch\u00fdlkov\u00e1<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Festival President’s Award will be granted to Fero Feni\u010d<\/strong> \u2013 director, founder of the studio Febio and the film festival Febiofest, as well as a native of East Slovakia, specifically of Ni\u017en\u00e1 \u0160ebastov\u00e1, not far from Pre\u0161ov.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pleased that the 26th Art Film Fest will be recognizing these particular figures.<\/em> These five distinguished filmmakers and actresses represent a variety of generations and means of expression, but their contributions to European cinema are impossible to ignore,\u201d <\/em>adds Peter N\u00e1gel.<\/p>\n Many more guests, an accompanying programme full of discussions, a talk show, exhibitions and concerts, and of course over 200 films \u2013 all this and more awaits at the 26th edition of Slovakia\u2019s biggest film festival. In cooperation with Slovak Rail, there will also be a special cinema carriage screening selected films on trains from Bratislava to Ko\u0161ice and back. The cinema carriage will be running throughout the festival, its programme available for passengers to enjoy from Friday, 15 June to Saturday, 23 June 2018.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Press release 14 June 2018, Bratislava The 26th edition of the Art Film Fest International Film Festival begins this very