Film devotees will have the chance to sample the cream of the world’s cinematic crop at the nineteenth annual Art Film Fest, held from June 17\u201325 in Tren\u010dianske Teplice and Tren\u010d\u00edn. Our Around the World<\/b> section will feature exclusive Slovak premieres of extraordinary discoveries from outside Europe, bearing awards from prestigious festivals.<\/p>\n
Art Film Fest\u2019s cinemas will be the first to screen the critically acclaimed Oscar nominee "Rabbit Hole<\/b>", starring Nicole Kidman<\/b>, whose performance earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress<\/b>. Directed by John Cameron Mitchell and premiered to high praise at the Toronto IFF, the film tells the story of parents Becca and Howie, whose lives are radically altered when their four-year-old son dies in a car accident. The couple struggles to come to terms with their loss, going so far as to contact Jason, the young student who killed their son. They begin to discuss Jason\u2019s alternate-universe theory, which forms the basis of his comics and helps the couple deal with their grief.<\/p>\n
Director Asghar Farhadi\u2019s \u201cA Separation<\/b>" (Jodaeiye Nader az Simin) is the first Iranian film to win the Berlinale’s Golden Bear<\/b>, as well as the Silver Bear for four of its performers<\/b>, while at home in Tehran it received seven national awards, including those for best film, director, screenplay and cinematography. The film tells the story of Nader and Simin, a fourteen-year-strong couple who are raising their eleven-year-old daughter Temeh. Simin yearns to leave the country, as she doesn’t like the idea of Simin growing up there. But her husband Nader disagrees, unwilling to leave his Alzheimer\u2019s-afflicted father. When Nader absolutely refuses to leave, Simin files for divorce. And from there on, their predicament only gets thornier\u2026 This realistic drama addresses serious themes and provides a relatively rare glimpse of Iranian society.<\/p>\n
Which brings us to another very different emotional family drama, this time from Israel: "The Human Resources Manager<\/b>" from esteemed Israeli director Eran Riklis. Recipient of Locarno\u2019s Audience Award<\/b>, several Israeli prizes and Israel\u2019s national Oscar candidate<\/b>, the tragicomedy stars Mark Ivanir, an Israeli actor active in Hollywood, as the titular \u201cManager\u201d. His life leaves much to be desired: he is separated from his wife, estranged from his daughter, and most of all, he hates his job. After one of his company\u2019s foreign employees is killed in a bombing, he is sent to the victim\u2019s family in Romania to somehow patch things up. But as is the nature of such things, this journey to an unfamiliar country becomes a voyage of self-discovery.<\/p>\n
And now for something completely different, from noted Japanese director Naomi Kawase: \u201cGenpin<\/b>\u201d, a documentary that takes a gentle, level-headed look at natural childbirth and the bond between mother and child. The film focuses on the unorthodox Yoshimura Clinic, where the director spent a year observing.<\/p>\n
Providing further insight into Japanese culture, the section will also feature "Norwegian Wood<\/b>" (Noruwei no mori) from Franco-Vietnamese director Anh Hung Tran. The film is an adaptation of Haruki Murakami\u2019s bestselling novel, telling a story of romantic nostalgia, loss, and awakening sexuality. Toru, a quiet and withdrawn university student in Tokyo, reunites with his former schoolmate, the fragile Naoko. Marked by past tragedy, their relationship gradually deepens. At the same time Toru frequents wild late-night parties, where he meets the impulsive Midori. The young man ends up having to choose between two women, between passion and principle, future and past.
The film won the Asian Film Award for Best Cinematographer<\/b> and the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2011 Istanbul IFF<\/b>. <\/p>\n
\n
The 19th Art Film Fest International Film Festival 2011 in Tren\u010dianske Teplice and Tren\u010d\u00edn is made possible by the financial support of the Audiovisual Fund. <\/p>\n
Organizers: ART FILM, n.o., FORZA, a.s. <\/p>\n
Co-organizers: The town of Tren\u010dianske Teplice, the Tren\u010dianske Teplice Spas<\/p>\n
Main Sponsors: Tatra banka, Slovnaft, VUJE<\/p>\n
Official Transport Provider: Lancia <\/p>\n
Logistics Sponsor: DHL <\/p>\n
Free student Cinepasses provided by: Prv\u00e1 stavebn\u00e1 sporite\u013e\u0148a (First Housing-Construction Savings Bank) <\/p>\n
Sponsors: TIPOS, Ernst & Young, AVI studio, Cinemax <\/p>\n
Official Supplier: HUBERT J.E.<\/p>\n
Main Media Sponsors: Slovensk\u00e1 telev\u00edzia, R\u00e1dio FM, Pravda, zoznam.sk<\/p>\n
Media Sponsors: JOJ Television, Central Europe Television, Kino CS, Muzika CS, Doku CS, R\u00e1dio Europa 2, R\u00e1dio Hit FM, .t\u00fd\u017ede\u0148, Eurotelev\u00edzia, Pardon, FilmMax, OK!, Kam do mesta, Focus, Boomerang Media, SITA, moviemania.sk, BlueSky<\/p>\n
Sponsors: The City of Tren\u010d\u00edn, the Embassy of Israel in Slovakia, the European Commission Representation in Slovakia, the Slovak Film Institute<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Film devotees will have the chance to sample the cream of the world’s cinematic crop at the nineteenth annual Art