The 31st edition of the International Film Festival Art Film\u2014the largest and oldest film festival in Slovakia\u2014officially began with a celebratory opening ceremony. During the event, host Bruno Ciberej introduced the members of four international juries who will decide the new recipients of the Blue Angel awards. The highest representatives of the Ko\u0161ice Self-Governing Region and the City of Ko\u0161ice also greeted the audience from the stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a great honor for me to stand here, and I want to thank all the organizers and you, the viewers, who have come to escape reality with a good film. There are many stars and film heroes here today. We often identify with their stories because we experience what they do, yet we never receive awards ourselves. Today, however, we celebrate two award-winning personalities, Milan Ondr\u00edk and Daniela Kol\u00e1\u0159ov\u00e1, whose success we wholeheartedly applaud,\u201d<\/em> said Rastislav Trnka<\/strong>, Chairman of the Ko\u0161ice Self-Governing Region, addressing the guests.<\/p>\n Ko\u0161ice Mayor Jaroslav Pola\u010dek<\/strong> also reminisced: \u201cI remember my first speech at my first festival, and I recall, for example, conversations with Mr. Milan Lasica. Those are beautiful memories. Art Film has always brought something wonderful. I am very happy that the festival will remain here in Ko\u0161ice for at least the next ten years.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n As is tradition, the gala evening also featured the presentation of the festival\u2019s honorary awards. For the very first time, the Milan Lasica Award was presented. With it, the organizers wish to permanently commemorate the festival\u2019s first and only president, awarding it posthumously to significant figures in Slovak cinema. Hana Lasicov\u00e1, together with her daughters Stela and Ester, presented the award to the family of the legendary Ivan Mistr\u00edk, whose unfinished 90th birthday is being commemorated this year. In her thanks, his niece Zuzana Mistr\u00edkov\u00e1<\/strong> noted: \u201cIvan was a member of almost every Slovak family. I feel that everyone who saw him on stage or screen loved him because his acting gave characters a human dimension. I\u2019m glad that his art still lives and resonates, even though Ivan has not been with us for some time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Actor Milan Ondr\u00edk received the Actor\u2019s Mission award in Ko\u0161ice\u2019s Kunsthalle from actress Jana O\u013ehov\u00e1 and director Marko \u0160kop.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to say thank you. Thank you for the fact that films are being made in Slovakia. A line from Shakespeare comes to mind\u2026 \u2018We value not what we have while we possess it; but when we lose it, we are desperate and vainly search for the treasure we once scorned.\u2019 I\u2019m grateful that we still live in a democratic country, that we live in a country without war, that I have a family, a home, and food to eat. Thank you very much,\u201d<\/em> Milan Ondr\u00edk<\/strong> said from the stage.<\/p>\n At the close of the opening ceremony, the festival\u2019s artistic director Martin Pal\u00fach<\/strong> presented the opening film\u2014a domestic premiere of a new work by director Rastislav Boro\u0161, previously screened at several international festivals\u2014accompanied by the largest film delegation in festival history, including almost the entire cast (Milan Ondr\u00edk among them) and other crew members.<\/p>\n Dozens of representatives from cultural and public life attended the opening ceremony, including Marek Majesk\u00fd with his wife, Milan Kolc\u00fan with his wife, Sonja Kop\u010danov\u00e1, Jana Voz\u00e1rov\u00e1, Celeste Buckingham, and many others.<\/p>\n The 31st IFF Art Film 2025 in Ko\u0161ice will run from 20 to 27 June, offering 136 films across seventeen competitive and non-competitive program sections, as well as numerous accompanying events for film professionals and the general public. For more information about the program, visit iffartfilm.com or aff.cinepass.sk.<\/p>\n\n\t\t