Treasure trove of stars and films to celebrate Art Film Fest’s 20th anniversary
Starting on Saturday, 16 June, fans of top-notch cinema from Slovakia and the world over will get a chance to see exclusive premieres of award-winners from prestigious festivals and domestic new releases at the international Art Film Fest. The cinematic marathon will last until 23 June in Trenčianske Teplice and Trenčín. This year, Art Film Fest will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of its founding.
“We’re very pleased that the festival has attained such an auspicious age. And I’m also happy to report that Art Film Fest has truly become a clearly identifiable and dependable stamp of quality,” said Art Film Fest’s director Peter Nágel.
Art Film Fest will host the casts and crews of numerous films screened this year, as well as awarding several Slovak and international personalities, so audiences can look forward to meeting stars and filmmakers personally. During the opening weekend the Actor’s Mission Award will be bestowed upon French actress Emmanuelle Béart, who will personally place a bronze plaque bearing her name in the Festival Park. The Golden Camera will go to Andrei Konchalovsky, one of the most distinguished directors in Russia (and Hollywood for that matter) and Dodo Šimončič, among Slovakia’s best-known cinematographers. Czech actor Miroslav Donutil will accept the Actor’s Mission Award on Wednesday, 20 June, and at Art Film Fest’s conclusion, Trenčianske Teplice will welcome world-renowned Oscar-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley. The festival’s finale will also see the last Golden Camera go to influential Slovak dramaturge and director Rudolf Urc. Each award winner will personally introduce screenings of their films at the festival’s cinemas.
159 cinematic specialities make up this year’s programme, and aside from films, festival visitors will also get to enjoy a concert every evening at Kursalon, the festival’s official café.
Highlights include Woody Allen’s hot-off-the-press comedy To Rome with Love. Art Film Fest’s exclusive screening will be the first to follow the film’s world premiere in its titular Italian city. Other prestigious entries include seven brand-new releases culled from the recent Cannes IFF, which will be given their Slovak premieres. First and foremost is Love, the winner of this year’s Palme d’Or, the second such honour for director Michael Haneke. From another Palme d’Or laureate, namely Romanian director Cristian Mungiu, Beyond the Hills was awarded at Cannes for best screenplay and best actress. Cosmopolis, the latest picture from award-winning Canadian director David Cronenberg, is also arriving fresh from Cannes’s main competition.
In the International Competition of Feature Films, the Blue Angel will go to one of 12 pictures bearing awards from top international festivals such as Sundance, Locarno and the Berlinale.
37 shorts from around the world, including several Oscar nominees, will vie for the Blue Angel for Best Short Film in the International Competition of Short Films.
And this year’s array of fascinating films will continue with sections like Around the World, European Corner, Czech Joy, Love and Anarchy, Eastern Promises, Focus: New British Cinema and Late Night Show. Slovak Season will offer audiences domestic new releases, including Marek Ťapák’s Dancing on Broken Glass, Juraj Krasnohorský’s Tigers in the City and Old Souls’ Day from director Stanislav Párnický, as well as Marek Šulík and Jana Bučková’s remarkable Roma-focused documentary Bells of Happiness.
The programme will be topped off by the thematic section Leaving the Cinema, presented on the occasion of Art Film Fest’s 20th anniversary.
The section is an homage to the classic cinemas and 35 mm celluloid projectors that, with the rapid adoption of digital technology, will be history before we know it.
As mentioned above, visitors will also be treated to an abundant variety of musical performances. Trenčianske Teplice’s Kursalon will feature live music every evening, hosted by versatile musician Oskar Rózsa. Festival screenings will be held in Trenčianske Teplice at Prameň Cinema, the Cinema Tent and the Spa Hall, as well as in Trenčín at ArtKino Metro, two auditoriums at Cinemax and the Cinematograph on the city’s main square.
Art Film Fest 2012 – the 20th International Trenčianske Teplice/Trenčín Film Festival
The festival is held under the auspices of Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico.
Organizers: ART FILM, n.o., FORZA, a.s.
Co-organizers: The Town of Trenčianske Teplice, the City of Trenčín, Kúpele Trenčianske Teplice
Financial Support: The Audiovisual Fund
General Sponsors: KOOPERATIVA poisťovňa Vienna Insurance Group, Privatbanka
Main Sponsors: Omnia Holding SE, Slovnaft, AquaCity Poprad, Hydrotour Travel Agency
Official Transport Provider: Lancia
Logistics Sponsor: DHL
Student cinepasses for only €5 provided by Prvá stavebná sporiteľňa, a. s.
Sponsors: TIPOS, Slovak Telekom, Penzión Baske, Cinemax, Forza CZ, Omnia Motors, Omnia 2000, DOMO Omnia, Omnia KLF
Official Suppliers: značka Moët, Hotel Pax – the festival spa hotel, NAY Elektrodom, Esterle&Esterle, MF team, LampART, Stredná odborná škola polygrafická
Main Media Sponsors: Slovak Radio and Television, Pravda, Rádio FM, zoznam.sk
Media Sponsors: TA 3, TV JOJ, Film Europe Channel, Central Europe Television, Rádio Europa 2, .týždeň, Eurotelevízia, Pardon, OK!, Kinečko, Kam do mesta, Focus, GONG SK, Boomerang Media, SITA News Agency, Pay-Per Vision Media, euroAWK, Bittner-print, moviemania.sk, filmneweurope.com
Partners: The Trenčín Self-governing Region, the European Commission Representation in Slovakia, the Slovak Film Institute, the Embassy of Israel in Slovakia, CzechTourism, Celtima SK, Hotel Flóra, KURSALON, versity, the Bratislava Culture and Information Centre, Hollywood Classic Entertainment, Niagara, Magic Box Slovakia, the Italian Cultural Institute in Bratislava, Istituto Luce – Cinecittá, Character – Film Development Association
