Art Film Fest

Art Film Fest is an international film festival held annually in Slovakia (originally held in the resort town of Trenčianske Teplice, it later moved to Košice). Founded in 1993, it is the oldest international film festival in Slovakia. It was established shortly after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia and the establishment of the independent Slovak Republic.

The inaugural film festival in Trenčianske Teplice opened on June 14, 1993. It was a narrowly specialized film festival dedicated to short documentaries about art (hence the name, Art Film Fest) that was held under the patronage of UNESCO. Two years later, the festival’s organizers decided not to limit the festival to documentaries and widened its scope to include all films about art and artists. In 2016, Art Film Fest was relocated to Košice.

The main goal of Art Film Fest is to introduce the audience to high-quality films from around the world, give Slovak film lovers a chance to see critically acclaimed films that have received prestigious film festival awards, provide a platform for film industry professionals to exchange creative ideas and experience, and support the country’s film industry. The festival primarily showcases independent films.

Since 1995, Art Film Fest has been awarding the Actor’s Mission Award to recognize outstanding contribution to the art of acting. Past laureates include Franco Nero, Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Omar Shariff, Ornella Muti, Gina Lollobrigida, and others. Another lifetime achievement award presented at the festival is the Golden Camera Award given to outstanding directors. Notable winners include Andrzej Wajda and Roman Polanski.

Art Film Festival hosts the International Competition of Feature Films and the International Competition of Short Films. The feature film competition is open to first, second or third films by emerging filmmakers. The short film competition is open to fiction films, animated films and documentaries. The festival’s international jury chooses the winners of five awards: Blue Angel for Best Feature Film, Blue Angel for Best Director, Blue Angel for Best Female Performance, Blue Angel for Best Male Performance, and Blue Angel for Best Short Film.

Alongside competition screenings, the program of the festival includes special sections showcasing films from around the world. They include Be2Can Starter, European Corner, Love & Anarchy, Slovak Season, Around the World, Eastern Promises, Late Night Show, Actor’s Mission, and Golden Camera.