Strong presence of Slovak Cinema in Cannes 2008

Press Release SFI (May 7, 2008)                            

For the 5th time, Slovak Republic will be represented at one of the most prestigious international film markets the Marché du Film, which takes place within the 61. IFF Cannes 2008 (May 14 – 25, 2008). An extraordinary element of the 5th anniversary of the Slovak representation is undoubtedly the selection of the Slovak film Blind Loves by Juraj Lehotský to the 40th edition of the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs/Directors’ Fortnight. In addition, for the second time the Slovak Film Institute sends out a representative to the Producers on the Move. One of the 22 participants of international selection of young perspective producers is Marko Škop, Artileria, among others the producer of Blind Loves.

The Cannes Film Festival together with the Marché du Film represent the most important events and meeting points for the film industry. For 5th time, Slovak cinematography will take part in the film market within the joint Czech Republic – Slovak Republic Pavilion, no. 103 at the Village International. The Slovak part of the Pavilion is organized by the Slovak Film Institute (SFI) in co-operation with the Slovak Audiovisual Producers Association (SAPA) with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Slovak Republic, and will again this year serve as an information centre about Slovak audiovisual industry to foreign film professionals. Most of the up-to-date Slovak films on DVD, materials to the films, information about projects in development and production, publications in English, etc. will be at disposal for film professionals. At the same time, the Pavilion will serve as a place of meetings between Slovak representatives in Cannes and producers, representatives of international festivals, and with other film professionals. Last but not least, updated catalogue Slovak Films 2006 – 2008 will be presented, which includes the latest information about Slovak film releases and a guide to the Slovak film industry.
On the occasion of promoting the Slovak film culture and film industry and within the participation at IFF and Marché du Film Cannes, the material was published by SFI in co-operation with SAPA.

Slovak cinema will participate this year in the festival program as well. Film Directors' Society included the feature documentary by Juraj Lehotský Blind Loves to the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs/Directors’ Fortnight section. This section is a part of IFF Cannes since 1969 and from its establishment it has been working to discover new talents of world´s cinema. In 1969 the film Markéta Lazarová by František Vláčil was introduced in this section and in 1971 it was Juraj Jakubisko’s Birdies, Orphans and Fools to represent Slovak cinematography of then Czechoslovakia. Blind Loves being introduced in Cannes in its international premiere is thereby the first Slovak film, introduced in Cannes after 37 years. „I am happy that the effort of my friends and at the authors - František Krähenbiel (editor), Marek Leščák (screenwriter), Juraj Chlpík (DOP), the producers Janko Meliš and Marko Škop and of many others - was acknowledged by participating in such a world-wide known festival,“ said the director of Blind Loves Juraj Lehotský. The festival’s selection committee selected Blind Loves as the only documentary film in the section from more than 2000 films. „Maybe they acknowledged something that is different and what isn’t commonly seen, however, it is amazing they noticed us. I feel that people in Slovakia like the film and I am looking forward to experience the reactions a of a foreign audience,“ said Lehotský.

The screening of Blind Love at 61st IFF Cannes will be attended and celebrated by the delegation of authors, the director Juraj Lehotský, František Krähenbiel (editor), Marek Leščák (screenwriter), Juraj Chlpík (DOP), the producers Janko Meliš and Marko Škop. „Juraj’s film makes me happy on its own and the fact, that we’re in Cannes, is above all the credit to all of the authors, who worked on it. I would like to thank also Alexandra Strelkova and Peter Dubecky of Slovak Film Institute for support and the right festival diplomacy,“ Marko Škop, the producer said, regarding the participation of the film at IFF Cannes.

Thanks to the membership of the Slovak Film Institute in European Film Promotion (EFP), for the second time, Slovakia will take part in Producers on the Move, which focuses at the presentation of young ambitious producers of each EFP member country.
Marko Škop, the producer of Blind Loves, will represent young Slovak producers´ community.
Before his journey to Cannes he does not lose his a sober attitude: „It is generally good to meet new people, to breathe fresh air and to see things from a different perspective. In the last two years I attended all the significant documentary festivals and markets and I learned a lot. The „red-carpet“ Cannes, however, is a different type of event. I think in a high degree it will be about glamour, I am very curios, what will go on, though.“ The Producers on the Move project presents the most promising talents of single European countries. On one hand it eases finding „new blood“ of the film industry to companies, on the other hand it provides an exclusive space to young producers to present their work and to establish valuable business contacts.
The participation of the Slovak representative in the project is supported by the ČSOB Financial group Award, which was granted for the first time during the International Film Festival Febiofest 2008.

The Slovak participation at Marché du Film in Cannes has become an important part of its presentation abroad. The common Pavilion of the Slovak and Czech Republics, has met with great response of the Slovak and professional public as well as foreign visitors of the film market in the last few years.

Slovak Contact to the Pavilion 103 during Marché du Film in Cannes 2008:
Alexandra Strelková, director of National Cinematographic Centre of SFI
Czech Republic – Slovak Republic, Pavilion No. 103, Village International
email: cinecentresfu.sk, Cell. : +33 (0) 637 679 858

Organisers of the Pavilion 103 Czech Republic – Slovak Republic:
Slovak Film Institute, Slovak Audiovisual Producers Association
Czech Film Centre, Czech Film Chamber

Partners of the Pavilion:
Kofola, a.s., Víno Topoľčianky, Segafredo (CZ), Hlava (CZ)

Current up-to-date information about the Pavilion and .pdf versions of materials are available at www.aic.sk and www.sfu.sk. The materials are available at the National Cinematographic Centre in the SFI building on Grosslingova Str. in Bratislava as well.

For more information about 61st IFF Cannes and Marché du Film 2008 at: www.festival-cannes.fr, www.marchedufilm.com.
More information about Quinzaine des Réalisateurs/Directors’ Fortnight section are available at http://www.quinzaine-realisateurs.com/
and the homepage of European Film Promotion is www.efp-online.com 

press contact: Katarína Lednická, tel.: +421 907 723 971,+421 2 57 10 15 26, fax: 52 73 32 14, lednickasfu.sk