In precisely two months, Piešťany will host the jubilee 20th Cinematik International Film Festival. The meticulously compiled programme will feature a multitude of hot new releases, Slovak premieres, and festival pre-premieres. Organisers are promising one of the absolute best programmes in the festival's entire history, with over 100 films. The first category of discounted accreditations sold out in an incredible 50 seconds.
“A great deal has changed in twenty years. We started as a five-day event with 58 films. Many might not even remember that digital copies didn't exist back then – films arrived on 35mm reels, weighed around 40 kg and were delivered to us by couriers from all over Europe. We interpreted them directly in the screening room into „boxes“ that viewers borrowed at the entrance. Today's technical standard of projections and the way films are distributed are on a completely different level. But much more has changed – the ARTA community centre was established, the old Power Plant was renovated, thus expanding our projection possibilities. And we also managed to revive the square in front of the House of Arts, where our beloved Cinematik Lounge now stands with discussions and other events.” says festival director Tomáš Klenovský.
The 20th edition of the Cinematik International Film Festival will take place this year from 10th to 15th September. The six-day programme will, as is tradition, be packed with the very best of new films that have garnered applause and awards at prestigious international festivals in Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Venice, Berlin, as well as the currently ongoing festival in Karlovy Vary, over the past few months. These films will also be screened by Cinematik in Slovakia's largest cinema hall – at the House of Arts, with its unique atmosphere that transforms a cinema visit into an exceptional experience.
„Twenty years is a milestone we are proud of. The festival was founded with a vision to build a platform for quality film, dialogue and free thinking. Today we can say that this vision has been fulfilled. We have created a community that believes in the power of cinema.“ remarked the festival's artistic director Vladimír Štric.
Visitors to the 20th Cinematik festival will be able to see high-quality films by European creators in the main competition section. Meeting Point Europe. The selection of the best European films from the past year was compiled by a large international jury composed of fourteen critics who collaborate with the festival throughout the year. This is the highest quality selection of European cinema in Slovakia.
The extensive festival selection of the very best will be presented by audience-favourite sections Roads of glory a Other Spaces, focused on works presented at major film festivals and are the result of a demanding programming selection. As the only festival in Slovakia, Cinematik will present the big three – this year's Cannes winner, as well as the Grand Prix and the Jury Prize. However, these will not be the only major programme highlights of this year's edition.
Further exceptional film experiences will be brought by the section Under the magnifying glass, which this year focuses on exceptionally successful contemporary British cinema. The meticulous curatorial selection, focusing on storytelling innovation and the originality of film language, was handled by British director and screenwriter Peter Strickland.
In connection with the review of previous years, a special section dedicated to award-winning film directors throughout the festival's history will also await viewers. This section, titled Respect 20, will present the latest films from the big names of European cinema.
Visitors to Cinematik can also expect exceptional films in the traditional midnight section Beyond the Cult, domestic documentary film competition Cinematic.doc and several other sections. Organisers will gradually unveil the detailed festival programme, which inevitably includes a rich industry programme, discussions and lectures, over the coming weeks.