This lively festival is memorable for taking place in a small Slovakian mountain spa town, with three cinemas sharing a tree filled park. The entries, which came from all over the world, were primarily divided into two categories, entitled 'Artefacts' and 'Art Fiction'. 'Artefacts' were short films, experimental in their use of digital reimaging, or with original story lines. 'Art Fiction' embraced features about art and artists, such as Love is the Devil portraying the life of Francis Bacon. The UK contribution also included Hilary and Jackie, and Little Voice.

Another group called 'On the Road' were short story films by young or first time directors, from Argentina, Russia, Israel, Cuba, Norway, Turkey, Finland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Northern Ireland was selected as being an area of special interest.

Peter Hledik, the festival director, very kindly spared me a breakfast time meeting, in which he emphasised his belief 'in film as art and as a form of dialogue between individuals and society'. Put like that it sounded rather grand, but in the little spa town of Teplice it was visibly happening. Enthusiastic local audiences were applauding films from very different cultures, and their response was particularly encouraging in the case of the Irish entries. Belfast based filmmakers seemed to have abandoned heavy political themes in favour of sensitive personal issues. Dance Lexie Dance, tells of a recently widowed father who gradually overcomes his religious resistance to allowing his small daughter to enter a dancing competition. The first part is sombre, but the ending is joyful. Jumpers is a black comedy, in which unemployed Bob is frustrated in his attempt to buy a Christmas present for his daughter. In a scene worthy of Harold Lloyd, he threatens to jump from a top floor shop window ledge, in the company of the disgruntled store manager and an unhappy Santa Claus!

From The Netherlands came Gitanes, made up of cameos about a bed, where dinners, games, a snowstorm, and lovers form the story. Traffic (Austria), involves video material downloaded from the net, processed via Photoshop and edited on Avid. My Turn (USA) uses a mixture of computer animation, optical printing, and sand to describe a 'dysfunctional mother daughter relationship!'

Although few distributors attend this festival it does offer opportunities for showing, and possibly selling, unusual 'art' subjects. Among the buyers present was Linda Bouws, director of the Dutch Kunst Kanall. With so few 'art slots' on UK television it is shaming to be reminded that ARTE and the smaller Kunst Kanall transmit art programmes for several hours every week...

For further information please contact Art Film Festival, Konventna 8, Bratislava, 811 03, Slovak Republic.
Tel 421 7 5441 9481
Fax 421 7 5441 1679
e-mail: hledik@artfilm.sk