SLOVAK audiences seem to be receptive to Nordic films, as evidenced by the popularity of the NordFest film festival, which in spring 2014 enjoyed its seventh year in Slovakia.
Although the venue has moved since the festival was first launched, Slovaks’ interest in Nordic movies remains unwavering, as well as in accompanying events like travellers’ lectures, discussions, tastings, performances for children, and this year, also a unique recording from an exhibition of paintings by Edward Munch. A cameo of Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard was on the schedule, too.
“In the offer of NordFest 2014, out of a total of 25 films, five were Finnish (Bohemian Life, Niko 2, 3 x Simo, House of Branching Love and Naked Harbour) and four were Swedish (Simon and Oaks, Searching for Sugar Man, Call Girl and All It Is In Heaven),” Peter Gavalier, programme manager of the festival from Nostalgia film club, informed The Slovak Spectator.
“Each year the embassy has been able to support several festival organisers which include Finnish films in their programmes,” said Henna Knuuttila, chargé d’affairs of the Finnish Embassy to Slovakia, about her country’s cinematography. “Of course, Finnish films and Finland as such reach the greatest visibility mainly during NordFest, but we also cooperate with many others.”
“In Bratislava, film fans have the opportunity to visit NordFest, a festival which every year in the spring under one month’s time shows dozens of Nordic films,” the Swedish Embassy in Vienna, which oversees its mission in Slovakia, wrote. “The film programme is accompanied by various side events presenting the Nordic countries to Slovaks.”
