A poetic dance-musical starring a ripe-aged man and an upbeat, unusual film about young people searching for their soul mates. At the 20th Art Film Fest, running from 16 to 23 June in Trenčianske Teplice and Trenčín, fans of Slovak cinema can look forward to exclusive screenings of brand new domestic releases.

“Whereas last year’s Slovak Season centred on films premiered in early 2011, this time we've decided to give festival visitors nothing but the latest releases,” says section programmer Miroslav Ulman.

Among them will be Art Film Fest’s exclusive premiere of Dance Among the Life Shards, actor Marek Ťapák’s directorial debut. Audiences will get a chance to meet the film’s creators and collect their autographs after the 17 June screening at Trenčín’s Cinemax. As a director, Ťapák draws upon the strong tradition of folkdance musicals established by legendary Slovak filmmakers. As an actor, he takes the lead role – a middle-aged man looking back on his life’s most pivotal moments, reliving his dreams, desires and fantasies through dance and enthralling music. Ťapák’s adoration of folkdance is on par with his great love of cinema, and his theatrical dance performance Dance Among the Life Shards has successfully performed in Slovakia, Europe and even the USA. His fellow performers in the film are not actors, but professional folk dancers from elite Slovak troupes such as Lúčnica and SĽUK, with the only exception being seasoned actress Anna Javorková.

Tigers in the City, another hot-of-the-press Slovak film, will be screened at Art Film Fest a mere week after its premiere. The director, young artist Juraj Krasnohorský, made an auspicious debut with the short x=x+1, premiered at Art Film Fest 2009. His latest cinematic outing is a crime-tinged romantic comedy about a group of friends straightening out their lives over several days, all with a hired killer on their tail. The resulting combination of amorous twists and getaways from the Russian mafia promises an air of adventure and a winning sense of humour. The film's stars include Ivica Sláviková – 2005’s Miss Slovakia, as well as Diana Mórová, Kristína Tóthová, Milan Ondrík and Ľubomír Bukový.

As in the past, the section will feature the latest releases from Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS). In 2010, they launched a series of films called “Filmoviedky” (“Cinestories”), and the latest entry, Stanislav Párnický’s Dušičky seniorov, will be given an advance screening at this year's Art Film Fest. This bittersweet portrait of senescence stars Emília Vášáryová and Petr Nárožný.

For the first time ever, we will also screen a collection of Slovak-made animated music videos featuring domestic and international performers. “Since 1988, roughly 60 such videos have been created by Slovak filmmakers, seven of them in 2011 alone,” says Maroš Brojo, who will be among the hosts of this evening full of great music and brilliant animation.

Art Film Fest 2012 – the 20th International Trenčianske Teplice/Trenčín Film Festival

The festival is held under the auspices of Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico.

Organizers: ART FILM, n.o., FORZA, a.s.

Co-organizers: The Town of Trenčianske Teplice, the City of Trenčín, Kúpele Trenčianske Teplice

Financial Support: The Audiovisual Fund

General Sponsors: KOOPERATIVA poisťovňa Vienna Insurance Group, Privatbanka

Main Sponsors: Omnia Holding SE, Slovnaft, AquaCity Poprad, Hydrotour Travel Agency

Official Transport Provider: Lancia

Logistics Sponsor: DHL

Student cinepasses for only €5 provided by Prvá stavebná sporiteľňa, a. s.

Sponsors: TIPOS, Slovak Telekom, Penzión Baske, Cinemax, Forza CZ, Omnia Motors, Omnia 2000, DOMO Omnia, Omnia KLF

Official Suppliers: Moët, Hotel Pax – the festival spa hotel, NAY Elektrodom, Esterle&Esterle, LampART, Stredná odborná škola polygrafická

Main media sponsors: Radio and Television of Slovakia, Pravda, Rádio FM, zoznam.sk

Media Sponsors: TA 3, TV JOJ, Film Europe Channel, Central Europe Television, Rádio Europa 2, .týždeň, Eurotelevízia, Pardon, OK!, Kinečko, Kam do mesta, Focus, GONG SK, Boomerang Media, SITA, BlueSky, euroAWK, moviemania.sk, filmneweurope.com

Partners: The Trenčín Self-governing Region, the European Commission Representation in Slovakia, the Slovak Film Institute, Celtima SK, Hotel Flóra, the Bratislava Culture and Information Centre