30/01/2009

Slovak filmmakers are asserting themselves in Berlin at the European Film Market this year, with three features and one documentary appearing before international buyers for the first time.

Marriage drama My Husband's Women is the second feature from director Ivan Vojnar. The €1m film is a co-production between Slovak producer Arina, Negativ of the Czech Republic, Slovenská televízia and Tivolifilm of Hungary, with state support from the partners' respective countries. It will be released in Slovakia in July.

Broken Promise tells the story of a Jewish family living in fascist-controlled Slovakia during WW2. It stars Ondrej Vetchy, who was featured in Jan Sverak's Dark Blue World, among other films. The €1.6m film is produced by Iveta Cerna of Genta Film with co-production support from Slovenska televizia, Ceska televize, and the Jewish Partisans Educational Foundation, a US non-profit.

My Husband's Women and Broken Promise are being handled by Film Europe, SPI's new sales arm, which focuses exclusively on films from Central and Eastern Europe.

Taskovski Films is handling Cooking History, an Austrian-Slovak-Czech documentary from director Peter Kerekes. The film examines the role army cooks play in history and in contemporary events.

Soul at Peace tells the story of one man's difficult return home after five years in prison. Produced by Jan Kovacik, it is the first feature from director Vlado Balko.

Visitors to the EFM can find the Slovak Film Institute at the Central European Cinema stand, No. 128, at the Martin Gropius Bau.