Point of view of a sales manager : Vanda Vacvalová (Slovak Film Institute)

Slovak Film Institute, SFI (Slovenský filmový ústav) is the sole national film institution operating under the Slovak Ministry of Culture. SFU consists of the National Film Archive and the National Cinematographic Centre. Its missions : to collect, restore, preserve and protect Slovak audiovisual heritage and present it to the public.

As a sales manager, what does the MIFC represent to you? 

For me as  the sales manager who work with classic films is definitely this International Film Market  in the first place. I was very muchimpressed last year  when I visited this market for the first time. Professional conditions for meetings, value added presentations and  meeting a family. Simply a very professional and friendly place has its genius loci. Promoting  and Selling  a heritage is a mission and our classic films cant be in better place. Additionaly this year  during the Festival our La dame sanglante directed by Viktor Kubal in 1980 was chosen to be presented in the section Treasures and Curiosities .

What is the importance of the classic films on the slovak film market?

Classic films as a part of our heritage are presented in TV channels.For an example public TV channel  (RTVS) in its second channel each Saturday on prime time has in  the program classic film. Of course Classic films and, especially fairy tales, are more frequently broadcasted during holiday seasons. We have  film events where classic films have itś section. In the screening rooms of the Theater Lumier (belongs to the Slovak Film Institute ) are often presented classic flms. Slovak  Film Institute regulary organise“ the Film Cabinet" where colleagues present slovak and also international classic films in front of the young people from various schools. Slovak Film Institute runs Publishing House where are annualy released several classic films on BRD/DVD and publications about classic films and its filmmakers.

How slovak government is involved in restoration, distribution and edition of classic films? 

Systematic Restoration of the Audiovisual Heritage of the Slovak Republic is a project intended for the  restoration of the archive film collections of the Slovak Film Institute. Its implementation started in 2004, since 2006 it is financed by the Government of the Slovak Republic. The essence of the project lies in the renewal of film materials from the original triacetate and nitrocellulose to much more durable polyester. This, of course, takes place only after  diagnosis and complete treatment of the original  materials. The laboratory restorations  of new 35 mm materials takes place at the film laboratories specializing in archive film material and using modern  technologies and types of film raw materials in the production process. Moreover, the work itself is carried out under the special supervision of the staff of the SFU Film Archive. In 2008-2011, the project included digital restoration of  selected restored materials for the purpose of transfering them into audiovisual media intended for the needs of television broadcasting, digital cinema distribution, production of DVD and Blu-ray media. From 2012, however, only the restored news film materials are transferred  under this  project, while after the lab restoration part of documentary, animated and feature films (at least 1,000 cultural objects) are included in a separate national Digital Audiovisual project.. A detailed description of the project and its current progress are recorded annually by the SFU Annual Reports.

Digital Audiovision is a national project implemented by the Slovak Film Institute in cooperation with Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) as a partner of the project from 2011 to 2015 within the Operational Program Informatization of Society, Priority Axis 2: Developing Memory and Funding Institutions and Restoring Their National Infrastructure . During the project, two digitization workplaces were built in SFÚ and RTVS and 61,650 cultural objects (cinematographic, audio and audiovisual objects) were digitized, which succeeded in fulfilling the main goal of the project, which was the digitization of the audiovisual heritage of the Slovak Republic. This objective is currently being met as the national project is in the sustainability phase. The digitization workplace built in the SFU has become a permanent part of its professional offices and creates a complex functional and systemic unit with direct links to the whole process of preservation and accessibility of the audiovisual heritage of the Slovak Republic

The Slovak Film Institute /Slovenský filmový ústav (SFÚ)/ is the sole national Institution operating under the  Slovak Ministry of Culture. SFU consists of the National Film archive and the National Cinematographic  Centre.It is a seat of the Creative Desk Slovakia –a separate organizational unit .

SFU collects, restores, preserves and protects audiovisual heritage and presents it to the public. Ensures professional storage. Functions as National Film Library. SFU is  entitled to execute economic rights of authors, performers and producers of the film works produced until 1997. Provides audiovisual information service, Supports the presentation of alternative and art audiovisual programmes in Slovak Republic and abroad. SFU runs Art House Cinema, Publishing house, specialised store Klapka ,Audiovisual system IS SK Cinema and runs digitization of the audiovisulal heritage through specialised institution. The SFU has been a FIAFF member since 2001 ,EFPMember since 2006, and via Creative Europe 

Desk  Slovakia also is a member of European Documentary Network /EDN/ SFU is a Member of Association of Slovak  Film Producers /SAPA/ Slovak Associations of Libraries  /SAK/,Union of Slovak Distributors /UDN/ Association of Film Exhibitors /ZPS. 

How the slovak classic cinema is received outside of Slovakia? 

Slovak Classic films are presented in varios events worldwide . From the Festivals through Film to TV, DVD distribution. Picked here are just news. Our long time partner in the French market is Malavida. In November 8, via Malavida, will be released in France digitaly restored Rêves en rose directed by Dušan Hanák in 1976. This film will be also next month presented by Malavida in Arras Film Festival. Last year in MIFC we met for the first time with Clavis Films. Clavis bought several short animation films from different slovak directors and they will release them  on DVD. In UK our films are distributed by Second run.They just bought Before Tonight is Over directed by Peter Solan in 1965, The Wonder-Maid directed by Štefan Uher in 1966 and Tenderness directed by Martin Sulik in 1991. We signed a memo deal for all rights for US in case of the film Midnight Mass directed by Jiří Krejčík in 1962. The screening of our film Boxer and Death directed by Peter Solan in 1962 was held this summer in the Antology Film Archives in NY.

Generaly still the big interest in Slovak films comes from Czech Republic. It is becoming from our common history and we still have a lot of common.