The English Film.sk has now been published for the third time, the second time during the Berlin International Film Festival. Last year too, we were able to write about Slovak participation in the Berlinale, but this year the situation is even more optimistic – the film Koza is going to have its world première in the Forum Section; it is also nominated for the Best First Feature Award. It was made by Ivan Ostrochovský who was originally a documentary filmmaker. Lately, several renowned Slovak documentary filmmakers have ventured into feature projects. Jaro Vojtek’s attempt entitled Children is also reviewed in the magazine. In Silence is another feature film reviewed in this issue and its director Zdeněk Jiráský also has ample experience with non-fiction works. The third film reviewed in the magazine is the documentary Comeback (dir. Miro Remo).

Last year, documentaries were hits with the audiences also; the commemorative portrait of hockey-player Pavol Demitra 38 even became the most successful Slovak film of 2014. Around 114,000 people saw it, which makes it a new attendance record for a domestic documentary since Slovakia gained independence.

In addition, you will read on page 12 that last year, taken all in all, more people came to watch Slovak films in cinemas than in any of the previous years. That is great. Because it is no use demanding more Slovak films at foreign film festivals if we ourselves know very little about them. In order for people to get to know about them, among other things, it is necessary to improve promotion of the films and to have a sufficiently strong network of cinemas that will support them. Also, a small cinematography matures and gains in self-confidence by taking part in film festivals. In the ideal situation, this leads to a gradual increase
in its productivity and quality – after all, such a situation may be of interest for world festivals too.

Daniel Bernát (Editor-in-Chief)