In mid-May 2026, Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová attended an informal meeting of EU culture ministers and European Commission representatives in Cannes during the international film festival. Participants adopted a declaration emphasizing the vital role of human creativity in the audiovisual industry and the need for a stable, predictable environment for audiovisual production. Šimkovičová said European audiovisual production is not only an economic sector but also a key part of Europe’s cultural identity that requires systematic public support.
Slovakia has presented 22 audiovisual works at the Cannes Film Festival. Šimkovičová’s visit coincided with controversy at home after public broadcaster STVR cancelled live coverage of the Sun in the Net Awards — the annual awards recognizing achievements in film and television — for the second consecutive year. Film professionals linked the lack of coverage to the sector’s criticism of Culture Ministry policies and the changes to the Slovak Audiovisual Fund.
With support from the Fund between 2010 and 2025, Slovak productions gained international recognition and won major awards at festivals. In 2025, Slovak films attracted more than one million cinema-goers. Despite this, the annual showcase of Slovak cinematography was reduced from a week-long event to a single day in 2026.
Day instead of a week of Slovak films
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