Participants adopted a declaration stressing the essential role of human creativity in the audiovisual industry and the need to ensure a stable and predictable environment for audiovisual production. Šimkovičová said that European audiovisual production represents not only an economic sector but also an important part of Europe’s cultural identity that requires systematic public support.
She also highlighted Slovakia’s success at the Global Production Awards 2026, where the country is a finalist in the Emerging Location category alongside Spain, Canada, and the United States. The ceremony takes place on Monday (18 May) during the Cannes Film Festival.
Šimkovičová’s visit coincided with controversy at home after STVR cancelled live coverage of the Sun in the Net Awards - annual awards that recognize accomplishments in filmmaking and television - for the second year in a row. Film professionals linked the absence of broadcast coverage to the sector’s criticism of Culture Ministry policies, noting that no private Slovak television station aired the ceremony either.
The Slovak film community has increasingly criticised changes introduced in 2024 to the Slovak Audiovisual Fund, which transferred funding decisions from the fund’s director to its council. Of the 13 council members, five are appointed directly by the culture minister — a move criticised by several industry organisations, including the Association of Independent Producers, the Association of Slovak Documentary Film, the Association of Animated Film Producers, the Slovak Association of Audiovisual Producers, and the Slovak Film and Television Academy.
To date, Slovakia has presented 22 audiovisual works at the Cannes Film Festival and traditionally shares a pavilion with the Czech Republic. Slovak films attracted more than one million cinema-goers last year alone.
With support from the Slovak Audiovisual Fund between 2010 and 2025, Slovak productions gained international recognition and won major awards at leading festivals including the Berlin International Film Festival, the Tribeca Festival, and the Venice Film Festival.
Source: TASR, STVR
