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ArtFilm Fest highlights

By NICK HOLDSWORTH

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With a new name and new program director (Peter Nagel came over from the same job at the Bratislava fest in January), ArtFilm Fest has doubled the number of sidebars (eight this year) and added a section of buzzworthy Slovak films.

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Sections of fizz and fun include Dancing '80s, presented by choreographer Jan Durovcik, which will screen such memorable pics as "Fame" and "All That Jazz."

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Special events include panels on June 20 and 26 exploring Slovakia's new Audiovisual Fund and the development of distribution in the country, organized by the Slovak Film Institute and the Slovak Film and TV Academy.

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There's a tribute to veteran Slovak helmer Peter Weigl -- best known for his 1999 movie adaptation of Russian composer Dmitry Shostakovich's opera "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk" -- who turns 70 this year.

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Notables at the fest include Czech 1960s New Wave director Vera Chytilova, who will receive an honorary Actor's Mission Award, and Italian writer-director Ettore Scola, who picks up a Golden Camera nod.