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Culture

Top Talent Festival in Prievidza Concludes with Final Gala Show

The Top Talent Festival in the Slovak city of Prievidza concluded with its final gala performance, bringing together artists from five countries. The festival featured participants from Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Germany who competed across five main categories: music, singing, dance, theater, and visual arts. The international cultural event showcased diverse talents from across Central Europe in what has become a significant regional arts competition.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

From Somali Desert to Vogue Cover: The Story of Waris Dirie's Journey from Survival to Hope

Waris Dirie's extraordinary life journey has taken her from the harsh conditions of the Somali desert to international recognition as a supermodel and activist. Born into a nomadic family in Somalia, Dirie endured severe hardships including female genital mutilation and an arranged marriage before escaping to London as a teenager. Her story of survival transformed into one of empowerment when she became a successful fashion model, eventually gracing the cover of Vogue magazine. Dirie later became a prominent activist against female genital mutilation, using her platform to raise awareness about this practice that affects millions of women worldwide. Her autobiography and subsequent advocacy work have made her a symbol of hope for women facing similar struggles, demonstrating how personal trauma can be channeled into meaningful social change.

SME
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Culture

French Film Icon Nathalie Baye Dies at 77

French actress Nathalie Baye, known internationally for her roles in "Catch Me If You Can" and "Downton Abbey," has died at the age of 77. The celebrated performer succumbed to complications related to dementia. Baye was considered one of France's most distinguished actresses, with a career spanning several decades in both French and international cinema.

Aktuality
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Culture

High 5ive Culture Column Features Story of Timothy Dexter's Bizarre Life

Slovak daily Denník N published its regular culture column High 5ive, featuring a selection of cultural recommendations including a story about Timothy Dexter titled 'How a Fool Came to Wealth: The Bizarre Life of Timothy Dexter.' The column, which appears regularly in the newspaper, offers readers a curated selection of cultural content from various media that might interest them.

Dennik N
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Culture

Košice Hosts First International Beauty Competition for High School Students

The first annual Beauty Talent Košice 2026 competition took place on April 16, 2026, in Slovakia's second-largest city. The international competition featured high school students competing in hairdressing and decorative arts categories. Organized by the Košice Technical School of Beauty Services in partnership with the Košice Self-Governing Region, the event brought together students specializing in hairdressing, barbering, cosmetology, and makeup artistry. The competition aimed to showcase emerging talent in the beauty industry among vocational education students.

Košice Dnes
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Culture

Slovak Film 'The Shop on Main Street' Won Oscar 60 Years Ago, But Star Couldn't Attend Ceremony

Sixty years ago, the Czechoslovak film 'The Shop on Main Street' won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, bringing international recognition to Slovak cinema. The 1965 film, which depicted the story of a Slovak carpenter who becomes the Aryan controller of a Jewish shop during World War II, starred Jozef Kroner as Tóno Brtko alongside Ida Kamińska. Despite the film's historic Oscar victory, Kroner was unable to travel to the ceremony to receive the award. The film, set in the fictional town of Sabinov, remains one of the most celebrated works of Slovak and Czechoslovak cinema, exploring themes of moral conflict during the Holocaust through the character of an ordinary man caught between survival and conscience.

Aktuality
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Culture

Cherry Blossom Festival Celebrates Iconic Orchards in Eastern Slovak Village

The village of Brdárka in eastern Slovakia is hosting its annual Cherry Days festival, celebrating the area's iconic blooming orchards. Visitors can enjoy the spectacular spring blossoms while also exploring the village's Renaissance-Baroque church. The festival highlights one of the region's most photogenic seasonal attractions, drawing tourists to experience both the natural beauty of the flowering fruit trees and the local cultural heritage.

Korzár
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Culture

Poland Cancels Kanye West Concert

Poland has cancelled a scheduled concert by American rapper Kanye West. The cancellation makes Poland the latest country to call off or postpone performances by the controversial artist, joining a growing list of nations that have taken similar action against West's planned shows.

SME
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Culture

Slovak Media Outlet SME Offers Tips for Making B-Movie Shark Horror Films Entertaining on Netflix

Slovak news publication SME has published entertainment advice suggesting viewers can make low-budget shark horror films more enjoyable through specific viewing techniques. The publication featured these movie-watching tips in their Vertigo podcast, which covers film recommendations and entertainment content. The advice appears aimed at helping audiences find entertainment value in typically poorly-received genre films available on the streaming platform Netflix.

SME
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Culture

Netflix Tips: How to Make Bad Shark Horror Films Entertaining

A Slovak entertainment podcast called Vertigo has shared advice on how viewers can make poorly-made shark horror films more enjoyable when watching on Netflix. The podcast discussed simple tricks that can transform typically ridiculous shark movies into entertaining viewing experiences for audiences looking for lighter entertainment options on the streaming platform.

SME
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Culture

World Heritage Day Focuses on Living Heritage Campaign

Slovakia joins the global observance of World Monuments and Historic Sites Day, which features this year's campaign on living heritage. The international day of recognition was established on April 18, 1982, following a proposal at a symposium of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the global organization responsible for promoting heritage conservation. The annual observance aims to raise awareness about cultural heritage preservation and the importance of historic monuments and sites worldwide.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

New Generation of Hollywood Actors Led by Zendaya Embraces Morally Complex Roles

A new generation of actors is taking center stage in Hollywood, with Zendaya emerging as a leading figure in this transition. This cohort of performers is moving from streaming platforms and television series to major film productions and high-budget movies. The rising stars are characterized by their choice of morally ambiguous characters that blur the lines between good and evil, reflecting a shift toward more complex storytelling in contemporary cinema.

Dennik N
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Culture

Prague Band Gufrau, With Eastern Slovak Roots, Wins Czech Music Award

The Prague-based band Gufrau, described as the voice of Generation Z, won the Czech Anděl music award for their song "Navždycky blázen" (Forever Crazy). The group, which has achieved recognition as a cultural phenomenon in Prague, has roots in eastern Slovakia. The band has gained both critical acclaim and popular success, representing the musical voice of young people in the Czech Republic.

Korzár
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Culture

Slovak Media Outlet Releases Weekly Entertainment Recommendations

Dennik N, a Slovak news publication, published its editorial staff's personal selection of current films and television series available for online viewing. The recommendations include content spanning various genres, from political dramas to documentaries about chess players and the history of television news.

Dennik N
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Culture

Slovakia Proposes Hunting for UNESCO Cultural Heritage Recognition

Slovakia has submitted hunting practices for potential recognition as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, sparking controversy over what constitutes worthy cultural preservation. The proposal suggests reframing hunting as a traditional cultural practice deserving international protection and recognition. Critics describe the move as cynical, arguing it represents an inappropriate attempt to elevate hunting to the same status as traditional arts, crafts, and cultural practices typically recognized by UNESCO's cultural heritage programs.

SME
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Culture

Special Weekend Magazine Edition Features Photography by Karol Kállay

The SME and Korzár newspapers will publish a special Weekend Magazine edition featuring photography by Karol Kállay on Friday, April 24. The special issue will be distributed with both daily newspapers, showcasing the photographer's work in a dedicated magazine format.

SME
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Culture

Slovak Literary Community Debates Foreign Textbook's Treatment of Esterházy

A foreign literary textbook has sparked controversy in Slovak cultural circles with its treatment of Peter Esterházy, the renowned Hungarian writer. The textbook's portrayal has been perceived as a slight against Slovak literary understanding, generating debate about how international academic materials present Central European authors. Esterházy, who died in 2016, was one of the most celebrated contemporary Hungarian writers, known for works that explored the complex history and identity of the former Austro-Hungarian region. The controversy reflects broader sensitivities in Slovakia about how the country's cultural and intellectual traditions are represented in international academic contexts.

SME
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Culture

Legendary Balkan Composer Goran Bregović to Perform at Piešťany Festival

Legendary Balkan composer Goran Bregović and his Wedding and Funeral Band will perform at the Piešťany Zábaly festival on Sunday, August 23. The concert, featuring 26 top songs in a two-hour performance, is being billed as one of the biggest concert experiences of this year's festival. Ticket sales for the performance will begin on April 15, 2026, through the festival's website. Piešťany Zábaly is an annual music festival held in the western Slovak spa town of Piešťany, known for hosting international artists alongside local acts.

Aktuality
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Culture

Slovak Influencer Rejects Dubai Real Estate Partnerships, Calls City 'Inauthentic'

Slovak influencer Milan Bardún has rejected multiple collaboration offers from Dubai real estate companies, describing the emirate as lacking authenticity despite its strong marketing appeal. Bardún, who operates under the social media handle "Milan bez mapy" (Milan without a map), said Dubai "has strong PR, but it's just gilding" and that the city has never genuinely appealed to him personally. His comments reflect a broader skepticism toward Dubai's carefully curated international image as a luxury destination and business hub. The influencer's stance contrasts with many content creators who have embraced partnerships promoting Dubai's real estate market to international audiences.

SME
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Culture

Slovak and Czech Students Unite in Workshop on Folk Architecture of Dušan Jurkovič

Students from Slovakia and the Czech Republic are participating in a joint workshop focused on the architectural legacy of Dušan Jurkovič, a prominent architect who drew inspiration from traditional folk building styles. The workshop aims to increase interest in folk architecture and promote the protection of cultural values that influenced Jurkovič's work. The cross-border educational initiative highlights the shared architectural heritage between the two countries and seeks to preserve traditional building techniques and designs for future generations.

TASR/Teraz
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