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Last refreshed: 08/06/2026 21:38 · 54 articles added
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Culture

Košice Had 26 Executioners Throughout History, Expert Reveals

Košice employed 26 executioners throughout its judicial history, according to an expert on the history of judicial practice. The executioners' families lived in shame and social isolation due to the stigma attached to their profession. The Miklušova prison in Košice served as the final destination for thousands of criminals over the centuries. The research sheds light on the darker aspects of Slovakia's eastern city's legal and penal system, revealing how society treated those responsible for carrying out death sentences and their relatives, who faced ostracism despite the official nature of the work.

Korzár
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Culture

Italian Michelin-starred Chef Giuseppe Iannotti Champions Data-Driven Cuisine Over Traditional Methods

Giuseppe Iannotti, head chef of the two-Michelin-starred restaurant Krèsios, has gained recognition as a culinary rebel in Italy for his unconventional approach to fine dining. The software engineer-turned-chef creates 35-course tasting menus that last only two hours, eliminating traditional pauses between courses for what he calls "pure adrenaline" dining experiences. Iannotti applies his background in data analysis and biochemistry to cooking, rejecting traditional Italian culinary practices such as serving pasta as a first course, which he considers physiologically incorrect. His methodology prioritizes service quality over food preparation and challenges Italy's deeply rooted culinary traditions, earning him a reputation as a heretic in a country he describes as having a "religious sect" mentality about food.

Aktuality
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Culture

Film Critic Questions Oscar Choices Despite Praise for Jessie Buckley's Performance

A prominent film critic has expressed reservations about Academy Award selections while acknowledging that Irish actress Jessie Buckley delivered the specific type of performance that typically appeals to Oscar voters. Buckley, who gained recognition after appearing on the 2008 BBC talent show 'I'd Do Anything,' has built a successful career following her television debut. The show, hosted by British journalist Graham Norton, was created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh to cast leads for their musical 'Oliver!' based on Charles Dickens' classic novel. The competition searched for three child actors to alternate in the title role and one actress to play Nancy, launching several careers in musical theatre and film.

Dennik N
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Culture

Irish Actress Jessie Buckley's Oscar-Worthy Performance Draws Critical Attention

Irish actress Jessie Buckley, who gained early recognition through a 2008 BBC talent show searching for musical theater performers, has delivered what critics describe as an Academy Award-caliber performance. Buckley first appeared on the television show "I'd Do Anything," hosted by British journalist Graham Norton, where producers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh sought actors for their musical "Oliver!" based on Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist. The show aimed to cast three child actors for the title role and one actress to play Nancy. While most participants from the talent show remain unknown, Buckley has since built a successful acting career that has now attracted serious Oscar consideration from film critics.

Dennik N
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Culture

Lady Gaga Opens Up About Overcoming Personal Struggles with Fame and Mental Health

Pop superstar Lady Gaga has spoken candidly about her personal battles behind the glamour of fame, revealing her struggles with mental health, addiction, and the pressures of celebrity life. The American singer and actress emphasized that there should be no shame in acknowledging psychological pain and seeking help. Her revelations highlight the often-hidden personal costs of fame, showing how even global superstars face serious mental health challenges despite their public success.

SME
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Culture

International Sausage Festival Brings Enthusiasts Together in Sládkovičovo

Sausage enthusiasts gathered in the Slovak town of Sládkovičovo for an international festival celebrating traditional meat products. The main attraction of the event is a sausage-making competition that began Saturday at 10:00 AM, drawing participants and visitors to showcase and sample various sausage varieties and preparation techniques.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

Slovak Artist Zolo Palugyay's 'Parisian Café' Oil Painting Featured as Work of the Week

A Slovak cultural institution has selected an oil painting by artist Zolo Palugyay titled 'Parisian Café' as its featured work of the week. The painting depicts the vibrant bohemian life of Paris, capturing a scene where people danced, drank, and lived for art. Palugyay's work represents the intense atmosphere of Parisian café culture, showcasing the artistic and social energy that characterized the bohemian lifestyle in the French capital.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

New Slovak Book Explores Men's Emotional Expression Through Father-Son Story

A new Slovak book titled "Strieborná metalíza" (Silver Metallic) examines the complex relationship between an adult son and his ill father, addressing the broader question of whether men will finally begin discussing their emotions openly. The work explores themes of masculinity, family dynamics, and emotional vulnerability through the lens of a personal story about dealing with a parent's illness.

SME
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Culture

Slovak Film Podcast Offers Oscar Predictions and Movie Tips

Slovak media outlet SME has released a new episode of its film podcast Vertigo, featuring predictions for this year's Academy Awards winners. The podcast episode discusses Oscar favorites and potential dark horses, while also providing recommendations for new film releases. The podcast serves Slovak audiences interested in international cinema and Hollywood awards season coverage.

SME
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Culture

Weekend Selection: What Ideas Slovaks Wrote to Hitler About

A weekend reading selection features historical correspondence from Slovak citizens to Adolf Hitler during World War II. The article examines letters and proposals that Slovaks sent to the Nazi leader, providing insight into public attitudes and suggestions during the wartime Slovak State period from 1939 to 1945. This historical analysis offers a glimpse into how ordinary citizens engaged with the authoritarian regime that controlled Slovakia as a German client state during the war.

SME
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Culture

Concert honors folk music legends of Slovak minority in Vojvodina

A concert was held in Bački Petrovac to honor legendary folk singers from Slovakia's ethnic minority community in Vojvodina. The event was organized by the Association for Research of Slovak Culture in Vojvodina (AVKSV) and aimed to pay tribute to prominent singers from the Slovak minority in the Serbian province. Vojvodina is home to one of Europe's largest Slovak diaspora communities, with ethnic Slovaks maintaining their cultural traditions through music, language, and cultural organizations despite being separated from Slovakia since the dissolution of Austria-Hungary over a century ago.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

Slovak filmmakers compete for Czech Lion awards this Saturday

Slovak filmmaker Juraj Loj and other Slovak artists will compete for the prestigious Czech Lion awards, which will be announced this Saturday. The Czech Lion, the Czech Republic's top film honor, recognizes the best names and debuts in film production from the past year.

Aktuality
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Culture

Febiofest Film Festival Opens in Bratislava with Over 60 Films and International Stars

The Febiofest International Film Festival has taken over Bratislava's Lumière and Mladosť cinemas, screening more than 60 films and hosting star guests from Slovakia and abroad. The festival is presenting its program under the provocative question of whether this represents 'the year of Slovak cinema,' featuring a diverse selection that includes tributes, dramatic works, and crime thrillers. Febiofest is Slovakia's major international film festival, bringing both domestic and foreign cinema to audiences in the capital.

Aktuality
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Culture

International Film Festival Febiofest Brings World Cinema to Bratislava

Bratislava's annual Febiofest international film festival has concluded, transforming the city's Lumière and Mladosť cinemas into venues for world-class cinema. The festival featured more than sixty films from around the globe, including premieres of Slovak productions "Šampión" (Champion) and "Tanec s medveďom" (Dance with a Bear). The event drew notable guests from both Slovakia and international film industries, highlighting Bratislava's growing role as a cultural hub in Central Europe. Febiofest serves as one of Slovakia's most prominent cultural events, bringing together filmmakers, critics, and cinema enthusiasts to celebrate both domestic and international cinema.

Aktuality
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Culture

Sládkovičovo Opens 16th Annual International Sausage Festival

The town of Sládkovičovo in western Slovakia opened its 16th annual International Sausage Festival, a celebration of traditional meat-making crafts that draws participants from across the region. The festival's main sausage-making competition will begin Saturday at 10:00 AM, where contestants will showcase their skills in preparing various types of traditional sausages. The annual event has become a popular cultural attraction that celebrates Slovak culinary traditions and brings together both amateur and professional sausage makers to compete and share their craft with visitors.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

Chalamet Faces Oscar Backlash Over Controversial Comments About Opera and Ballet

Actor Timothée Chalamet is facing potential damage to his Oscar prospects following controversial statements in which he claimed that opera and ballet interest no one. The American actor has been criticized for making disparaging remarks about other performers while promoting himself as superior. The comments have drawn backlash in the entertainment industry, where such statements are seen as potentially harmful to award season campaigns that typically require building goodwill among voters.

SME
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Culture

Animated Film 'Angel's Egg' Demonstrates Adult Potential of Animation Medium

The animated film 'Angel's Egg' showcases the power of animation beyond children's entertainment, according to cultural observers. The work demonstrates how animated films can create profound psychological experiences, immersing viewers in darkness and requiring them to find their own path to understanding. The film represents the broader artistic potential of animation as a medium for adult audiences, challenging conventional perceptions that animated works are primarily intended for children.

SME
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Culture

Slovak Comedian Explores Family History of Migration to America in Stand-up Show

Stand-up comedian Tomáš Hudák is performing a show about his great-grandfather's story of migration to America in search of work. The performance explores the historical context of how President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia, toured America to persuade Czech and Slovak emigrants to return home to the newly formed country after World War I. Hudák's comedy routine connects personal family history with the broader narrative of Slovak and Czech migration to the United States in the early 20th century, when many left their homeland seeking economic opportunities.

SME
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Culture

Slovaks Attempted Nazi-Style Expansion to Annex Moravia Before Hitler Intervened, Historical Research Shows

Historical research has revealed that Slovakia attempted to expand its territory by annexing Moravia using Nazi-style tactics and propaganda during World War II, before Adolf Hitler personally intervened to stop the campaign. The bizarre expansionist effort included fabricated claims and the manipulation of traditional Slovak folklore to justify territorial ambitions. The campaign represents a previously lesser-known aspect of Slovakia's wartime collaboration with Nazi Germany, when the country operated as a nominally independent but German-aligned state under Jozef Tiso's clerical fascist government from 1939 to 1945. Hitler's decision to halt the Slovak territorial ambitions likely reflected Germany's broader strategic priorities in managing its satellite states and controlling territorial arrangements in occupied Central Europe.

SME
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