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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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Culture

Slovakia's Pohoda Festival Announces Electronic Music Artists for 30th Anniversary Edition

The Pohoda Festival has announced nine prominent electronic dance music DJs and producers for its 30th anniversary edition in 2026. The festival, held at Trenčín Airport in western Slovakia, will feature a special Friday techno night with eight DJs performing back-to-back sets. The electronic music programming was developed in collaboration with Palicavonzvreca, a legendary Slovak techno platform. Pohoda is Slovakia's largest music festival and has become one of Central Europe's premier cultural events since its founding in 1997, typically attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually to its diverse lineup spanning multiple genres.

Aktuality
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Culture

Slovak Film Critics Highlight 'Sinners' as Major Oscar Contender and Cinematic Achievement

Slovak film critics are praising director Ryan Coogler's latest film 'Sinners' as a breakthrough cinematic achievement and unexpected Oscar favorite. The period drama follows two Black war veterans who return to the American South to build a dance hall, serving as a serious social allegory addressing racism, segregation, immigration, and prohibition. With a production budget of $100 million and shot on traditional film stock, the movie is being recognized not as a B-movie or parody but as a significant dramatic work that tackles weighty social themes through the story of the two brothers navigating post-war America.

Dennik N
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Culture

Slovak Entertainment Guide Features Oscar-Nominated Film and Game of Thrones Prequel

Slovak media outlet Denník N has published an entertainment guide featuring several notable productions for viewers. The recommendations include a successful prequel to the popular fantasy series Game of Thrones, an American film set in post-World War I Idaho that has received an Oscar nomination, a comedic relationship drama exploring marital crises, and a biographical series about one of Formula 1's greatest drivers. The guide specifically mentions 'Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' available on HBO Max, describing it as a more successful prequel compared to 'House of the Dragon,' which the publication notes was somewhat disappointing after two seasons.

Dennik N
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Culture

Hiking Basecamp: Great Moravia History Trail in Považský Inovec, Family Trip to Orlie Skaly, and Lowland Cycling Routes

A Slovak outdoor recreation publication featured hiking and cycling recommendations for weekend adventures across the country. The suggestions included a historical trail through Považský Inovec mountains exploring Great Moravia heritage sites, family-friendly hiking options to Orlie Skaly (Eagle Rocks), and cycling routes through Slovakia's lowland regions. Great Moravia was a medieval Slavic state that existed in the 9th and early 10th centuries, covering parts of present-day Slovakia, Czech Republic, and surrounding areas, representing an important period in Slovak historical identity.

Dennik N
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Culture

New Episode of Satirical Podcast 'Piatoček' Released

A new episode of the satirical podcast 'Piatoček' titled 'Kaviarenskí povaľači' (Café Loafers) has been released. The podcast appears to offer satirical commentary on current affairs and social issues in Slovakia.

SME
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Culture

Slovak Daily Launches Absurdist Podcast Series

Denník N, a major Slovak daily newspaper, has launched a new podcast series called 'Toto vystrihneme: Zrušte 3D!' (This We'll Cut Out: Cancel 3D!), described as an 'absurd podcast.' The show tackles unconventional questions ranging from whether reducing job numbers could solve immigration issues to linguistic curiosities about Slovak words. Denník N is one of Slovakia's prominent independent media outlets, known for investigative journalism and political coverage since its founding in 2014.

Dennik N
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Culture

Daily Editorial Cartoon: In the Right Light

Slovak newspaper SME published an editorial cartoon by artist Györe titled 'In the Right Light.' The cartoon appears in the publication's daily editorial section, which typically features political commentary through visual satire.

SME
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Culture

Czech TV Host Václav Moravec Ends 21-Year Career Over Editorial Independence Concerns

Václav Moravec, one of Czech Television's most prominent political talk show hosts, announced his departure from the public broadcaster after more than 21 years on Sunday during his final show. The veteran moderator said he could no longer guarantee editorial independence in his work under current conditions at the station. Moravec, whose program "Questions with Václav Moravec" was the country's most-watched political discussion show, explained that he refused to disappoint viewers' trust by shifting toward what he called "blind balance" that he believes destroys public service broadcasting. Czech Television is the Czech Republic's main public broadcaster, and Moravec's departure represents a significant loss for the station's political programming. The moderator emphasized he was not leaving because of any specific political figure and stated he no longer wanted any financial compensation from Czech Television.

Dennik N
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Culture

Cultural organizer alleges Slovak arts fund has become tool for revenge and corruption

Marek Adamov, founder of Slovakia's prominent cultural center Stanica Žilina-Záriečie, has accused the Fund for Arts Support of becoming an instrument of revenge and corruption under the current government. Adamov, who has worked as a cultural event organizer under six ministers and four female ministers over three decades, said the situation has never been ideal but has now reached its worst point. The cultural organizer stated that while the arts community has endured constant tension for thirty years and grown accustomed to difficulties, they have always found reasons to continue, but current conditions represent an unprecedented low. The Fund for Arts Support is Slovakia's main government mechanism for distributing public money to cultural projects and institutions across the country.

Dennik N
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Culture

Czech Actor Přemysl Boublík Reflects on Family Holocaust History While Playing Nazi Role

Czech actor Přemysl Boublík has spoken about the personal significance of portraying a Nazi character in the Slovak television series "Dunaj" (Danube), given his family's tragic connection to the Holocaust. Boublík revealed that his great-grandfather died in the Mauthausen concentration camp during World War II, making his role particularly poignant. The actor acknowledged that his grandmother would not have been pleased with him playing a Nazi character, highlighting the complex emotions involved in taking on such a role given his family history. Despite these personal connections to the horrors of the Nazi regime, Boublík expressed that he relies on "higher good" in his life approach, suggesting a philosophical perspective on reconciling his family's past with his professional choices.

SME
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Culture

Academy Awards Ceremony Set for Sunday Night

The American Film Academy will present its annual Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday night into Monday morning. The ceremony will honor outstanding achievements in filmmaking from the past year, with films like Hamlet and other productions competing for the prestigious awards.

SME
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Culture

Bratislava Region Announces Jury for Art Competition

The Bratislava Region has announced the jury that will evaluate more than 400 artworks submitted to the regional round of the Visual Spectrum 2026 competition. The three-member expert panel will assess the amateur artists' works on March 17, 2026. The Visual Spectrum is an annual competition that showcases work by non-professional artists across Slovakia, with regional rounds determining which pieces advance to the national level.

Bratislavský kraj
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Culture

Slovak Writer Explores Domestic Violence Through Literature and Theater

Slovak writer Kristián Lazarčík has drawn on his personal experience with domestic violence to create literary and theatrical works that resonate with audiences. His debut book "Enfant terrible si kupuje jednosmerný lístok" (Enfant Terrible Buys a One-Way Ticket), published this fall, confronts his own experiences from an abusive relationship. Lazarčík describes the experience of partner violence as "universal in some ways," noting how it affects not only private life but also makes victims more vulnerable to mistreatment from others. One of his stories, "Zrazenina" (Betrayal), was adapted into the theater play "Noc v Istanbule" (Night in Istanbul), which has prompted feedback from multiple women audience members, including a woman in her forties who approached the author after a performance.

Dennik N
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Culture

33rd International Film Festival FEBIOFEST Opens in Bratislava

The 33rd edition of FEBIOFEST Bratislava, Slovakia's major international film festival, opened on March 11 and will run through March 17. The festival is screening films at two Bratislava venues, Kino Lumière and Mladosť cinema, featuring competition sections, new films from major world festivals, and cinema classics. Festival president Peter Dubecký highlighted the "Mirror of the Past" section as particularly noteworthy, which showcases older films that remain highly attractive to contemporary audiences. FEBIOFEST is one of Slovakia's most prominent cultural events, bringing international cinema to local audiences and serving as a key platform for film appreciation in the country.

Aktuality
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Culture

Slovak Journalist Reports on Travel Experience to Iran

A Slovak journalist described her recent travel experience to Iran, detailing the strict dress code requirements she had to follow upon arrival. Writing for Dennik N, she recounted how she covered her head with a scarf and buttoned her shirt to the neck while still on the plane before landing. The journalist referenced a friend's previous experience in Iran, where the friend was detained by morality police for showing bare ankles. Despite being prepared for the clothing restrictions, the journalist found everything in Tehran to be new, different, and incomprehensible beyond the dress code requirements.

Dennik N
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Culture

Slovak Cinemas Screen Feminist Retelling of Frankenstein with 'The Bride'

Slovak movie theaters are now showing 'The Bride,' a bold feminist reinterpretation of Mary Shelley's classic Frankenstein story directed by actress-filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal. The film, which follows Gyllenhaal's directorial debut 'The Lost Daughter,' gives voice to a character who has remained invisible for over 200 years in literary adaptations. The visually striking production is described as filled with female anger, defiance, and feminist messaging, offering audiences an alternative to traditional Frankenstein adaptations that focuses on the female perspective of the Gothic tale.

Dennik N
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Culture

American pop culture icon Liza Minnelli turns 80

American entertainer Liza Minnelli, a symbol of American pop culture, celebrated her 80th birthday. The legendary performer's life story is featured in a 2024 documentary film titled "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story." Minnelli, daughter of actress Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli, became an icon through her work in theater, film, and music, most notably winning an Academy Award for her starring role in the 1972 musical "Cabaret."

TASR/Teraz
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