Piešťany

The festival takes place in a popular spa town. There are many attractive walks to be taken in the area, plenty of shops and interesting restaurants. It is just an hour north of Bratislava with good train and bus connections. Special UNICA buses run between Bratislava Airport and the town.

Dom umenia (Arts Centre) photo by Martin Hlauka (Pescan)

At the railway station. photo by Peter Zelizňák

Colonade Bridge. photo by Bjalek Michal

The Crutch Breaker sculpted by Robert Kühmayer. Photo by Peter Zelizňák.

Welcome to the UNICA festival week

Everyone can visit UNICA to see the world's best non-commercial short films. Go to Dom Umenia in Piešťany, Slovakia. There is no charge for viewing films.

With A Congress Card

For the full experience, buy a Congress Card for the excursions and special events. Purchase details on the UNICA 2014 website.

The Opening Banquet

We start with a formal ceremony centred on raising the UNICA flag in the cinema. There will be welcomes from VIPs and entertainment including an organ recital by Martin Bako. The evening ends with a formal banquet.

Bratislava (whole day excursion) Sunday 24th August

Half-Day Excursion

Details not yet announced.

The Closing Banquet

At the end of the week is the prize-giving and closing ceremony. The UNICA flag will be passed to the Russian federation, who are hosting UNICA 2015. The entertainment includes  ”The breeze blowing “ - a programme of folk music and singing by Lúčnica, a Slovak National Folklore ensemble.  Their artistic director and commentator: Martin Sleziakand  will speak. This too ends with a formal banquet - which can become quite emotional as friends say farewell.

Extras for Everyone

At no extra charge ...

There will be a presentation from the hosts of next year's UNICA during the week. This will involve a promotional film and perhaps a drinks reception.

There is a meeting of the Friends of UNICA, a group which celebrates UNICA in a sociable way.

The General Assembly of UNICA at which decisions about the work of the organisation are taken.Everyone may attend but only official representatives of member federations may vote. For more details see here.

World Minute Movie Cup

This is a fun competition for films up to 60 seconds long.

Each country - whether affiliated to UNICA or not - may enter one videofilm of up to 60 seconds. Countries which reached the final competition of 16 films in 2013 may enter two films for 2014:
AUT, BGR, CHE, CZE, DEU, GBR, GEO, HRV, LUX, NLD, SVK, UKR

Entry forms for the World Minute Movie Cup must be received by 1st July 2014.

16 films are selected from the entries and presented in a series of knock-out rounds. The host is usually Zeljko Balog from Croatia though in 2013 Dr. Georg Schoerner from Austria stood in for him. (National federations can download an entry form as a Word document here.)

Other pages about UNICA 2014

Introduction

Travel

Accommodation

Films entered

The jury

Social Events

General Assembly

To the UNICA 2014 menu

Regulations for the festival and the competition
(in English) as a pdf