Peter Nagel, the programme director of the IFF Bratislava, replaces. Ludmila Cvikova from the Rotterdam Film Festival was responsible for the films selection in Art Film in 2007 and 2008. Cvikova had been notable for using her Rotterdam contacts and expertise to bring films and filmmakers to the mountain spa town of Trencianske Teplice. She was unexpectedly moved out from her position. Joining Nagel as programme selector is Martin Ciel.

The former IFF Bratislava team was reportedly unhappy with the appointment of a new festival president, Maria Rehakova, majority owner of the successful publisher house Star Media.

Slovak entrepreneur Jan Kovacik (producer of the current box office success Soul at Peace) became the producer the Art Film Fest in 2003. In recognition of a resurgence in Slovak cinema, the festival adds a new section on Slovak films, including two premieres: My Husband's Women (Zeny mojho muza, directed by Ivan Vojnar) and The Border (Hranica, directed by Jaro Vojtek).