An animated folk allegory from 17th-century Baltic lands, a sci-fi vision of Paris under the watch of an artificial intelligence, Ben Wheatley’s gritty neo-western comedy with Bob Odenkirk, a sci-fi horror about memory and identity, and the cult classic The Omen, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year. These are the first five confirmed titles to screen after dark in the Late Night Show genre section at the 32nd IFF ART FILM Košice (19 – 25 June 2026).
The Late Night Show section traditionally brings a genre mix full of adrenaline, suspense and cinematic playfulness — titles built for the post-midnight viewing experience that seek to combine an auteur signature with genre flair. The section is curated by the festival’s Programme Coordinators Magdaléna Mezoughi and Ivana Edlund.
Affection – a cyclical nightmare about memory and identity
The sci-fi horror debut by American writer-director BT Meza follows Ellie, who wakes up in a strange house with a man and a small girl who claim to be her husband and daughter. But Ellie doesn’t remember them, and finds herself caught in a recurring nightmare where memory dissolves and everything begins again. The film world-premiered at Screamfest in Los Angeles in October 2025 and also screened at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. “The film tries to capture the state in which a person finds themselves after a sudden and definitive loss. Grief, sorrow, love and our very identity are then subject to a great emotional test. For director BT Meza this is a deeply personal film. The sci-fi horror genre gave him the space to work through the memories and feelings that come with losing a loved one,” adds Ivana Edlund.
Dog of God (Dieva suns) – a rotoscope allegory from the 17th century
The animated film Dog of God by Latvian directors Lauris and Raitis Abele transports us to historical Livonia in 1692. In a rain-soaked, gloomy town, someone steals a sacred relic from the chambers of priest Bukholcs, triggering a chain of disturbing events. The mysterious innkeeper Neze is accused of the theft, while Baron Klods, tormented by infertility, convenes a trial even as he discovers the aphrodisiac effects of a supernatural plant brought from Africa. Matters grow even stranger with the arrival of an 82-year-old pilgrim who calls himself the “Dog of God” — a trickster-like archetype disrupting order and exposing hidden truths. Visually, the film stands out for its bold rotoscope animation, grotesque aesthetic, and elements of folk horror. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival and in December 2025 it was nominated for the European Film Awards in the categories of Best European Film and Best European Animated Feature Film. “It’s a dirty, noisy film, it sounds like a wolf’s howl. A twisted, fascinating fairy tale, perversely funny, extremely violent — simply a perfect nightmare,” adds one of the section’s curators, Magdaléna Mezoughi.
Dog 51 (Chien 51) – Paris in 2045 in the hands of an artificial intelligence
This French dystopian thriller by director Cédric Jimenez is a loose adaptation of the novel by Laurent Gaudé. In 2045, Paris is divided into zones according to social class — Zone 1 for the elite, Zone 2 for the middle class, Zone 3 for the poorest — and the population is monitored by an artificial intelligence named ALMA. When its creator Georges Kessel is assassinated, two police officers from different social classes — Salia and Zem — are assigned to the investigation, moving through an environment of drones and algorithmic surveillance. The leading roles are played by Gilles Lellouche, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Romain Duris, Louis Garrel and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. The film was screened out of competition at last year’s Venice Film Festival and received two César 2026 nominations — for production design and for visual effects. “We included the film in the programme for its highly topical message about a society in which technological progress intersects with themes of social inequality, control and the loss of privacy. Director Cédric Jimenez uses an engaging thriller framework to create a visually compelling yet disturbingly realistic vision of the near future,” explains Magdaléna Mezoughi.
Normal – Bob Odenkirk as sheriff in Ben Wheatley’s neo-western
This collaborative project — bringing together actor Bob Odenkirk (Nobody, the TV hit Better Call Saul), John Wickcreator Derek Kolstad, Nobody producer Marc Provissier and British director Ben Wheatley — is an action neo-western in which Odenkirk plays a sheriff stepping in as substitute after the mysterious death of his predecessor in a quiet, unremarkable town called Normal somewhere in the American Midwest. During his intervention in a bank robbery he gradually uncovers the shocking secrets of this peaceful small town. The other roles feature Henry Winkler and Lena Headey (Game of Thrones). The film premiered in the Midnight Madness section at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. “We are delighted that this year we can present another film by British director Ben Wheatley. After High Rise (IFF ART FILM 2016) and Free Fire (IFF ART FILM 2017), which Art Film presented in the Late Night Show section, here is another of Wheatley’s brilliant, entertaining black comedies,” Ivana Edlund notes.
The Omen – cult horror from 1976 in its 50th anniversary year
Richard Donner’s classic horror The Omen celebrates exactly half a century since its release this year. The film starring Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner and young Harvey Stephens established the template for films about little Antichrists and demonic children that continue to be made to this day. Composer Jerry Goldsmith won his only Oscar for the film’s score, and his famous piece “Ave Satani” became one of the most memorable musical motifs in horror history.
More information about confirmed titles, as well as cinepasses for the 32nd IFF ART FILM Košice, is available at aff.cinepass.sk.
The 32nd IFF ART FILM is made possible thanks to the support of:
Main organizer: ART FILM FEST s.r.o.
Co-organizers: Mesto Košice, K13 – Košické kultúrne centrá, Visit Košice, ART FILM FEST, n.o.
With the financial support of: Audiovizuálny fond
The project was co-financed by the Košice Self-governing Region from the Terra Incognita program.
Main partners: CODES Brand House, H2O FUND SICAV
Automotive partner: AUTO-VALAS
Official hotel: Hotel Yasmin
Main media partners: TV JOJ, Pravda, Eurotelevízia
Sponsors: U. S. Steel Košice, ANTIK Telecom, Kino Úsmev, LOKO TRANS Media, CORE Labs, Technická univerzita v Košiciach
Technological partners: NOV, ZEBRA, Deutsche Telekom Systems Solutions Slovakia, DELTA OnLine, ARICOMA
Official suppliers: DKC Veritas, PLOOM, DOMOS SLOVAKIA, Reštaurácia Contessa, Natura, Kinley, Julius Meinl
Media partners: JOJ play, JOJ 24, Film Europe Media Company, Rádio KOŠICE, Aktuality.sk, Forbes, Startitup.sk, Korzár, Slovenka, SITA, TASR, Mediaboard, AHOJ TV, See & Go, Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze – ČSFD, Filmsk.sk, BigMedia, Kino Sterio, Košice City Guide, Košice V Skratke, MOJAkultura.sk, diva.sk, koktejl.sk, zenskyweb.sk
Partners: JOJ Cinema, Jojko, DDDental, CK TUI ReiseCenter Slovensko, Taper, ECO Technologies, Letisko Košice, Rent2Eat, CPK Transport, iWish.sk, Kvety Garomi, Hair Factory Košice, MIHYRING
Gastronomic partners: Pub u Kohúta, OhniskO Fire Dining & Brew Bar, MAIKO SUSHI, Kaviareň Slávia, El Nacional, Tabačka Kulturfabrik, Casa Trade – Casablanca cafe
