At the 31st IFF Art Film 2025, the film DJ Ahmet took home a total of three Blue Angel statuettes. The jury presented the Best Actor award to Arif Jakup. “A young, promising actor who has fully mastered his craft, he stood out in the film with charm and sincerity and convinced us of love’s power to transform a cynical world. With great enthusiasm we present the Blue Angel for Best Actor to Arif Jakup for DJ Ahmet,” said Gloria Halasz, a member of the International Competition of Feature Films jury, when handing over the prize.
Is this your first time in Slovakia?
Yes, it’s my first.
What do you think of Košice?
It’s a small city, but a very beautiful one. I had the chance to see a few historic landmarks. I walked around the city and I really like it.
How would you rate tonight?
This is the first award I’ve ever received, and I’d actually prepared a mini speech, but when I got up on stage I forgot it. Still, I managed, and in that rush of happiness I improvised.
You say it was your first award. Was it also your first major film role?
Yes.
What led you to acting?
I’m studying acting in high school—I’m in my second year. I auditioned for DJ Ahmet along with 1,300 applicants and made it into the final two. They told me I’d get an answer in two weeks, and when the casting manager called me, I was stunned.
Did the film change your life?
Yes, it changed my life a lot, because I’m basically a footballer. I love football and play it, so acting has now been added. I’m caught between two goalposts, but I try to divide my time equally. Right now, acting will probably win. I still have two years of school left and I’d like to pursue this career even after university.
I trust you’re not filming on the pitch when you’re playing football.
(Laughs.)
DJ Ahmet won three awards at IFF Art Film 2025. Did you expect such success?
Our director told me, “You’ll get that award.” But he didn’t say there’d be three. When we went up on stage, it was a huge surprise for me.
The film is called DJ Ahmet. What music do you like—what are you listening to at the moment?
The Weeknd.
The 31st IFF ART FILM is made possible thanks to the support of:
Organizer: ART FILM FEST s.r.o.
Co-organizers: Mesto Košice · K13 – Košické kultúrne centrá · Visit Košice · ART FILM FEST, n.o. · LGM, s.r.o. · FORLIVE
Financial support: Audiovizuálny fond · Nadácia SPP
Co-financed by: Košický samosprávny kraj through the Terra Incognita programme
Main Partners: národná lotériová spoločnosť TIPOS · Slovenská elektrizačná prenosová sústava, a.s. · CODES Brand House
Main Media Partners: TV JOJ · Pravda · Eurotelevízia
Automotive Partner: Moris Slovakia
Advertising Partners: Best Press · U. S. Steel Košice · ANTIK telecom · Kino Úsmev · LOKO TRANS Media · CORE Labs · Technická univerzita v Košiciach
Technology Partners: NOV · ZEBRA · Deutsche Telekom Systems Solutions Slovakia · T4H · LEDGO · DELTA OnLine · ARICOMA · TelekomCLOUD
Official Suppliers: DKC Veritas · Kaviareň Slávia · PLOOM · Krušovice BOHÉM · pramenitá voda Lucka · DOMOS SLOVAKIA · Reštaurácia Contessa · Aupark Shopping Center Košice · Pierre Baguette · Julius Meinl · Red Fox Golf Club
Official wines: Kubbo Select · Ostrožovič
Media Partners: JOJ play · JOJ 24 · Film Europe · Rádio KOŠICE · Aktuality.sk · Forbes · Startitup.sk · Korzár · Slovenka · SITA · TASR · Mediaboard · See & Go · Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze – ČSFD · BigMedia · Košice City Guide · Košice v skratke · Film.sk · diva.sk · koktejl.sk · zenskyweb.sk · MOJAkultúra · Kino Sterio · Dopravný podnik mesta Košice · AHOJ TV
Partners: JOJ Cinema · Jojko · Veľvyslanectvo Indie v Bratislave · Carmeuse Slovakia · DDDental · TINY Houses · ECO Technologies · Letisko Košice · Local Nomad Tours · Slovenský filmový ústav · Taper · YumEarth · Puella vône · Kvety Garomi · čLOVEčina hra · Rakúske kultúrne fórum · TESCO Store SK · CPK Transport · Tabačka Kulturfabrik · King Media · Východoslovenské múzeum v Košiciach · Letní filmová škola · KPK Reklama · MIHYRING · Zoberma taxi · Hair Factory Košice · Veľvyslanectví České republiky v Bratislavě
Gastronomy Partners: Pub u Kohúta · El Nacional · OhniskO Fire Dining & Brew Bar · Maiko Sushi · Macarons Košice · šum vináreň · Café de Paris · Casa Trade – Casablanca cafe · TATRATEA · Moritz Eis
