The Art Film International Film Festival will hold its 31st edition in Košice from 20 to 27 June 2025. As the oldest and largest film festival in Slovakia, it once again brings exceptional cinematic experiences, prestigious awards, and a rich accompanying program to the metropolis of the East.
“I’m very pleased that, despite the times we live in and all the challenges they bring, we have once again managed to prepare a festival of the quality our audiences are accustomed to,” said the festival’s producer, Ján Kováčik.
Today, the festival is an integral part of Košice and the Košice Self-governing Region. “Supporting the arts and the creative industry is among our long-term priorities. This is evident in the achievements of the Košice Region Film Office. We believe culture plays an irreplaceable role in the region’s development—it showcases talented creators and enriches community life. The Art Film International Film Festival is proof that art has the power to bring people together, inspire dialogue, and make society better,” said Ladislav Lörinc, Vice President of the Košice Self-governing Region.
This June, the organizers will once again honor outstanding figures in cinema during IFF Art Film in Košice. This year, the Actor’s Mission Award will go to Milan Ondrík and Daniela Kolářová, while cinematographer Martin Štrba will receive the Golden Camera Award. For the first time ever, the festival will also present the Milan Lasica Award, given posthumously to significant Slovak film actors. The very first recipient will be Ivan Mistrík, whose 90th birthday would be celebrated this year.
“After last year’s signing of a ten-year cooperation memorandum, Art Film is entering a new chapter. This partnership is a sign of trust and a guarantee that the festival remains a key part of our city’s cultural identity. It positions Košice as a major hub for cinematic art in Slovakia, attracting filmgoers, supporting local artists and the economy, and enhancing our international prestige. I’m personally pleased that our city’s cultural infrastructure plays an important role in the festival. Not only Kunsthalle and other festival venues, but also the Singing Fountain, which will for the second year in a row offer visitors a unique light show inspired by film music,” said Košice mayor Jaroslav Polaček.
Artistic director Martin Palúch introduced the films featured in the festival’s competitive and non-competitive sections: “We’ve invested great effort into curating the 31st edition of IFF Art Film. Audiences can look forward to 136 films, including 46 shorts and 90 feature films.” Winners in the international feature film competition, short films, Central and Eastern European films, and the FIPRESCI jury award will once again receive the Blue Angel statuette. “We’re excited to have secured this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner A Minor Accident by Iranian director Jafar Panahi—who, incidentally, chaired the Art Film jury in 2007,” added Palúch.
The opening film of this year’s IFF Art Film will be the premiere of Chronicle of Eternal Dreamers by Rastislav Boroš, introduced in person by the filmmakers and cast.
The festival will also feature a robust industry program for film professionals, including masterclasses, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with filmmakers. The accompanying program includes concerts, exhibitions, and special screenings at unique locations throughout Košice. Among the highlights are the popular Baláž & Hubinák talk show, Bez šepkára with Milan Kolcun, an acoustic concert by Celeste Buckingham, and a well-loved children’s program.
The full program for the 31st edition of the Art Film International Film Festival Košice is now available at aff.cinepass.sk.
The 31st IFF ART FILM is made possible thanks to the support of:
Organizer: ART FILM FEST s.r.o.
Co-organizers: City of Košice, K13 – Košice Cultural Centres, Visit Košice, ART FILM FEST, n.o., LGM, s.r.o., FORLIVE
Financially supported by: The Audiovisual Fund
Co-financed by: Košice Self-governing Region through the Terra Incognita program
General Advertising Partner: SPP
Main Partners: National Lottery Company TIPOS, Slovak Electricity Transmission System (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
Technology Partners: NOV, ZEBRA, Deutsche Telekom Systems Solutions Slovakia, T4H, LEDGO, DELTA OnLine, ARICOMA, TelekomCLOUD
Official Suppliers: DKC Veritas, Kaviareň Slávia, PLOOM, Krušovice BOHÉM, Lucka spring water, DOMOS SLOVAKIA, Contessa Restaurant, Aupark Shopping Center Košice, Pierre Baguette, Julius Meinl
Official Wines: Kubbo Select and Ostrožovič
Media Partners: JOJ PLAY, JOJ 24, Film Europe, Rádio KOŠICE, Aktuality.sk, Forbes, Startitup.sk, Korzár, Slovenka, SITA, TASR, Mediaboard, See & Go, Czech-Slovak Film Database (ČSFD), BigMedia, Košice City Guide, Košice v skratke, Film.sk, diva.sk, koktejl.sk, zenskyweb.sk, MOJAkultúra, kino Sterio
Partners: JOJ Cinema, Jojko, Embassy of India in Bratislava, Carmeuse Slovakia, TINY Houses, ECO Technologies, Košice Airport, Local Nomad Tours, Slovak Film Institute, Taper, YumEarth, PUELLAvone, Kvety Garomi, čLOVEčina hra, Austrian Cultural Forum, TESCO Store SK, CPK Transport, Tabačka Kulturfabrik, East Slovak Museum in Košice, Summer Film School, KPK Reklama, MIHYRING, Zoberma taxi, Hair Factory Košice
Gastronomy Partners: Pub u Kohúta, El Nacional, OhniskO Fire Dining&Brew Bar, Maiko Sushi, Macarons Košice, Café de Paris, šum Wine Bar, Casa Trade – Casablanca Café, TATRATEA, Moritz Eis
