The Art Film International Film Festival returns this year with its popular Late Night Show section – a curated selection of films that push the boundaries of genre, visual aesthetics, and psychological intensity. Curated by Ivana Petríková and Magdaléna Mezoughi, the program navigates between darkness and humor, reality and fantasy, with each title standing out for its unique character. The lineup will screen in Košice from June 20 to 27, 2025.
The documentary CHAIN REACTIONS (USA, 2024, dir. Alexandre O. Philippe) explores the enduring impact of the cult horror The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on five influential creatives – Stephen King, Takashi Miike, Karyn Kusama, Patton Oswalt, and Alexandra Heller-Nicholas. Through personal recollections and never-before-seen footage, the film reveals how this low-budget production shaped collective consciousness and defined an era. It won Best Documentary on Cinema at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. “As someone who studied film theory, I adore documentaries that reinterpret classic films and uncover unexpected layers. This one is a love letter to the horror genre – but really, it’s about our inexplicable fascination with darkness,” said section curator Magdaléna Mezoughi.
To mark the film’s 50th anniversary, a digitally restored version of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (USA, 1974, dir. Tobe Hooper) will also be screened at the festival. This genre-defining classic, never before released in Slovak cinemas, influenced generations of filmmakers. “We’re especially proud of this pairing,” added Ivana Petríková. “Sometimes things just fall into place – the 50th anniversary, the Venice premiere of Chain Reactions, and the documentary’s director serving as a juror at this year’s IFF ART FILM. There’s no one better suited to present both films and discuss their significance than Alexandre O. Philippe himself.”
The Chinese sci-fi comedy ESCAPE FROM THE 21ST CENTURY (China, 2024, dir. Yang Li) tells the story of three teens who fall into a technicolor lake and discover they can sneeze their way twenty years into the future. There, they face unexpected challenges and must save the world. Premiering in TIFF’s Midnight Madness section, the film blends action, humor, and nostalgia. “It’s rare for us to screen something this colorful,” said Mezoughi. “It draws on video games, comics, and anime – a whirlwind of sci-fi, action, time travel, and laughs. The digital generation is going to love it.”
Australia’s stop-motion animated film MEMOIR OF A SNAIL (Australia, 2024, dir. Adam Elliot) offers a poignant portrait of outsider Grace Pudel, who recounts her life story to her snail companion Sylvia. A blend of dark humor, melancholy, and warmth, the film is deeply moving. “It truly touched me,” Mezoughi shared. “A beautifully crafted, emotionally intelligent film that shifts between tragedy and comedy, reminding us never to give up.”
Korean occult horror EXHUMA (South Korea, 2024, dir. Jae-hyun Jang) follows shaman Hwa-rim, called to help a wealthy family plagued by mysterious illness. During an exhumation, terrifying secrets and supernatural forces are unleashed. “Exhuma is chilling, mesmerizing, and unforgettable – a brilliant experience for fans of horror, especially Asian horror,” said Petríková.
Based on true events, THE RITUAL (USA, 2025, dir. David Midell) recounts the 1928 exorcism of Emma Schmidt. Al Pacino stars as Father Theophilus Riesinger, leading a harrowing series of exorcisms. The film blends horror with deep psychological and spiritual insight.
MEMOIR OF A SNAIL will be preceded by the short animated film LIGHTS (Czech Republic, 2023, dir. Jitka Nemikinsová), a metaphorical tale of an individual striving to fit in while preserving their uniqueness. Screened at over 150 festivals and winner of 30+ awards, it will be shown in Slovakia for the first time. “This tender student film has made the global rounds and fits perfectly with our section,” said Petríková. “Both animated works explore themes of coming-of-age and finding one’s place in the world.”
Late Night Show at IFF Art Film 2025 offers an unmissable experience for fans of dark, provocative, and genre-defying cinema. Don’t miss the chance to dive into this bold lineup – cinepasses available now at the festival’s official website: https://iffartfilm.com.
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- Exhuma © Showbox
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- CHAIN REACTIONS © MPI Media Group
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- Rituál © XYZ Films
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- Spomienky z ulity © Arenamedia Pty Ltd Charades
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- Texaský masaker motorovou pílou © MPI Media Group
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- Útek z 21. storočia © Fortissimo Films
The 31st edition of IFF ART FILM is made possible with 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;
Financially supported by: Audiovizuálny fond
Co-financed by: Košický samosprávny kraj through the Terra Incognita program;
General advertising partner: SPP
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;
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;
Official wine: 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, 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;
Partners: JOJ Cinema, Jojko, Veľvyslanectvo Indie v Bratislave, Carmeuse Slovakia, 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, Východoslovenské múzeum v Košiciach, Letní filmová škola, 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 vináreň, Casa Trade – Casablanca cafe, TATRATEA, Moritz Eis;
