IFF Art Film has been bringing the most engaging works of world and Slovak cinema to the big screen for more than three decades. This year’s edition not only offers a powerful film line-up, but also a host of innovations—from the festival’s first-ever FIPRESCI jury and a new honorary prize to panel talks on artificial intelligence. Artistic director Martin Palúch tells us what visitors can look forward to—and what they absolutely shouldn’t miss.
What can visitors to the 31st Art Film see and experience?
The most tempting offerings are the contemporary-cinema sections, which present brand-new titles from all over the globe. These include the prestigious International Competition of Feature Films, the International Competition of Short Films and the CEE Competition for films from Central and Eastern Europe. I’d especially like to highlight the premieres of new Slovak features, which will compete in the main sections and appear in the Slovak Season programme.
I mustn’t forget the Panorama section—a bouquet of last year’s festival highlights from Cannes, Venice, Locarno, Sundance, the Berlinale and Rotterdam.
Ninety features and forty-six shorts are on offer. What mustn’t audiences miss?
We secured several Cannes titles, first and foremost the Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident. Its director, Jafar Panahi, was on the Art Film jury back in 2007.
Equally important is Two Prosecutors by Sergei Loznitsa, last year’s Golden Camera laureate.
We also obtained Sorry, Baby by U.S.-French filmmaker Eva Victor. After its Sundance triumph the film was invited to Cannes—rare for a picture that already holds an award. Audiences will see it in the International Competition of Feature Films.
Add to that Luca Guadagnino’s electrifying Queer with Daniel Craig and the documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin, an eye-opening look inside Russia’s education system as it changes under wartime propaganda. Director Pavel Talankin ultimately had to emigrate because of the film.
And that is only a taste of what awaits viewers in Košice cinemas until 27 June.
Until now Art Film has hosted three international juries. This year a fourth has been added. What makes it special?
We’ve always had three juries of three members each. For the first time we welcome a FIPRESCI jury, comprising three representatives of the International Federation of Film Critics. A FIPRESCI jury hasn’t visited Slovakia in years; it’s one of the most prestigious expert juries on the festival circuit. Hosting it is both an honour and a reward.
The festival also features a rich Industry programme. What would you single out?
Masterclasses by two big names: renowned Slovak cinematographer Martin Štrba (this year’s Golden Camera winner) and the legendary Dušan Trančík. We’ll also premiere Trančík’s new documentary Operation Monaco in the CEE Competition.
A presentation by Peter Harum on using AI in documentary production—a hot topic for filmmakers.
U.S. director Alexandre O. Philippe, famous for analytical docs on pop-culture icons (Star Wars, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre), will discuss his work; we’ll screen his Venice-laurelled Chain Reactions.
Producer Timea Huszár, who works on major HBO and Netflix projects, will share insights into international co-production.
And there’s much more on the programme. Just take your pick!
What won’t you personally miss?
I’m especially looking forward to the already-mentioned gems It Was Just an Accident and Two Prosecutors.
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
