The short film competition is a staple of the festival programme, and once again this year, the winners and other honourees will be selected by prominent figures from Slovak and European cinema – director Alica Bednáriková (SK), producer Timea Huszár (HU), and director Zornitsa Dimitrova (BG). The selection of competing titles was curated by festival programmer Martin Kaňuch. The section will present 36 films from across the globe.
The first of the three-member jury is emerging Slovak director Alica Bednáriková. Her short films Boredom (2020) and Liquid Bread (2021) were screened at prestigious festivals including Cannes, Karlovy Vary, and Clermont-Ferrand. The latter received a Special Mention from the jury when it competed at IFF Art Film in Košice. She is currently finishing her graduation film Attention Whores and developing her debut feature.
The next jury member is Bulgarian director Zornitsa Dimitrova, currently based in Berlin. She graduated from the acclaimed Film Academy in Ludwigsburg (Baden-Württemberg). Her graduation film A Dark Moment of Faith (2021) earned multiple awards at top events including the D&AD Awards, Cannes Lions (Young Director Award), Shots Awards EMEA, Clio, and Berlin Commercial. Her work is known for a distinctive visual style, striking characters, and a keen sensitivity to female-centric themes often infused with a subtly rebellious tone.
Completing the trio is Hungarian film producer Timea Huszár. She began her career as a production assistant on major international projects such as Dune, Wonder Woman, Red Sparrow, The Continental, and Halo. A graduate of the UK’s prestigious National Film and Television School, she also completed a specialist course in 2023 on the legal and financial aspects of European co-production at the Erich Pommer Institute. Last year, she served as service producer on the Italian feature film Vita Mia, shot in Transylvania, and was also involved in producing the documentary series Enigmele României for the History Channel.
In addition to their diverse professional backgrounds and creative approaches, this year’s short film jury at the 31st IFF Art Film will also bring a distinctly female perspective to the art of cinema.
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;
Supported by: Audiovisual Fund
Co-funded by: Košice Self-governing Region through the Terra Incognita programme;
Main Partners: TIPOS national lottery company, Slovak Electricity Transmission System, a.s., CODES Brand House;
Main Media Partners: TV JOJ, Pravda, Eurotelevízia;
Advertising Partners: Best Press, U. S. Steel Košice, ANTIK telecom, Kino Úsmev, CORE LABS, LOKO TRANS Media;
Technology Partners: NOV, ZEBRA, Deutsche Telekom Systems Solutions Slovakia, T4H, DELTA OnLine, ARICOMA, TelekomCLOUD;
Official Suppliers: DKC Veritas, Slávia Café, PLOOM, Krušovice BOHÉM, Lucka spring water, DOMOS SLOVAKIA;
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, 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, ECO Technologies, Košice Airport, Local Nomad Tours, Slovak Film Institute, DERMACENTER, Taper, YumEarth, Austrian Cultural Forum, CPK Transport, Tabačka Kulturfabrik, East Slovak Museum in Košice, KPK Reklama, MIHYRING;
Gastronomy Partners: Pub u kohúta, El Nacional, Maiko Sushi, Casa Trade – Casablanca café, TATRATEA.
