The current, 31st edition of Slovakia\u2019s largest and oldest film festival, IFF Art Film, is drawing to a close\u2014and the winners are already known. This year\u2019s trophies, the prestigious Blue Angel awards, were handed out in four competitions: the International Competition of Feature Films, the International Competition of Short Films, the International Competition of Central and Eastern European Films, and\u2014for the first time\u2014the Blue Angel-FIPRESCI Prize presented by a jury of the International Federation of Film Critics. In addition to the main categories, the jurors also honoured the best performances, direction, and several special mentions.<\/p>\n
At the start of the ceremony, the honorary Golden Camera for Outstanding Contribution to Cinematography went to master cinematographer and filmmaker Martin \u0160trba<\/strong>, a four-time Czech Lion and three-time Sun in a Net laureate. Director Iveta Gr\u00f3fov\u00e1<\/strong> presented the prize. Another honorary award\u2014the Actor\u2019s Mission\u2014was bestowed on actress Daniela Kol\u00e1\u0159ov\u00e1<\/strong> for her extraordinary contribution to screen acting, although health reasons prevented her from attending the gala.<\/p>\n The audience once again chose the festival\u2019s most-popular film. The JOJ Cinema Audience Award went to Estonian director Liina Tri\u0161kina-Vanhatalo<\/strong> for Lioness<\/em>.<\/p>\n The professional jury for the International Competition of Short Films\u2014Hungarian producer Timea Husz\u00e1r<\/strong> and directors Alica Bedn\u00e1rikov\u00e1<\/strong> (Slovakia) and Zornitsa Dimitrova<\/strong> (Bulgaria)\u2014awarded the Blue Angel for Best Short Film to the Slovak documentary Confession<\/em> (2024) by Rebeka Bizubov\u00e1<\/strong>. \u201cThis film hits like a punch. It strips cinema to its essence: a raw, honest story told with striking yet simple means. The director\u2019s courage and craftsmanship are remarkable\u2014hats off,\u201d<\/em> the trio said. They also granted two Special Mentions. The first went to O<\/em> (2024) by R\u00fanar R\u00fanarsson<\/strong>, praised for its unflinching treatment of a difficult subject: \u201cAuthentic and delicate, yet heartbreaking, it lays bare addiction in all its rawness\u2014masterfully done.\u201d<\/em> The director received \u20ac500 along with the Blue Angel.<\/p>\n A Special Mention was likewise given to Obituary Service for You<\/em> (2024) by Mar\u00eda Salafranca<\/strong>, described as \u201ca refreshingly absurd work that straddles comedy, documentary and advertisement\u2014an absolute delight to watch.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The jury for the International Competition of Central and Eastern European Films\u2014FIPRESCI vice-president Olena Rubashevska<\/strong> (Ukraine), French talent agent Andr\u00e9 Rapha\u00ebl Ivanov<\/strong> and Swedish multimedia critic-artist Anders E. Larsson<\/strong>\u2014awarded the Blue Angel for Best Film to the longitudinal documentary I Was Born to Serve<\/em> (2025) by Attila Moharos<\/strong>, portraying the harsh fate of two brothers in Romania\u2019s Transylvania region. The jury cited its \u201cdeeply human story\u2014scarred by alcoholism and abuse\u2014about a kind of servitude most people have never heard of,\u201d<\/em> praised the film\u2019s 23-year perspective, and lauded its \u201csimple yet potent aesthetic that interweaves past and present.\u201d The producers received \u20ac1,500 along with the Blue Angel.<\/p>\n The International Competition of Feature Films was judged by American director Alexandre O. Philippe<\/strong>, Slovak director-producer Marko \u0160kop<\/strong> and Hungarian director Gl\u00f3ria Hal\u00e1sz<\/strong>. The Blue Angel for Best Feature went to the Macedonian debut DJ Ahmet<\/em> (2025) by Georgi M. Unkovski<\/strong>. Juror Philippe said, \u201cThis prize honours a film that boldly tells a tale of love\u2019s power. It shows that by following our inner rhythm and expressing our individuality without fear or shame, we can break free from oppressive forces. With great pride we present the Blue Angel for Best Film to DJ Ahmet.\u201d<\/em> The producers also earned a \u20ac2,000 cash award.<\/p>\n The Blue Angel for Best Direction likewise went to Unkovski for his debut DJ Ahmet<\/em>. \u201cThe award goes to an exceptional storyteller who created a whimsical, magical world and, with an incredibly fluid and clear vision, delivered a heartbreaking, utterly original rural Macedonian love story. His flawless casting and emotionally precise direction are nothing short of extraordinary,\u201d<\/em> Halasz said.<\/p>\n Besides direction and best film, the international jury honoured the actors. The Blue Angel for Best Actress was presented by Marko \u0160kop and Audiovisual Fund director Vladim\u00edr Burianek<\/strong> to Vesta Matulyt\u0117<\/strong> and Ieva Rupeikait\u0117<\/strong> for their double performance in the Lithuanian film Toxic<\/em> (2024). \u201cThe prize goes to a dual performance by two young actresses whose impressive commitment brings to life teenage girls dreaming of a better life in harsh conditions. We were deeply moved by the authenticity of their dynamic, and both deserve to share the Blue Angel for Best Actress,\u201d<\/em> the jury explained.<\/p>\n The jury awarded the Blue Angel for Best Actor to Arif Jakup<\/strong> for his compelling, authentic work in DJ Ahmet<\/em>. \u201cThe award goes to a promising young actor whose mastery, charm and honesty convince us of love\u2019s transformative power in a cynical world,\u201d<\/em> Halasz said, joined on-stage by Zlatica Vargov\u00e1<\/strong>, trustee of the SPP Foundation.<\/p>\n A Special Mention went to Slovak actress Rebeka Pol\u00e1kov\u00e1<\/strong> for her role in the Austrian-Slovak film Perla<\/em> (2025). Juror Philippe noted: \u201cFor a fascinating portrayal of a character torn between conflicting desires in the complex Cold-War setting.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The FIPRESCI Prize was decided by Slovak film theorist M\u00e1ria Feren\u010duhov\u00e1<\/strong>, British professor-critic Jonathan Murray<\/strong> and Swiss critic Malik Berkati<\/strong>. They selected Perla<\/em> (2024), the story of an \u00e9migr\u00e9 painter returning from Vienna to communist Czechoslovakia to repay an old debt. \u201cOur winner is an ambitious, incisive film that resists easy hindsight and snap judgments. It illuminates Europe\u2019s politically charged past and present through themes of exile, trauma and systemic violence against women that persists today. Its dramaturgy and camerawork unite to capture the human condition\u2019s complexity and mutability, while its visual style and narrative structure forge painterly compositions, subtle metaphors and reflections of the protagonist\u2019s layered identity and past,\u201d<\/em> the FIPRESCI jury stated.<\/p>\n Festivalgoers still have one final day of screenings ahead, after which we\u2019ll gather again in Ko\u0161ice next year for the 32nd edition of IFF Art Film.<\/p>\n The 31st IFF ART FILM is made possible thanks to the support of:<\/b><\/p>\n Organizer:<\/b> ART FILM FEST s.r.o.<\/span><\/p>\n Co-organizers:<\/b> Mesto Ko\u0161ice \u00b7 K13 \u2013 Ko\u0161ick\u00e9 kult\u00farne centr\u00e1 \u00b7 Visit Ko\u0161ice \u00b7 ART FILM FEST, n.o. \u00b7 LGM, s.r.o. \u00b7 FORLIVE<\/span><\/p>\n Financial support:<\/b> Audiovizu\u00e1lny fond \u00b7 Nad\u00e1cia SPP<\/span><\/p>\n Co-financed by:<\/b> Ko\u0161ick\u00fd samospr\u00e1vny kraj through the Terra Incognita programme<\/span><\/p>\n Main Partners<\/b>: n\u00e1rodn\u00e1 lot\u00e9riov\u00e1 spolo\u010dnos\u0165 TIPOS \u00b7 Slovensk\u00e1 elektriza\u010dn\u00e1 prenosov\u00e1 s\u00fastava, a.s. \u00b7 CODES Brand House<\/span><\/p>\n Main Media Partners: <\/b>TV JOJ \u00b7 Pravda \u00b7 Eurotelev\u00edzia<\/span><\/p>\n Automotive Partner: <\/b>Moris Slovakia<\/span><\/p>\n Advertising Partners: <\/b>Best Press \u00b7 U. S. Steel Ko\u0161ice \u00b7 ANTIK telecom \u00b7 Kino \u00dasmev \u00b7 LOKO TRANS Media \u00b7 CORE Labs \u00b7 Technick\u00e1 univerzita v Ko\u0161iciach<\/span><\/p>\n Technology Partners: <\/b>NOV \u00b7 ZEBRA \u00b7 Deutsche Telekom Systems Solutions Slovakia \u00b7 T4H \u00b7 LEDGO \u00b7 DELTA OnLine \u00b7 ARICOMA \u00b7 TelekomCLOUD<\/span><\/p>\n Official Suppliers: <\/b>DKC Veritas \u00b7 Kaviare\u0148 Sl\u00e1via \u00b7 PLOOM \u00b7 Kru\u0161ovice BOH\u00c9M \u00b7 pramenit\u00e1 voda Lucka \u00b7 DOMOS SLOVAKIA \u00b7 Re\u0161taur\u00e1cia Contessa \u00b7 Aupark Shopping Center Ko\u0161ice \u00b7 Pierre Baguette \u00b7 Julius Meinl \u00b7 Red Fox Golf Club<\/span> Media Partners: <\/b>JOJ play \u00b7 JOJ 24 \u00b7 Film Europe \u00b7 R\u00e1dio KO\u0160ICE \u00b7 Aktuality.sk \u00b7 Forbes \u00b7 Startitup.sk \u00b7 Korz\u00e1r \u00b7 Slovenka \u00b7 SITA \u00b7 TASR \u00b7 Mediaboard \u00b7 See & Go \u00b7 \u010cesko-Slovensk\u00e1 filmov\u00e1 datab\u00e1ze \u2013 \u010cSFD \u00b7 BigMedia \u00b7 Ko\u0161ice City Guide \u00b7 Ko\u0161ice v skratke \u00b7 Film.sk \u00b7 diva.sk \u00b7 koktejl.sk \u00b7 zenskyweb.sk \u00b7 MOJAkult\u00fara \u00b7 Kino Sterio \u00b7 Dopravn\u00fd podnik mesta Ko\u0161ice \u00b7 AHOJ TV<\/span><\/p>\n Partners: <\/b>JOJ Cinema \u00b7 Jojko \u00b7 Ve\u013evyslanectvo Indie v Bratislave \u00b7 Carmeuse Slovakia \u00b7 DDDental \u00b7 TINY Houses \u00b7 ECO Technologies \u00b7 Letisko Ko\u0161ice \u00b7 Local Nomad Tours \u00b7 Slovensk\u00fd filmov\u00fd \u00fastav \u00b7 Taper \u00b7 YumEarth \u00b7 Puella v\u00f4ne \u00b7 Kvety Garomi \u00b7 \u010dLOVE\u010dina hra \u00b7 Rak\u00faske kult\u00farne f\u00f3rum \u00b7 TESCO Store SK \u00b7 CPK Transport \u00b7 Taba\u010dka Kulturfabrik \u00b7 King Media \u00b7 V\u00fdchodoslovensk\u00e9 m\u00fazeum v Ko\u0161iciach \u00b7 Letn\u00ed filmov\u00e1 \u0161kola \u00b7 KPK Reklama \u00b7 MIHYRING \u00b7 Zoberma taxi \u00b7 Hair Factory Ko\u0161ice \u00b7 Ve\u013evyslanectv\u00ed \u010cesk\u00e9 republiky v Bratislav\u011b<\/span><\/p>\n Gastronomy Partners: <\/b>Pub u Koh\u00fata \u00b7 El Nacional \u00b7 OhniskO Fire Dining & Brew Bar \u00b7 Maiko Sushi \u00b7 Macarons Ko\u0161ice \u00b7 \u0161um vin\u00e1re\u0148 \u00b7 Caf\u00e9 de Paris \u00b7 Casa Trade \u2013 Casablanca cafe \u00b7 TATRATEA \u00b7 Moritz Eis<\/span><\/p>\n The current, 31st edition of Slovakia\u2019s largest and oldest film festival, IFF Art Film, is drawing to a close\u2014and","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":44709,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,17,24],"tags":[175],"class_list":["post-44711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-films","category-news","category-people","tag-aff-2025-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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\n<\/span>Official wines:<\/b> Kubbo Select \u00b7 Ostro\u017eovi\u010d<\/span><\/p>\n
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