Art Film Fest Kosice

Overview

Art Film Fest Kosice is Slovakia's most important international film festival and has FIAPF Competitive Specialised accreditation. Founded in 1993 and held annually in June in Kosice, Slovakia's second-largest city and 2013 European Capital of Culture, the festival screens approximately 150 films over seven days and serves as the primary platform for international cinema in Slovakia.

The festival's FIAPF accreditation places it among the recognized competitive festivals in Central Europe, and its competitive program provides a platform for international films seeking exposure in Slovakia and the broader Central European region.

Kosice's location in eastern Slovakia, near the borders with Hungary, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic, gives the festival a crossroads character that attracts audiences from multiple neighboring countries.

Key Sections

• International Competition -- films competing for the Blue Angel Award
• Slovak Films -- a showcase for new Slovak cinema
• Documentary Program -- nonfiction features and shorts
• Special Screenings -- tributes and premieres
• Educational Program -- screenings for schools and youth audiences

What Filmmakers Should Know

Art Film Fest accepts open submissions. The festival's FIAPF accreditation gives its prizes international recognition. For Slovak filmmakers, the festival is the most important domestic platform.

Major Awards

• Blue Angel Award -- Best Film in the International Competition
• Special Jury Prize
• Slovak Film Prize
• Audience Award

Festival History

Art Film Fest was founded in 1993 in the early years of Slovak independence following the Velvet Divorce from Czech Republic. The festival has operated continuously since then, growing alongside Slovakia's cultural development as an independent nation.

See Also

For Central European cinema, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.