A film ends, but the conversation about it can continue long afterwards. Sometimes a character stays with us; at other times, an image, a line of dialogue or an unexpected turn in the story. When deciding on festival awards, these impressions meet questions about the screenplay, direction and how individual creative choices work together.

At Košice International Film Festival, taking place from 11 to 13 December 2026, Michal Baláž, Juraj Krén and Federico Politi will decide this year's awards. The three filmmakers bring experience from the Slovak, Czech and Italian film industries.

Michal Baláž understands a story's journey from script to screen through his work as a screenwriter, script editor and director. He also shares his experience with students at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VŠMU). Juraj Krén works primarily across black comedy, tragicomedy and thriller as a director. He also serves as the festival's programmer. Federico Politi, an Italian screenwriter and director, brings experience in short fiction and documentary filmmaking, as well as the development of new film projects.

Storytelling is central to their work, but each approaches it from a different creative background. Comparing perspectives and discussing differences are essential parts of the jury process. A film that impresses one juror with its screenplay may resonate with another through its direction of actors or visual approach. Their collective decision emerges through a conversation about what they have seen on screen.