We help film festivals grow

and create audiovisual work we love.

DOG 95 FILM FACTORY

In 2019, I founded the Košice International Film Festival. Originally, I simply wanted to discover short films that could help me grow as a filmmaker. Instead, I gained much more — the opportunity to discover hundreds of films and filmmakers and to become immersed in the world of international film festivals. As I initially managed the festival almost entirely on my own, I took on many different roles and learned to understand the needs of filmmakers, productions and festivals alike.

I later began applying these experiences to collaborations with other international film festivals. We help them with programming, strategy, marketing, submissions and building international relationships. I eventually handed over the management of Košice IFF to a new team, while continuing to contribute to its strategic direction. Today, we collaborate with more than 10 international film festivals, helping to connect festivals and filmmakers from different countries.

At the same time, I continue to work as a filmmaker, producer, screenwriter and director. I studied at the Film School in Košice and have worked on a range of film and music projects. I produced the music video Recall (2022), starring Tatiana Pauhofová, worked on the HBO-produced film The Car Gangs, directed by Dominik Bari, provided location services for Nie som zlý človek, which world premiered at the Sofia Film Festival, and produced the music video Paradox (2026) for Terézia Čikoš and Marián Čekovský.

My debut short film The Professional Parent qualified for the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars) and was produced as an international co-production with ROVA FILM in Romania, produced by Palme d'Or winner Marian Crișan, and Mailuki Films in Spain, produced by AMPAS member Eduardo M. Escribano Solera. We are currently also involved in the co-production of the feature-length documentary The Valley of the Widows, directed by Katarína Jonisová and Miro Jelok.

Films we have been involved in have been selected for or received awards at festivals accredited by FIAPF, as well as festivals qualifying films for the Academy Awards, European Film Awards, BAFTA and Goya.

Erik Jasaň
Founder, dog 95 film factory

Festivals We Provide Festival Strategy For

The Košice International Film Festival was founded in 2019. It operates as a smaller, regional film festival aimed at international filmmakers. It takes place during the Christmas markets in Košice, attracting dozens to hundreds of filmmakers to the city. The festival is very popular among filmmakers, as demonstrated by the fact that for four consecutive years it has been listed by FilmFreeway as one of the Top 100 Best Reviewed Film Festivals. It has also become a member of the FFA – Film Festival Alliance, whose members include major festivals such as Sundance, Chicago International Film Festival, Aspen Shortsfest, and many others. The festival is currently led by Peter Poch through his company, Nukleon Frame.

The Prague Film Festival was established as an international film festival for filmmakers, film professionals, critics, distributors, film enthusiasts, and film school students. The festival has already welcomed filmmakers and industry professionals connected to major international festivals and institutions, including Cannes, Berlinale, Krakow Film Festival, and Berlin Animation Hub. It also offers masterclasses, industry events, and the Anirama Pitching Forum, connecting emerging filmmakers and film schools from across the Czech Republic. The festival collaborates with international partners including Festival of Animation Berlin, Navarra International Film Festival, International Film Festival ZOOM ZBLIZENIA, and Košice International Film Festival. It is organized by Praha Film Festival s.r.o. and led by Festival Director Hynek Spurný.

The London Director Film Festival is an international film festival dedicated to directors and auteur-driven cinema. It accepts short and feature-length narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, and genre films, as well as music videos, TV pilots, and screenplays. The festival brings together filmmakers and industry professionals from around the world, with selected films screened at Close-Up Cinema in London. Alongside screenings, it offers filmmaker Q&As, networking opportunities, and professional recognition through an international jury including BAFTA-nominated filmmakers, Oscar-qualified filmmakers, BBC creatives, and award-winning directors and producers. Over the years, the festival has received submissions from more than 10,000 filmmakers and screenwriters worldwide and has presented numerous world, European, UK, and London premieres. The festival is led by Festival Director Louis Holderand Executive Producer Rachel Lauff.

The Chicago Script Awards is an international screenwriting competition in Chicago, welcoming screenwriters from around the world. The competition focuses on feature films, short films, TV pilots, stage plays, and a wide range of genre and specialty categories, with submissions evaluated by industry professionals according to professional Hollywood standards. The competition has an international jury that includes Oscar-nominated and award-winning screenwriters, filmmakers, producers, and members of organizations such as AMPAS, BAFTA, WGA, PGA and DGA. It limits submissions to 1,000 screenplays per season in order to maintain a high standard of professional evaluation. Winners can receive a one-year Sundance Membership, up to $500 in media publicity, an interview and promotion through the competition's Online Library for Producers, access to read and an Oscar-nominated screenplay.

The New York Script Awards is an international screenwriting competition welcoming writers from around the world. It accepts feature and short screenplays, TV pilots, treatments, stage plays, original screenplays, and a wide range of genre and specialty categories. Screenplays are evaluated by award-winning screenwriters, filmmakers, theatre professionals, and industry members according to professional Hollywood standards. Its jury includes an Academy Nicholl Fellowshipfinalist, an Oscar-qualifying filmmaker, BBC and ITV collaborators, award-winning screenwriters, and professionals connected with organizations including BAFTA, WGA, PGA and DGA. Winners can receive a one-year Sundance Membership, up to $500 in media publicity including an interview and promotion through the Online Library for Producers, read-only access to and an Oscar-nominated screenplay. The competition also provides more than $10,000 worth of professional services annually, while the Live Table Reading category gives the winning screenwriter the opportunity to have their script performed by professional actors in New York.

The Canadian International Comedy Film Festival is an international comedy film festival based in Winnipeg, Canada, welcoming filmmakers from Canada and around the world. It focuses exclusively on comedy and accepts short and feature films, web series, animation, student films, experimental and satirical work, as well as filmed stand-up specials. The festival is a Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival, providing selected films with eligibility for consideration within the Canadian Screen Awards. It has been running for 11 years and, since 2024, has operated primarily online, allowing comedy films and screenplays to reach an international audience while continuing to support filmmakers through workshops and professional activities in Winnipeg. The festival is led by Festival Director and Founder David Rabsch, alongside Andrew Wall.

The Vancouver Web Fest is an international festival dedicated to web series and digital episodic content, bringing together innovative storytellers and creators from around the world. The festival presents projects across a wide range of genres, including drama, comedy, animation, documentary, science fiction, horror, and fantasy, while also recognizing achievements in directing, acting and various craft categories. Vancouver Web Fest is a Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival, making its recognition particularly relevant for Canadian creators and international filmmakers working in digital storytelling. The festival also offers workshops, industry panels, creator events and an awards programme celebrating excellence in online content. The festival is led by Suzette Laqua, President and Founder of Vancouver Web Fest. DOG 95 Film Factory works with the festival not only on Festival Strategy, but also serves as itsHead of Programming.

The Westminster Film Festival is an independent international film festival in London with a rich history, originally established by the Westminster Film Society under Westminster Film School. Today, the festival presents bold, original and thought-provoking British and international cinema, with a focus on world cinema, emerging filmmakers, female filmmakers and independent storytelling. The festival welcomes filmmakers from around the world and is curated and judged by a diverse panel of film academics, Westminster alumni, and emerging and established industry professionals, including past BAFTA and Academy Award nominees and winners. Alongside screenings, the festival provides opportunities for networking, filmmaker Q&As, discussion and artistic exchange. Its Grand Prix includes a $1,000 cash prize, a Westy Trophy and a Certificate of Excellence. The festival is led by Festival Director Patrik Krivanek.

The Norwich Film Festival is a long-running UK short film festival established in 2009 and based in Norwich. It is BAFTA Qualifying (Section B) and BIFA Qualifying, showcasing a diverse selection of short films from the UK and around the world, across genres and formats. The festival presents curated programmes including comedy, horror, animation, documentary and student films, alongside awards recognising British, international, animated, documentary, student and East Anglian filmmaking. Its juries have included established actors and filmmakers such as Stephen Fry, Neve Campbell, Alfred Molina and Michael Sheen. DOG 95 Film Factory has worked with Norwich Film Festival as a Pre-Selector, contributing to the film selection process.

The Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (HIFF) is a major international film festival based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, with more than four decades of history. It presents contemporary cinema from Asia, the Pacific, North America and around the world, with a particular focus on emerging filmmakers, independent cinema, and stories connected to Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region. HIFF is an Academy Award® Qualifying Festival for short films, with selected awards providing eligibility for consideration in the Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film categories of the Academy Awards®. The festival is also a member of the Film Festival Alliance and has welcomed internationally recognised filmmakers including Quentin Tarantino, Ang Lee, Wong Kar Wai, Taika Waititi and Park Chan-wook. The festival presents awards across its international and regional competitions, including the HIFF Grand Jury Award for Best Short Film, as well as awards recognising emerging filmmakers and Pacific cinema. DOG 95 Film Factory has worked with HIFF as a Pre-Selector, contributing to the festival's international film selection process.