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Films and events

The 2024 Kosciuszko Foundation Washington, DC Polish Festival presents eight newly released Polish feature films and eight short films. A complimentary screening of a short movie precedes each screening. As part of the festival, accompanying events will be organized. Stay tuned for details.

The Balcony Movie (Film Balkonowy)
The Balcony Movie (Film Balkonowy)

Can anyone be a movie hero? Can the world be locked in one film frame? Director Paweł Łoziński is watching people from his balcony as they are passing by: sad, thoughtful, glued to their phones, young and old.

Woman Of....
(Kobieta z...)
Woman Of....
(Kobieta z...)

Premiering at the Venice Film Festival this film breaks new ground and confronts perhaps the most controversial social subject of our time. Staring Malgorzata Krzysztofik-Hajewska and Joanna Kulig (Cold War), Woman Of… is a sensitive and intelligent story of gender identity in a cruel world that cannot accept it and the personal love that ultimately does. Another remarkable first for Polish cinema.

Ultima Thule
Ultima Thule

Winner of the Best Film (Small Budget) at the Gdyna Film Festival the film stars Jakub Gierszal (Doppelgänger), as a young man who journeys to an  island that is forbiddingly cruel. However, the exquisite cinematography reveals a different world, a hidden layer of beauty swirling all about him, in which he may finally fit and find peace.

The Feast of Fire
(Święto Ognia)
The Feast of Fire
(Święto Ognia)

The opening film at the Gdynia Film Festival, directed by Kinga Dębska with and Paulina Pytlak (Best New Actress) and Kinga Preiss (Best Supporting Actress), this is the story of two young women, one a ballerina and the other a child with a debilitating disease, struggling with their bodies’ limits but ultimately triumphing. The audience gave it a standing ovation.

If I Were You
(Na Twoim Miejscu)
If I Were You
(Na Twoim Miejscu)

A typical, young married couple spend all their time together arguing until one morning when they wake up each one in the other’s body. Now the wife must enter the man’s world
and the husband must find out what it means to be a woman. In this day when so much is being said about gender, here is a new and very funny take on it. The only way to understand someone else’s point of view is to become them in body, if not in soul.

The Inlaws 2
(Teściowie 2)
The Inlaws 2
(Teściowie 2)

Whether or not you saw the first In-laws, in which a couple’s in-laws join forces to prevent them from marrying, you will laugh and enjoy this second installment as Weronika and Lukasz give it another try. With Maya Ostaszewska, Izabela Kuna, Adam Woronowicz, Eryk Kulm Jr, and a full cast of popular Polish stars.

Scarborn
(Kos)
Scarborn
(Kos)

Winner of the Best Film award at the Gdynia Film Festival, Kos, set in 1794, tells the story of General Tadeusz “Kos” Kosciuszko’s return to Poland from his support of George Washington and the American Revolution, with a plan to ignite an uprising against the Russians. He is being pursued by the vicious Russian cavalry captain, Dunin, who intends to stop him at any cost.

Doppelgänger
(Sobowtór)
Doppelgänger
(Sobowtór)

Winner of multiple awards at the Gdynia Film Festival, including best director, best supporting actor, and best cinematography, this is a riveting psychological thriller, set in the late 1970s when spies from the Polish People’s Republic were stealing identities in the West. More John le Carré than James Bond, the characters’ actions ultimately reveal much more than we expect.

Films

Films

Films

Actress Paulina Pytlak at the Washington DC Polish Film Festival!
Actress Paulina Pytlak at the Washington DC Polish Film Festival!

We are thrilled to announce that one of the most promising Polish actresses and the leading star of the film Feast of Fire, Paulina Pytlak, will join us at the Washington DC Polish Film Festival (May 10-12). She will participate in the Q&A session before the movie and meet with festival audiences.

Special events

Special events

Special events

A Beautiful Wildflower Meadow (Piękna Łąka Kwietna)
A Beautiful Wildflower Meadow (Piękna Łąka Kwietna)

Poland 2022, Directed by Emi Buchwald Emil

A landscape architect entranced by the natural world, finds himself in a series of absurd situations while trying to get his daughter to the airport on time. His struggle to balance his appreciation for nature with his immediate obligations escalates to a thrilling climax.

Eden (Do Raju)
Eden (Do Raju)

Poland, 2023, Directed by Marta Syzmanek

Overwhelmed by her mundane and harsh reality, Mila plans to escape into the woods to end her life. Her plans are interrupted when she encounters a Syrian refugee fighting for his survival. This chance meeting forces her to reconsider her own struggles in the context of a global crisis.

Count My Lov3 (Il3 mni3 kochasz)
Count My Lov3 (Il3 mni3 kochasz)

Poland 2023, Directed by Ewa Japola

At a speed dating event, Sara uses a unique method to find her match: numerical
formulas. She collects data like shoe size, ID number, and other personal metrics from her dates. But as she navigates this numerical world, she wonders—can numbers truly capture the essence of love?

The Dress (Sukienka)
The Dress (Sukienka)

Poland, 2020, Directed by Tadeusz Łysiak

Celebrated at over 60 festivals and winner of 17 awards, this film explores the rarely seen emotions and lives of people like Julia, a petite woman working at a roadside motel. When a handsome truck driver shows interest, she dreams of romance, but first, she needs the perfect dress. Nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 94th Academy Awards.

The Mandala
(Mandala)
The Mandala
(Mandala)

Poland, 2023, Directed by Mikołaj Janik

In this poignant tale of motherhood, a woman battles with haunting memories that threaten her and her child's well-being. "Mandala" explores her fight to overcome the persistent violence and nightmares that loom over their lives

Mom is coming back
(Mama wraca)
Mom is coming back
(Mama wraca)

Poland, 2023, Directed by Mikołaj Janik

This film tells the story of a mother who challenges traditional caregiving by engaging in activities she loves, integrating her child with cerebral palsy into every adventure, including cross-country skiing. A touching narrative on the profound depths of motherhood.

As It Was 
(Jak to było)
As It Was
(Jak to było)

Poland, Ukraine 2023, Directed by Anastasiia Solonevych, Damian Kocur

Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, this film follows a young Ukrainian girl, Lera,
living in Berlin when war breaks out. Deciding to return to Kyiv, she finds her family
absent and waits with a friend for their return. Lera's reactions and experiences offer
unique insights into the impact of sudden, apocalyptic events on ordinary lives.

My Old Gals
(Moje Stare)
My Old Gals
(Moje Stare)

Poland, 2023, Directed by Natasza Parzymies

Zofia embarks on an outing with her friend Ania, who suffers from Alzheimer’s and resides in a nursing home. Their delightful escape rekindles cherished memories and joys, challenging the confines of the disease. Meanwhile, Ania's concerned daughter believes her mother has been kidnapped and demands her return.

Shorts

Shorts

Shorts

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