Kanał / Sewers (1957)
Director: Andrzej Wajda
Runtime: 1h 31min

One of the most famous films of the Polish Film School and winner of the Silver Palme at the Cannes Film Festival. Jerzy Stefan Stawiński’s screenplay focuses on the final weeks of the Warsaw Uprising, which began on August 1, 1944, as the soldiers of Lieutenant "Zadra" are forced to descend into the sewers to escape the Germans. In the labyrinthine darkness, the protagonists lose strength and hope. They get lost, struggle through one obstacle after another, and eventually die or are captured by the occupiers. Kanał is perhaps the most pessimistic and tragic depiction of World War II in Polish cinema. A symbol of the political “thaw” that allowed the topic of the Warsaw Uprising to reach the screen, and at the same time, one of the crowning achievements of the Polish Film School. The film captivated audiences worldwide with its masterful narrative, dynamic staging, outstanding performances, and universal message.

Under the Volcano / Pod wulkanem (2024)
Director: Damian Kocur
Runtime: 1h 42min

A blended Ukrainian family—father Roman, his new wife Nastia, teenage daughter Sofia, and young son Fedir—spends the last day of their vacation in Tenerife, Spain. Their plans are upended when Russia's invasion of Ukraine strands them on the island, forcing them to confront their relationships and uncertain future.

Ashes and Diamonds / Popiol i diament (1958)
Director: Andrzej Wajda
Runtime: 1h 43min

The final moments of World War II. A young Home Army soldier, Maciek Chełmicki, is given one last order—to assassinate a communist official who has arrived in a provincial town to assume power. As time passes, Maciek begins to question the purpose of the ongoing struggle. He falls in love with a bartender at the local hotel and witnesses the former pre-war elite celebrating the end of an era. In a world transitioning from war to peace, Maciek yearns to live and love—but he must keep fighting, remember the fallen, and sacrifice his own life.

Everything for Sale / Wszystko na sprzedaz (1969)
Director: Andrzej Wajda
Runtime: 1h 45min

An auto-thematic story about the loss of a friend and a great actor. In this deeply personal film—his first with a screenplay written entirely by himself—Andrzej Wajda reflects on the phenomenon of Zbigniew Cybulski, offers a portrait of the Polish film industry, and, for the first and only time in such a direct way, speaks about himself. Wajda’s alter ego is played by Andrzej Łapicki, while the other actors infuse their roles with their own experiences and personalities. As a result, Everything for Sale becomes an intimate response to words Cybulski is said to have spoken shortly before his death: “Tell him he’ll miss me yet.”

The Promised Land / Ziemia obiecana (1975)
Director: Andrzej Wajda
Runtime: 2h 50min

A boldly executed adaptation of Władysław Reymont’s nearly forgotten novel, The Promised Land follows the fate of three friends—Max, a German; Moritz, a Jew; and Karol, a Pole—against the backdrop of the rapidly developing city of Łódź. The protagonists decide to establish their own textile factory, much to the dismay of their competitors.

Visually stunning, narratively rich, and superbly acted, the film consistently ranks at the top of the lists of the greatest Polish films of all time. Andrzej Wajda’s masterful direction, his ability to weave together multiple plotlines, and the film’s remarkable staging earned it widespread acclaim. The only prize it missed was the Oscar—despite being a frontrunner, it lost due to absurd accusations of antisemitism.

Forest / Las (2024)
Director: Lidia Duda
Runtime: 1h 24min

Deep within the ancient Biaowieza Forest, a handful of families live far from civilization, off-grid, self-reliant, and often invisible to the outside world. With rare access and exquisite intimacy, this documentary captures the rhythms of their daily lives and the psychological toll of isolation.

Katyn (2007)
Director: Andrzej Wajda
Runtime: 2h 1min

One of Andrzej Wajda’s most personal films, Katyń could only be made after 1989, following Poland’s regained independence. It was born out of the director’s personal experiences—his father, an officer in the Polish Army, was murdered by the NKVD in Kharkiv in 1940. Wajda rejected many screenplay versions before ultimately choosing to tell the story from the perspective of the women waiting for their husbands and sons—first during the German and Soviet occupations, and later after the end of the war, when communist rule was established in Poland in 1945. At that time, the official Soviet narrative blamed the crime on the Nazis, depriving families even of the right to grieve.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The Girl with the Needle / Dziewczyna z igla (2024)
Director: Magnus von Horn
Runtime: 2h 3min

In 1920s Copenhagen, a young seamstress uncovers a series of disappearances at a home for unwed mothers. As she pieces together a chilling conspiracy, she must face the limits of her courage and humanity.

Man of Iron / Czlowiek z zelaza (1981)
Director: Andrzej Wajda
Runtime: 2h 26min

Man of Iron follows the story of the son of Mateusz Birkut, who has become one of the leaders of the strike at the Gdańsk Shipyard. The role of the TV reporter Winkel, sent to discredit him, is played by the brilliant Marian Opania. His career-driven journalist, influenced by the events of August 1980, eventually switches sides and joins the opposition.

The film was awarded the Palme d’Or at Cannes.

The True Story of Tamara Lempicka & The Art of Survival (2024)
Director: Julie Rubio
Runtime: 1h 36min

A dazzling portrait of Tamara Lempicka, the queen of Art Deco. From exile to artistic fame, her life was a journey of reinvention, survival, and radical self-expression.

Kulej. All That Glitters Isn't Gold / Kulej. Dwie strony medalu (2024)
Director: Xawery Zuawski
Runtime: 2h 28min

The dramatic rise and fall of Jerzy Kulej, Poland's legendary Olympic boxer. A raw biopic exploring both his athletic triumphs and the battles he fought outside the ring.

CHŁOPI | 112 min 
PEASANTS
Dir. DK & Hugh Welchman

"Peasants" (Chłopi), directed by DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman, is a visually striking animated film adapted from Władysław Reymont's Nobel Prize-winning novel. The story unfolds in a late 19th-century Polish village, focusing on Jagna, a young peasant woman whose fate is manipulated by those around her. Forced into marriage with a wealthy but much older farmer, Boryna, despite her love for his son Antek, Jagna faces the envy and hostility of the other villagers. As she struggles to maintain her independence, the narrative explores themes of love, oppression, and the harsh realities of rural life. The film is notable for its hand-painted animation technique, involving over a hundred painters who brought the scenes to life using oil paintings based on live-action shots .

ŚWIĘTO OGNIA | 97 min 
FEAST OF FIRE
Dir. Kinga Debska

"Fest of Fire" (Święto Ognia), directed by Kinga Dębska, is a poignant drama that delves into the lives of two sisters who grapple with their physical and emotional constraints. The film, adapted from a novel by Jakub Małecki, explores themes of ambition, personal struggle, and familial bonds. One sister, confined to a wheelchair, finds solace and expression in her vibrant imagination and love for comics, while her older sister pursues a career in ballet, believing it will help her escape from her troubling memories. Their father seeks refuge in his own escapades, illustrating a family each dealing with their past and present in unique ways. The narrative unfolds against a backdrop of personal discovery and the revelation of a long-hidden family secret that emerges with the arrival of a vivacious neighbor .

zielona granica | 147 min 
green border
Dir. Agnieszka Holland

"Green Border," directed by Agnieszka Holland, is a compelling drama set against the backdrop of the real-life geopolitical crisis at the Poland-Belarus border. The film intricately portrays the harrowing experiences of refugees from the Middle East and Africa, who find themselves caught in a political game orchestrated by Belarus to destabilize the EU. The narrative interweaves the lives of a Syrian refugee family, a young border guard, and a psychologist turned activist, highlighting the human cost of political maneuvers and the struggle for safety and dignity amidst harsh border policies.

The film is shot in a stark, realistic style, effectively using its visual and narrative elements to engage the audience with the refugees' plight and the moral conflicts faced by those on the ground. Agnieszka Holland uses her directorial prowess to deliver a narrative that is both gripping and profoundly human, challenging the audience to confront the dehumanizing aspects of migration policies and the resilience of those affected by them

SOBOWTÓR | 119 min 
DOPPELGANGER
Dir. Jan Holoubek

"Doppelgänger" (also known as "The Double") is a dramatic and thrilling film directed by Jan Holoubek. The plot revolves around two men, Hans and Jan Bitner, living on opposite sides of the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. Hans leads a quiet life working in an office in Strasbourg, France, while Jan, a Polish patriot, is deeply involved in the Solidarity movement and the fight for a free Poland, residing in Sopot, Poland. Though their lives are markedly different, a single, significant detail mysteriously links them, challenging their sense of identity and forcing them to confront profound questions about themselves and their situations. The film explores themes of political intrigue and personal identity against a backdrop of historical tension .

STĄD - DOKĄD | 84 min 
IN THE REAR VIEW
Dir. Maciek Hamela

"In the Rearview" (Stąd-Dotąd), directed by Maciek Hamela, is a poignant documentary that captures the stories of Ukrainian refugees during the initial days of the Russian invasion. The film follows their arduous journey in a van traveling from Ukraine to Poland, serving various roles from a waiting room to a confession booth, where the passengers share their harrowing experiences. Through these personal stories, the film paints a collective portrait of resilience, focusing on the human aspect of displacement without resorting to sensationalism. The narrative unfolds naturally as passengers share their experiences and fears, offering a deeply human perspective on the refugee crisis .

KAJTEK CZARODZIEJ | 102 min
KAJTEK THE WIZARD
Dir. Magdalena Łazakiewicz

"Kajtek the Wizard" is a family fantasy film directed by Magdalena Łazarkiewicz, based on a novel by Janusz Korczak. The story revolves around Kajtek, a twelve-year-old boy raised by his grandmother and father. Kajtek discovers he has magical powers that transform his life and allow him to perform enchantments. However, as he navigates his newfound abilities, he learns that magic cannot fulfill his deepest needs for love and acceptance. The film explores themes of personal growth, the power of dreams, and the importance of familial love and understanding. Kajtek's journey is about learning to balance his extraordinary abilities with his desire for a normal, loving family life .

 NA TWOIM MIEJSCU | 102 min 
IF I WERE YOU
Dir. Antonio Galdamez Munoz

"If I Were You" ("Na Twoim Miejscu") is a comedic film directed by Antonio Galdamez Munoz. The story revolves around a married couple, Kasia and Krzysiek, who wake up one day to find that they have switched bodies. This unexpected situation forces them to confront the realities of their partner's daily life and responsibilities, shedding light on the challenges and misunderstandings in their relationship. The film uses this body-swap scenario to explore themes of empathy, communication, and gender roles within a marriage, offering a humorous yet insightful commentary on relationships .

tak jak byŁo | (SHORt) 15 min
as it was
Dir. Anastasia Solonevych

"As It Was" is a short film directed by Damian Kocur and Anastasia Solonevych, focusing on the poignant experiences of Lera, a young woman who has been living in Berlin since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Feeling disconnected and uneasy in Berlin, Lera makes a spontaneous decision to return to Kyiv for the first time since the war began. Upon her arrival, she discovers that her family is temporarily away, and she spends a reflective day in the city with her friend Kyrylo. The film delicately captures her internal struggle and the surreal normalcy of life in a war-torn country, juxtaposing her personal journey with the broader context of conflict .