One of Kraków’s symbols and most iconic landmarks, the Barbican greets newcomers to the city. But what exactly lies behind the storied walls of this late-medieval fortification? And might this centuries-old defensive structure be reimagined as the perfect festival venue – a space that, from Monday to Friday, pulses with conversations about cinema by day and comes alive with music by night? In the last week of May, the Kraków Film Festival wishes to invite you to the Barbican!
A free, all-day festival club and café will be open to everyone visiting the Barbican. The age-old fortification will be transformed by conversations, gatherings and performances from some of Kraków’s most extraordinary musicians.
At noon, the programme will kick off with Film Espresso – Filmmakers’ Meetings, a rendezvous with directors whose works are featured in this year’s official selection. Then, at 4pm, comes Playing in Shorts – a series of talks with actors from the short film programme. What is the greatest challenge when crafting a fully realised character within a compressed narrative arc? How does acting in short films compare to feature-length roles? Are short films important in an actor’s career? Can a short film serve as a meaningful launchpad for an emerging performer?
As evening falls, KFF at the Barbican will morph into a concert venue. Monday is going to welcome Motion Trio, a group with a 25-year pedigree, known for fusing Eastern European inspirations with classical precision. On Tuesday, the spotlight turns to the Hania Derej Trio. The versatile young pianist, composer, conductor, and arranger will be joined by two accomplished collaborators. On Wednesday you can’t miss the Ibrahim Trio. At the heart of their repertoire lies oriental ethno jazz, which bridges rich Eastern melodies and rhythms with contemporary jazz interpretations. Thursday will bring a performance from the Stanisław Słowiński Trio. It’s an ensemble of some of the best jazz
virtuosi from across the European jazz and crossover jazz scene. The ensemble consists of instrumentalists who can boast an extremely rich portfolio and winners of international contests. The programme concludes on Friday with Kroke. Once associated primarily with klezmer music, the band now explores a broader musical palette that weaves ethnic influences with original improvisation.
The KFF at the Barbican is co-organised by the National Cultural Centre as part of the cultural programme of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2025.
The project is co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage as part of the Cultural Programme of the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union 2025.
KFF at the Barbican is partnered by Radio Kraków.
DETAILED PROGRAMME:
FILM ESPRESSO – FILMMAKERS’ MEETINGS
26.05 MON 12:00-13:00 | Barbakan Cafe
27.05-30.05 TUE – FRI 11:00 – 12:00 | Barbakan Cafe
Daily discussions with directors whose films have been invited to this year’s official festival programme.
Admission with accreditation
PLAYING IN SHORTS. CONVERSATIONS WITH ACTORS
26.05-30.05 MON-FRI 16:00-17:00 | Barbican
Join us for daily conversations with actors reflecting on their experiences working on short films.
Free entry
KFF AT THE BARBICAN
Motion Trio in Concert
26.05 – MON 19:00–20:30 | Barbican
Motion Trio, a Polish accordion ensemble with over 25 years of experience, blends Eastern European inspirations with classical precision. The band original repertoire features compositions by Janusz Wojtarowicz, Paweł Baranek, and Marcin Gałażyn. Starting with street performances, the group has reached such prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, the Barbican Centre and Vienna’s Konzerthaus. Their signature sound is raw and acoustic – an unfiltered accordion timbre that gives rise to “motion music” – a fusion of minimalism, jazz, rock and folk, ever in search of fresh forms of expression for this fascinating instrument.
Hania Derej Trio in Concert
27.05 TUE 19:00-20:30 | Barbican
Hania Derej Trio is the young artist’s new jazz project that complements her ongoing work with a quintet. The ensemble presents Hania’s original compositions – melodic, coherent and fluid, rooted in jazz yet enriched by neoclassical and filmic harmony. It’s a more delicate side of her artistry, rich with emotion and dynamic imagery. The performance will feature special guest appearances that further enrich the sonic journey.
Ibrahim Trio in Concert
28.05 WED 19:00-20:30 | Barbican
Ibrahim Trio brings together three virtuoso soloists – Wassim Ibrahim (oud, vocals), Joachim Mencel (hurdy-gurdy, piano), and Szymon Madej (percussion) – united by a shared passion for blending diverse musical traditions. Their innovative sonic landscape draws upon both Eastern and Western tonalities, crafting a vibrant interplay of cultures and styles. At the heart of their repertoire lies oriental ethno jazz, which bridges rich Eastern melodies and rhythms with contemporary jazz interpretations.
Stanisław Słowiński Trio in Concert
29.05 THU 19:00-20:30 | Barbican
Stanisław Słowiński Trio is a jazz ensemble that unites some of the most in-demand representatives on the European jazz and crossover scene. The ensemble consists of instrumentalists who can boast an extremely rich portfolio and winners of international contests. They perform regularly around the world and have long served as ambassadors of Polish jazz on the international stage. The trio comprises: Stanisław Słowiński (violin), Franciszek Raczkowski (piano), and Szymon Frankowski (double bass).
Kroke in Concert
30.05 FRI 19:00-20:30 | Barbican
Once associated primarily with klezmer music, the band now explores a broader musical palette that weaves ethnic influences with original improvisation. This lets them create an original style that transcends across genres, forms and eras – internationally acclaimed and beloved by audiences and fellow artists alike. They return to Kraków right after another UK tour. The trio – Jerzy Bawoł (accordion), Tomasz Kukurba (viola), and Tomasz Lato (double bass) – has been performing together for 33 years.
All concerts are free of charge.
Insider passes for the 65th Krakow Film Festival are now on sale!
The Krakow Film Festival is on the exclusive list of film events qualifying for the Academy Awards® in short film categories (fiction, animation, documentary) and feature-length documentary, the European Film Awards in the same categories, and serves as a qualifying event for the BAFTA Awards.
The Krakow Film Festival is organised with financial support from the City of Krakow, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Polish Film Institute, and the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme. The Polish Filmmakers Association serves as co-organiser.
The 65th Krakow Film Festival will be held in cinemas from 25 May to 1 June 2025, and online on KFF VOD from 30 May to 15 June 2025.