On Friday evening, 30th of June, in Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow we learned the recipients of the industry awards presented during the Krakow Film Festival under the KFF Industry program. We still eagerly anticipate the Festival Awards gala, set to take place on Saturday at the Kijów Cinema.
KFF Industry comprises industry events aimed at film professionals attending the Krakow Film Festival. For several days, creators and producers of documentaries, animated and short films met with experts, programmers from international film festivals, foreign sales agents, distributors, representatives of film funds, TV stations, online and VOD platforms, and other decision-makers in the international film industry.
DOC LAB POLAND is Poland’s largest and most comprehensive program directed towards documentary filmmakers, focusing on the supporting of auteur, creative documentary cinema while emphasising a producer-oriented approach. It encompasses a comprehensive film project development program that involves workshops, individual consultations and panel discussions, along with workshops leading to a presentation (pitch) aimed at initiating co-productions by projects participating in the programme or supporting the promotion and distribution of the films currently being made.
As every year at KFF Industry, there were three pitch sessions – presentations of film projects at various stages of completion: ANIMATED IN POLAND for Polish animated projects in production; and – co-organised with DOC LAB POLAND – DOCS TO START and DOCS TO GO for Polish documentary projects in development and post-production. The winners of the best projects were announced during yesterday’s industry award ceremony.
The evening was hosted by Katarzyna Wilk and Marta Świętek from the Krakow Film Foundation, as well as Adam Ślesicki from the Władysław Ślesicki Film Foundation.
KFF INDUSTRY 2025 – ANIMATED IN POLAND AND DOC LAB POLAND AWARDS
ANIMATED IN POLAND 2025:
- YOUNG HORIZONS INDUSTRY AWARD – an invitation to participate in the Young Talents programme for students and graduates of film and art schools, a side programme of the international co-production forum Young Horizons Industry for the Talent Market participant MAJA OLCZAK
- SOUND MIND STUDIO Award – a coupon for 10 days of sound post-production for the project “Telegrams to the Tree”, dir. Julia Benedyktowicz, prod. Grzegorz Wacławek / ANIMOON
- FIXAFILM Award – a coupon for image post‑production services worth 10 000 PLN for the project “Porridge Monster”, dir. Izabela Plucińska, prod. Paulina Ratajczak / LAS SZTUKI FOUNDATION
- KRAKOW TECHNOLOGY PARK – MULTILAB Award – a coupon worth 5,000 PLN for making a screening copy of a film from Krakow Technology Park for the project “Heart” dir. Oskar Aleksnader Wasiluk, prod. Robert Sowa / AKADEMIA SZTUK PIĘKNYCH im. JANA MATEJKI W KRAKOWIE
- CREW UNITED Special Mention — a 3‑years’ Premium membership to Crew United platform for the director and producer of the awarded project for the project “Aşk”, dir. Magdalena Iris Özen, prod. Robert Sowa / JAN MATEJKO ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS IN KRAKÓW
DOC LAB POLAND 2025:
AWARDS FOR PROJECTS PRESENTED AT DOCS TO GO
- Polish Film Institute Award — 15 000 PLN in cash for the project “Inner Landscapes” directed by Zofia Sawicka produced by Maciej Kubicki, Zofia Kujawska / Telemark
- FINA Award — in-kind: archival materials worth of 50 000 PLN for the project “Theater on Main Street – The Ida Kamińska Story” directed by Dawid Szurmiej produced by Katarzyna Kaczmarek, Milena Drinčić, Dawid Szurmiej / Studio Agart
- WFF – WROCLAW FEATURE FILM STUDIO Award – image and sound post-production services worth of 25 000 PLN for the project “Tickling the Devil” directed by Piotr Małecki, Maciek Nabrdalik produced by Piotr Małecki / Short Docs Media
- FIXAFILM Award — image post-production services worth of 15 000 PLN for the project “The Herd” directed by Mariusz Biernacki produced by Iga Malińska / Play Colors Media
- Multilab / Krakow Technology Park Award — image post-production services worth of 10 000 PLN for the project “Maestra” directed by Magda Nabiałczyk produced by Iwona Harris / Lollipop Films
AWARDS FOR PROJECTS PRESENTED AT DOCS TO START:
- Cafe Ole Award — sound post-production services worth of 10 000 PLN for the project “Her Name is Fields” directed by Martyna Wróbel, Anna Biernacik produced by Magdalena Sztorc, Anna Zajączkowska / Mozaika Films
- MX35 Award — film equipment rental services worth of 10 000 PLN for the project “Hear Me Out” directed by Agnieszka Iwańska produced by Izabela Igel / 7FILMS Sp. z o.o.
- DOK LEIPZIG Special Mention — invitation to Co Pro Meetings in Leipzig for the project “Her Name is Fields” directed by Martyna Wróbel, Anna Biernacik produced by Magdalena Sztorc, Anna Zajączkowska / Mozaika Films
- FIPADOC Special Mention — invitation as a guest project to FIPADOC Industry for the project “Nothing to Fear” directed by Katarzyna Cieślar produced by Marta Dużbabel / ATM GRUPA S.A
- IDFA Special Mention — invitation as a guest project to IDFA Forum for the project “My Diana” directed by Inga Pylypchuk produced by Alexandra Bratyshchenko, Kateryna Ptashka / Eleron Picture
- Institute of Documentary Film Special Mention – invitation to East Doc Platform for the project “To Mother” directed by Mattias Bavré produced by Stanisław Zaborowski, Barbara Dyck, Maarten Bernaerts / Silver Frame, Salto Productions
- Polish Docs Pro Special Mention – support of international promotion and invitation to one of the key world documentary industry event for the project “The Pillar” directed by Marcin Koszałka produced by Piotr Kobus / Mañana
- DAE Encouragement Special Mention — 1 year free membership and 1 consultation with an expert for the project “Inner Wild” directed by Kama Czudowska produced by Dorota Schleiss / ASF Studio
CONGRATULATIONS!
KFF Industry 2025:
Partners: Władysław Ślesicki Film Foundation , SPPA – Polish Animation Producers Association, KIPA – Polish Producers Alliance, TVP, KBF – Krakow Festival Office, Krakow Film Commission, Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Krakow Technology Park – Multilab, Fixafilm, Sound Mind, Crew United, Scottish Documentary Institute, UK British Council, DAE – Documentary Association of Europe, GEM: Green Education in Media, Young Horizons Industry
Partners of KFF Video Library są: DOK Leipzig, Institute of Documentary Films, Festival dei Popoli, Thessaloniki Documentary Festival
Project co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, Visegrad Fund, Ministry of Culture and National Herritage, Polish Filmmakers Association and The Municipality of Krakow
Co-organiser: Creative Europe Desk Polska
Media Patrons: Business Doc Europe, Modern Times Review, Film&TV Camera, Magazyn Filmowy SFP, Polish Docs, Polish Shorts, Polish Animations
Organiser and producer of the KFF Industry is Krakow Film Foundation. The event takes place during 65. Krakow Film Festival.
fot. Tomasz Korczyński / KFF