Online edition of the 66th KFF
  • VOD
    5 to 19 JuneKFF VOD

Woodeaters

Poland2026documentary14'Short film competitionNational competition

In a historic Lemko church in the region of Podkarpacie, a quiet, relentless battle is being fought against wood-boring beetles that are destroying the church structure. An entomologist, in an attempt to save the church, resorts to radical measures bearing a historical burden. This is a story of the tension between culture and nature, and of the struggle whose outcome steers the viewer towards questions with no simple answers.

directed by
Q&A guest, portret reżysera
Julia PełkaQ&A guest

Director, cinematographer, and producer, graduate of the Łódź Film School. The premiere of her film 'Gruba Kaśka' at Hot Docs established her position as a documentary filmmaker, earning critical acclaim and audience recognition. She creates auteur documentary cinema with a formal, minimalist approach, searching for visual metaphors that transcend literalness. Her films explore the relationship between humans and nature, moving away from hierarchical perspectives. Her style is marked by visual sensitivity, subtlety, and attentive observation of both subjects and protagonists. Her cinema consistently raises questions about humanity’s place in the world rather than offering straightforward answers.

cinematography
Szymon Kluz
script
Julia Pełka
music
David Dunn
sound
Joanna Napieralska
editing
Julia Pełka, Mateusz Powszedniak
production
Paulina Skibińska (Parallax Film Sp. z o.o.)
Photo
Kadr z filmu Woodeaters