Awarded films – The National Competition

9 films
Strong, moving films, bold forms, taboo-breaking stories with a touch of humor.

  • Basia: Three Short Stories (Trzy opowiadania o Basi)

    dir. Mateusz Pietrak
    dok2023

    ‘I have decided to die this year,’ - jokes Basia, who does not look like someone who turned 80. She fulfils herself in her role of a grandmother, mother and sister as well as on stage. The camera captures her preparations to the performance of her life.

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    film still Basia: Three Short Stories
    Awards:Golden Hobby-Horse / Special Award
      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD

  • Be Somebody (Być kimś)

    dir. Michał Toczek
    fab2023

    Together with his family, Wiktor moves into a recently bought flat, which turns out to have belonged to Lech Wałęsa, an ordinary electrician who became Poland’s president many years ago. When his wife learns about it, she comes up with a crazy idea. Suspended between a drama and a comedy, this perverse story shows what it means to ‘be someone’ or just yourself.

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    film still Be Somebody
    Awards:Golden Hobby-Horse
      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD

  • Early Apex (Wiraż)

    dir. Paweł Hejbudzki
    dok2022

    The world of kid karting is fascinating and at the same time raises many questions. This little-known extreme sport is governed by the same rules as competitions for adults – what matters is rivalry, a place on the podium and regular training. Not all children are ready for such a sacrifice.

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    film still Early Apex
    Awards:Special Mention / Special Award

  • Faces of Agata (Twarze Agaty)

    dir. Małgorzata Kozera
    dok2023

    When she was 16, Agata heard that she would most likely bleed herself to death within 2 years. On that day she was born anew. After 20 years and over 30 face surgeries, she lives in London and works as an artist who turned her struggle with a lethal disease into art.

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    film still Faces of Agata
    Awards:Golden Hobby-Horse
      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD

  • Iriy (Wyraj)

    dir. Jakub Stoszek, Magdalena Mistygacz
    dok2023

    War is never far away, as Wojciech Młynarski wrote. The residents of Shestovitcha, a village liberated from under the Russian occupation, are trying to move on with their lives. Nevertheless, it is difficult to live in peace when danger is lurking just behind the corner. A terrifyingly true portrayal of people who are trying to remain normal in abnormal times.

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    film still Iriy
    Awards:Special Mention
      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD

  • No Elephant in the Room (Globus)

    dir. Clara Kleininger-Wanik
    dok2022

    When a new law banning circus shows featuring animals enters into force, Adi and Mioara, animal trainers in a Bucharest circus, must come up with an idea of how to make their shows more attractive so that they do not lose their audience. A world-famous circus director arrives at Romania from as far as Las Vegas in order to help.

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    film still No Elephant in the Room
    Awards:Special Mention

  • Polar Bears (Misie polarne)

    dir. Bartek Stankiewicz
    fab2023

    Powerful clutches, full concentration, sweat, a blanket and a bicycle. No head start. Two brothers and two paths that cross one evening, extremely important for the younger one. Kuba is preparing for his first half-professional wrestling fight. Unexpectedly, his elder brother comes to his aid. However, his intentions are not entirely selfless.

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    film still Polar Bears
    Awards:Special Award
      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD

  • Who Will Clean Your Windows? (Kto Ci będzie okna mył?)

    dir. Dariusz Janiczak
    dok2022

    Darek is 24 and after 10 years of education at a school for students with intellectual disabilities he needs to confront himself with adulthood. At a film workshop, he receives a camera that will enable him to tell the story of the final weeks at his favourite place from his own perspective.

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    film still Who Will Clean Your Windows?
    Awards:Special Award
      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD

  • Zima

    dir. Tomek Popakul, Kasumi Ozeki
    anim2023

    A cat lover, Jesus leaving the cross and Christmas carollers holding pitchforks in a snowy and icy scenery. ‘Zima’, a psychedelic journey to a small fishing village, collects as if in a lens the behaviour, customs and vices of the Polish provinces. A horror-like animation in the convention of magic realism.

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    film still Zima
    Awards:Golden Dragon / Golden Hobby-Horse / Special Award
      Online edition of the 63rd KFF
    • VOD
      From 2 to 18.06KFF VOD