FILMS 2026
All films will have English subtitles (even if some trailers below do not). Audio in all films is in Polish, unless indicated otherwise.
All films will be screened at AFS Cinema for Nov 5 - Nov 8
FEATURE FILMS & DOCUMENTARIES
THE PROMISED LAND / ZIEMIA OBIECANA
Screening time: Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 pm
2h 59 min I Drama I 1975
Director: Andrzej Wajda
Screenplay: Stanisław Reymont, Andrzej Wajda
Cinematography: Wacław Dybowski, Edward Kłosiński, Witold Sobocinski
Editing: Zofia Dwornik, Halina Prugar
Music: Wojciech Kilar
Cast: Daniel Olbrychski, Wojciech Pszoniak, Andrzej Seweryn
Synopsis: Set in the smoke-choked, booming industrial hub of late 19th-century Łódź, Andrzej Wajda’s Academy Award-nominated masterpiece is a sprawling, sensory-rich epic of untamed early capitalism. The narrative follows an unlikely trio of ambitious friends—Karol, a cynical Polish aristocrat; Max, a German factory heir; and Moryc, a shrewd Jewish businessman. Banding together to construct a massive textile mill, they dive headfirst into a cutthroat world where fortune favors the ruthless. As their empire rises, the three systematically shed their morals, heritages, and loyalties, culminating in a devastating act of sabotage that forces a stark choice between human decency and absolute corporate dominance. Masterfully restored, this landmark of Polish cinema remains a fierce, visual tour de force and a timeless critique of unbridled greed.
Awards & Nominations:
1975 Nominee Oscar - Best Foreign Language Film - Academy Awards
1977 Winner Golden India Catalina - Best Director - Cartagena Film Festival
1975 Winner Gold Hugo - Best Feature Film - Chicago International Film Festival
KOŚCIUSZKO: A MAN BEFORE HIS TIME
Screening time: Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 pm
54 min I Documentary I 2014 | English Language
Director: Alex Storozynski
Screenplay: Alex Storozynski
Cinematography: Ed Maroney
Editing: Steven Meyer
Music: David Van Tieghem
Cast: Eric Bembenek, John Koopman, Bill Robling, Steve Edenbo, Magda Mazurek, Brigadier General Theodore Martin, Dr. Zbignew Brzezinski, Prof. James Pula
Synopsis: This compelling documentary traces the remarkable life of Tadeusz Kościuszko, the Polish military engineer, revolutionary leader, and champion of human rights whose influence spanned both Europe and America. Through historical reenactments, expert commentary, and archival material, the film explores Kościuszko's pivotal role in the American Revolution, including his contributions to the victory at Saratoga and the construction of West Point, as well as his later struggle for freedom and equality in Poland. Portraying a man whose ideals transcended his era, the film highlights Kościuszko's advocacy for the rights of enslaved people, peasants, religious minorities, Native Americans, and women, revealing why he remains one of history's most visionary defenders of liberty.
PICASSO’S MERMAID / SYRENKA PICASSA
Screening time: Friday, Nov. 6 at 8:50 pm
1 hr 34 min I Drama I 2025
Director: Maciej Zak
Screenplay: Maciej Zak
Cinematography: Jackub Stolecki
Editing: Piotr Kmiecik, Wojciech Mrówczynski
Music: Tomasz Gassowski
Cast: Ireneusz Czop, Magdalena Boczarska, Magdalena Popławska, Marian Dziedziel, Agata Turkot, Paweł Tomaszewski
Synopsis:: When Mary discovers a mysterious mermaid drawing hidden beneath the plaster of her modest Warsaw apartment, she learns that it was created by Pablo Picasso during his 1948 visit to Poland. What begins as an exciting artistic discovery soon transforms her life in unexpected ways. As news of the drawing spreads, long-buried memories resurface for her elderly neighbor Radomski, a retired journalist who witnessed Picasso's visit decades earlier. Through intertwining past and present, the film explores how art can preserve history, awaken forgotten truths, and leave an enduring mark on ordinary lives. Inspired by a true story, Picasso's Mermaid is a warm and reflective blend of comedy, drama, and historical memory.
Awards & Nominations:
2026 Nominee Golden Lions - Polish Film Festival - Best Film
THE GODMOTHER OF SILICON VALLEY
Screening time: Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2:30 pm
41 min I Documentary I 2026 | English Language
Director: Lukasz Bernas, Maciej Kawecki
Screenplay: —-
Cinematography: Lukasz Bernas
Editing: Lukasz Bernas
Music: Hubert Walkowski
Cast: Maciej Kawecki, Esther Wojcicki
Synopsis: The story of Esther Wojcicki — a teacher at Palo Alto High School who quietly became one of the most influential women in the world by nurturing generations of Silicon Valley’s greatest minds.
Esther Wojcicki did not found a tech company, write a famous algorithm or ring a bell on a trading floor. What she did was arguably more lasting: she changed how an entire generation of young people learned to think. For decades at Palo Alto High School she pioneered an education built on trust, creativity and radical student empowerment — at a time when most schools still ran like assembly lines.
Her journalism program became legendary across the United States: a living laboratory where teenagers were treated as professionals, held to real standards and trusted with real responsibility.
Her three daughters became leading figures in technology, science and public health: Susan Wojcicki served as CEO of YouTube, Anne Wojcicki co-founded and led 23andMe, and Janet Wojcicki is a distinguished physician and global health expert. Esther’s personal relationship with Steve Jobs influenced one of the largest companies on Earth, and her students — among them James Franco — went on to win the world’s most prestigious awards, including Golden Globes.
The deaths of her daughter, grandson and husband within a few months confronted Esther with an immense tragedy. The film takes us deep into her world: her upbringing, her passions, decades of hard-won wisdom and her unshakeable belief that young people, given the right environment, are capable of almost anything.
THE DOLL / LALKA
Screening time: Saturday, Nov. 7 at 3:45 pm
2h 42 min I Drama, Romance I 2026
Director: Maciej Kawalski
Screenplay: Maciej Kawalski, Bolesław Prus, Łukasz Światowiec
Cinematography: Piotr Sobocinski, Jr.
Music: Łukasz Targosz
Cast: Marcin Dorocinski, Kamila Urzędowska, Maria Dębska
Synopsis: The Doll, adapted from Bolesław Prus's classic novel, is a sweeping tale of love, class, and destiny. Set in late 19th-century Warsaw, The Doll follows Stanisław Wokulski, a wealthy merchant and former idealist whose life becomes consumed by his passion for the beautiful aristocrat Izabela Łęcka. Determined to win her affection, Wokulski devotes his fortune, ambition, and future to a love that increasingly blurs the line between devotion and obsession. Against a backdrop of social change, class divisions, and fading aristocratic values, the film explores the clash between romantic dreams and harsh reality. This lavish new adaptation of one of Poland's greatest literary masterpieces brings renewed life to a timeless story of love, ambition, and disillusionment.
THE ASSISTANT / CZŁOWIEK DO WSZYSTKIEGO
Screening time: Saturday, Nov. 7 at 6:45 pm
2h 4 min I Drama I 2025
Director: Anna Sasnal, Wilhelm Sasnal
Screenplay: Anna Sasnal, Wilhelm Sasnal, Robert Walser
Cinematography: Wilhelm Sasnal
Editing: Aleksandra Gowin
Cast: Juliusz Chrzastowski, Roman Gancarczyk, Ewa Kolasinska
Synopsis: After abandoning his job as a bookbinder, Joseph Marti accepts a position as assistant to an eccentric inventor living in a secluded villa. As he becomes indispensable to the household, Joseph is drawn into a world of fading ambitions, financial decline, and mounting emotional tension. Adapted from Robert Walser's classic novel, Człowiek do Wszystkiego is a haunting meditation on work, dependency, and the quiet disintegration of personal and social certainties, rendered in the distinctive visual language of its filmmakers.
Awards & Nominations:
2025 Nominee - International Film Festival Rotterdam - Big Screen Award
THE aLTAR BOYS / MINISTRANCI
Screening time: Saturday, Nov. 7 at 9:30 pm
1h 46 min I Comedy-Drama I 2025
Director: Piotr Domalewski
Screenplay: Piotr Domalewski
Cinematography: Piotr Sobociński Jr.
Music: Wojciech Urbański
Cast: Tobiasz Wajda, Bruno Błach-Baar, Mikołaj Juszczyk, Filip Juszczyk, Daria Kalinchuk, Kamila Urzędowska, Tomasz Schuchardt, Sławomir Orzechowski, Artur Paczesny
Synopsis: In a small Polish town, a group of teenage altar boys grows increasingly frustrated by the hypocrisy, indifference, and injustices they see around them. Convinced that adults and even the Church have failed their community, they take matters into their own hands. Armed with youthful idealism, biblical inspiration, and a secretly bugged confessional, the boys uncover their neighbors' secrets and set out to punish wrongdoers while helping those in need. As their self-appointed mission escalates, they find themselves navigating the uncertain boundary between justice and vigilantism, innocence and responsibility. Blending coming-of-age drama, dark humor, and social satire, The Altar Boys is a provocative exploration of faith, morality, and youthful rebellion.
Awards & Nominations:
2026 Winner Audience Award - Polish Film Awards - Best Film
2025 Winner Golden Lions - Polish Film Festival - Best Film
2025 Winner - Polish Film Festival - Best Screenplay
2025 Winner - Polish Film Festival - Best Editing
2025 Winner - Polish Film Festival - Audience Choice Awards - Best Film
2025 Winner Golden Kangaroo - Polish Film Festival - Best Film
2025 Winner Golden Clapper - Radio Gdansk Awards - Best Film
2025 Winner - Award of the Network of Studio and Local Cinemas - Best Film
MEMORIES OF INSIGNIFICANCE / ZAPISKI śMIERTELNIKA
Screening time: Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2:30 pm
1 hr 34 min I Drama I 2025
Director: Maciej Zak
Screenplay: Maciej Zak
Cinematography: Jackub Stolecki
Editing: Piotr Kmiecik, Wojciech Mrówczynski
Music: Tomasz Gassowski
Cast: Ireneusz Czop, Magdalena Boczarska, Magdalena Popławska, Marian Dziedziel, Agata Turkot, Paweł Tomaszewski
Synopsis:: A fifty-year-old man burdened by a growing sense of emptiness despite outward success arrives at a seaside resort intending to end his life. He has a family, financial security, and a seemingly stable existence, yet finds himself overwhelmed by disillusionment and a profound weariness of living. As he begins writing a farewell letter to his wife, an unexpected visitor appears: the ghost of his father, who took his own life decades earlier.
Their encounter unfolds as a poignant, darkly humorous, and deeply philosophical conversation about regret, family, memory, and the choices that shape a life. Confronted by unresolved emotions and the legacy of a tragedy that has echoed across generations, the man is forced to reexamine his past, his relationships, and the reasons he has lost faith in the future. Blending drama, fantasy, and existential reflection, Memories of Insignificance is a moving meditation on loneliness, the search for meaning, and the possibility of redemption, reminding us that even in moments of deepest despair, a path toward hope may still remain.
COVENANT OF BLOOD: THE LAST SOLDIERS OF wORLD WAR 2
Screening time: Sunday, Nov. 8 at 4:30 pm
40 min I Documentary I 2025 I English Language
Director: Patrick Ney, Stefan Tompson
Screenplay: Patrick Ney, Stefan Tompson
Cinematography: Daniel Rusin, Michał Grabowski, Jan Tompson
Editing: Michał Tuz
Music: Mark Nowakowski
Cast: Patrick Ney, Stefan Tompson, Aleksandra Duda, Dagmara Leszkowicz
Synopsis: At the end of World War II, Polish freedom fighters - victors against Nazism - faced a new enemy: Soviet-imposed communism. Refusing to surrender, hide, or collaborate, they waged a desperate, underground war for Poland's true independence. Tortured, hunted, and repressed, these last soldiers remained unbroken in their oath of blood. Their impossible struggle helped pave the way for Poland's eventual freedom. A never-before-told story in documentary form.
Awards & Nominations:
Official Selection - HISTORY - International Film Festival Austria 2026
Official Selection - NNW International Film Festival 2026
THROUGH THE WALL / PRZEZ ŚCIANĘ
Screening time: Sunday, Nov. 8 at 6:00 pm
2h I Melodrama I 2026
Director: Maciej Sobieszczański
Screenplay: Maciej Sobieszczański
Cinematography: Jolanta Dylewska
Editing: Nikodem Chabior
Sound: Tomasz Wieczorek
Cast: Maria Dębska, Wieslawa Pajdak
Synopsis: At the height of Stalinist terror in postwar Poland, two young political prisoners find themselves imprisoned in neighboring cells. Separated by concrete walls and subjected to the harsh realities of a brutal prison regime, Wiesia and Jerzy begin communicating through Morse code tapped between their cells. What starts as a simple exchange of words gradually becomes a lifeline, offering hope, comfort, and human connection in a world designed to strip them of both. As their bond deepens into love, they dream of a future beyond the prison walls and draw strength from one another to endure persecution, isolation, and uncertainty. Inspired by true events, Through the Wall (Przez ścianę) is a moving story of resilience, courage, and the enduring power of love in the face of oppression.
NO GHOSTS ON GOOD STREET / NIE MA DUCHÓW W MIESZKANIU NA DOBREJ
Screening time: Sunday, Nov. 8 at 8:45 pm
1h 30 min I Drama I 2026
Director: Emi Buchwald
Screenplay: Emi Buchwald, Karol Marczak
Cinematography: Tomasz Gajewski
Editing: Anna Luka
Music: Katarzyna Gawlik, Jerzy Rogiewicz
Cast: Bartłomiej Deklewa, Izabella Dudziak, Tymoteusz Rozynek
Synopsis: Four siblings on the verge of adulthood try to build their independent lives without losing the bonds that connect them. The youngest, Benek, struggles with rejection from his older brother Franek, who was once his best friend. Haunted by a malicious apparition known as The Worror, Benek is unable to sleep. Franek isolates himself from his family while dealing with problems with his girlfriend, drugs, and himself. His condition deeply worries his twin sister, Nastka, who is also searching for love. Jana, the eldest, is working on an art project she hopes will bring relief to both herself and her siblings.
Awards & Nominations:
2025 Winner - Polish Film Festival - Best Director
2025 Winner - Polish Film Festival - Best Supporting Actress
2025 Winner - Polish Film Festival - Journalists Award - Best Film
2025 Winner - Polish Film Festival - Casting Director Award
2025 Winner - Polish Film Festival - Golden Claw
2025 Winner - Polish Film Festival - Onet Award
THE DOG WHO TRAVELED BY TRAIN 2 / o pSIE, KTÓRY JEŹDZIŁ KOLEJĄ 2
Screening time: Sunday, Nov. 15 at 11:00 am
1h 33 min I Adventure, Family I 2025
Director: Magdalena Nieć
Screenplay: Magdalena Nieć, Katarzyna Stachowicz Gacek, Mojca Tirs
Cinematography: Rafał Paradowski
Editing: Tomasz Kolak
Music: Maciej Zielinski
Cast: Magdalena Nieć, Katarzyna Stachowicz Gacek, Mojca Tirs
Synopsis: After returning to Poland following a successful operation in the United States, young Zuzia discovers that her beloved dog Lampo, the train-riding canine famous across the country, has mysteriously disappeared. Refusing to give up hope, she sets out on a journey with her friend Antek and a newly adopted dog named Luna to uncover the truth behind Lampo's disappearance. Filled with adventure, humor, and heartwarming moments, this family-friendly sequel celebrates friendship, loyalty, and the extraordinary bond between people and their pets.
Awards & Nominations:
2025 Nominee - European Children’s Film Award by the Saxon Ministry of Culture - Best European Children’s Film
2025 Nominee - Award of the Junior Jury - Best International Feature Film in the Category “Junior Film”
2025 Nominee - MDR Special Award - Best International Children’s Film
2025 Nominee - SLM Top Award - Best International Feature Film
2025 Nominee Award of the ECFA jury - Best European Children’s Film
