Kinophilia
25 films
Amelia Starlight
dir. Laura Thomassaint
fab2024
Adored by the media and the public, French star Amélia Starlight (Emmanuelle Béart) is terminally ill. She withdrew from public life a long time ago, but one day a journalist running a popular talk show receives an electrifying message from her – Amélia wants to appear on television for the last time.
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As Long As They Don't Find Us (Żeby tylko nas nie znaleźli)
dir. Maja Górczak
dok2025
A film tribute to one of the first women to study directing at the Łódź Film School, Stefania Świeca. She left behind only one film – a poignant film study in which she tried to tackle the trauma of the Holocaust. What happened with her later on?
Read moreBecoming a Film Director (Cheng Wei Dao Yan Zhi Qian)
dir. Rongfei Guo
dok2025
A story of two women for whom directing is more than art. The documentary follows their journey from an idea for a film to its making, asking questions about the meaning of creation and showing the difficulties of combining artistic activity with everyday struggles faced by the women.
Read moreBeing Related to John Malkovich (Biti u rodu s Johnom Malkovichem)
dir. Luka Mavretić
dok
Father and son journey through family myths and memories in pursuit of a rumoured connection to a Hollywood star. As they explore their bond and their future, uncovering the past could bring them closer - or drive them apart.
Read moreCaliu: Nothing else, what else can I do? (Caliu: Nicidecum altceva, ce sa fac altceva?)
dir. Simona Constantin
dok2025
After the breakup of the Roma group Taraf de Haïdouks, violin virtuoso Gheorghe ‘Caliu’ Anghel is trying to return to his glory days with a new lineup and under a different banner, although his personality is not helping him. What unfolds is a full-blooded portrayal of a brilliant artist and a difficult man.
Read moreCasting
dir. Rafał Łysak
dok2024
‘I’m looking for a person who wants a film to be made about them,’ – said the casting notice for a documentary. Director Rafał Łysak explores the motivation of people who want their stories to be filmed. What is the reason for their desire to appear in front of the camera?
Read moreChild of their Time (Kind van de Tijd)
dir. Huibert van Wijk
dok2024
In the 1970s, many Dutch families adopted children from Indonesia. Tim is one of them, but despite good intentions, something went wrong. Today, the protagonist resents his adoptive father for taking him to Europe. We witness a family psychodrama, which is recorded by Tim’s brother, the director of this film.
Read moreDo Painters Die Elsewhere (Dokąd umierają malarze)
dir. Michał Pietrak
dok2025
For Bolesław Gasiński, life and art have been inextricably interwoven. He left behind not only paintings but also abundant audio and video materials. They constitute the main fabric of this documentary, making a visually sophisticated portrait of an outsider.
Read moreD is for Distance
dir. Christopher Petit, Emma Matthews
dok2025
What do memory loss, William S. Burroughs, post-war CIA espionage operations and today’s struggles with a heartless healthcare system have in common? All of them come together in a creative and deeply personal essay. Following Louis, who suffers from epilepsy, we embark on a journey into the world full of paradoxes and emotions.
Read moreHeartbeat
dir. Jay Rosenblatt, Stephanie Rapp
dok2025
Jay Rosenblatt, a master of avant-garde cinema with two Oscar nominations, once again turns the camera on himself. The footage shot 25 years ago is a raw record of a couple’s dialogue as they experience the crisis of upcoming parenthood.
Read moreHunting (Qui part à la chasse)
dir. Lea Favre
anim2024
A young girl goes on a hunt - not for animals but for a perfect documentary shot. She learns how to be alert, invisible, ready to capture that one special moment, such as a romantic kiss, a unique gesture or a glint in the eye. Just when Lea thinks she has got her frame, she becomes a victim herself.
Read moreAwards:Silver Dragon / Special Award
In the Veins (We krwi)
dir. Maciej Tyburski
dok2025
It was intended as a film about Józef Lewartowski – a Jew, communist and an organiser of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Unexpectedly, it turns into a portrait of his great-grandson Joseph, a Parisian who, in an attempt to understand the history of the resistance movement in his family, begins to co-create it.
Read moreLast snows (Les dernières neiges)
dir. Sarah Henochsberg
fab2024
The holidays in the Alps were expected to be carefree, but there is palpable tension between the parents, while the younger sister is whining and saying things she should not. Ten-year-old Sacha knows that this is their last trip together, and she tries to take care of the atmosphere and the entire family.
Read moreLetters from Wolf Street (Listy z Wilczej)
dir. Arjun Talwar
dok2025
A street in downtown Warsaw. An Indian immigrant filmmaker seeks to overcome the boundaries between himself and an anxiety-ridden country. He uncovers hidden stories, and shared longing, revealing a kaleidoscopic portrait of Polish society.
Read moreNice Girls Don't Ask
dir. Jan Krawitz
dok2025
The 1950s in America were the time when schools were flooded with educational films aiming to shape exemplary female behaviour. This story, composed of excerpts from such films, is not only a look at the past ideals of femininity but also a bitter reflection on their contemporary echoes.
Read moreReenactment (Rekonstrukcja)
dir. Marcin Strauchold
fab2025
Anka ends up at a historical re-enactment camp because of her boyfriend. She tries to find her own place in the community, however, it turns out that historical prejudice against women is surprisingly valid. The participants with dedication perform roles from the past, but at the same time, there is a contemporary social game going on between them.
Read moreSane Inside Insanity — The Phenomenon of Rocky Horror
dir. Andreas Zerr
dok2025
There are more phenomena than are dreamt of by pop culture scholars, such as the musical ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ and in particular, its big screen incarnation. On the 50th anniversary of its premiere, this documentary tells the bravura story of the making of the film and its fan base.
Read moreShadowland
dir. Otso Tiainen
dok2024
This was supposed to be a documentary about an esoteric community living today in the French Pyrenees. While it was being filmed, serious accusations were made against one of the sect’s members, Hollywood director Richard Stanley. Consequently, the documentary seems stretched between a utopian fantasy and a brutal clash with reality.
Read moreThe Passenger Andrzej Munk (Pasażer Andrzej Munk)
dir. Michał Bielawski
dok2025
This documentary is dedicated to Andrzej Munk, a leading figure of the Polish Film School. Based on unique archival materials, it tells the story of a man immersed in history, his artistic evolution and the emotions that accompanied it.
Read moreThe Passion of Agnieszka (Pasja według Agnieszki)
dir. Wojciech Staroń
dok2025
A record of the most recent collaboration between legendary film editors, Agnieszka Bojanowska and Bogdan Dziworski – a duo that created some of the most important films in the history of Polish documentary cinema. Wojciech Staroń’s camera captures the behind-the-scenes of their difficult but extremely creative relationship.
Read moreAwards:Golden Hobby-Horse
The Propagandist (De propagandist)
dir. Luuk Bouwman
dok2024
Why did Jan Teunissen, a distinguished Dutch filmmaker, become the ‘tsar of Nazi propaganda’ during World War II? Composed exclusively of archival footage, including many materials unknown so far, the film tells a story of the man who, ‘for the love of cinema’, began collaborating with the occupier.
Read moreAwards:Special Mention
The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival
dir. Julie Rubio
dok2024
Today, her paintings are experiencing a worldwide renaissance and remain an inspiration for artists in various fields. And the biography of the Warsaw-born artist is not less fascinating than the paintings themselves. The film pays tribute to Lempicka, who courageously crossed the boundaries set for women in art.
Read moreTrains (Pociągi)
dir. Maciej J. Drygas
dok2024
Can a train serve as a metaphor for human destiny? The documentary by Maciej J. Drygas is a historical railway journey through 20th-century Europe composed exclusively of the footage found in archives around the world.
Read moreWander to Wonder
dir. Nina Gantz
anim2023
Mary, Billybud and Fumbleton are three miniature, human actors who perform in an eighties kids TV series called “Wander to Wonder”. After the creator of the series has died, they are left alone in the studio. With their slowly decaying costumes and growing hunger, they continue to make increasingly strange episodes for their fans.
Read moreWhere Dragons Live (Waar draken wonen)
dir. Suzanne Raes
dok2024
Where Dragons Live is an intimate and enchanting portrait of childhood fears, imagination and the enduring power of the family myths and artefacts that shape our lives. We follow the Impey siblings as they prepare their family home for sale. They face difficult choices about which treasures to keep and which to discard, reflecting their struggle with conflicting memories.
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