INFORMATION PORTAL OF THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE OF THE KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIE Region IN TORUŃ

The 23rd Bella Tofifest International Film Festival concluded on Friday (July 4) with a grand gala attended by Marshal Piotr Całbecki and President of the Regional Parliament Elżbieta Piniewska.

“In a world full of simplifications and fleeting emotions, we need cinema that dares to be bold. The Bella Tofifest Festival has long promoted precisely this kind of film – one that shows the world from an unconventional perspective. We believe that by supporting uncompromising cinema, we support freedom of thought, creativity, and genuine conversations about issues important to both individuals and society as a whole,” said Marshal Piotr Całbecki.

During the festival’s closing night, Marshal Piotr Całbecki presented the Pola Negri Film Award to Agnieszka Dulęba-Kasza – an actress known, among other things, for her work in “Sezony” staged at the Wilam Horzyca Theatre in Toruń. Earlier, at the opening of this year’s Tofifest, the same award was presented by the Marshal to the outstanding actor, director, and teacher Jan Englert.

The Flisak Statuette was awarded to Katarzyna Warnke, while the Ryszard Bugajski Award for Best Direction of a Polish film in the From Poland competition went to Monika Majorek.

In the main On Air competition, twelve films were presented. The winner was Lesson Learned, directed by Bálint Szimler. In the From Poland competition, the winning film was Pod szarym niebem, directed by Mary Tamkovich.

Golden Angels for creative defiance were awarded to Mirosław Baka and Kazik Staszewski, whose concert was the grand finale highlight of this year’s Tofifest closing gala.

For years, the Kujawsko-Pomorskie regional self-government has consistently supported filmmakers through the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Film Fund. Soon, five productions co-financed by the fund will premiere: Chopin, Chopin, Dom dobry, Piernikowe serce, Morderstwo w filharmonii, and Droga rzadziej przemierzana.

Press Office of the Marshal’s Office

July 7, 2025