Human Rights on the Big Screen. A Renowned International Film Festival Comes to the Region
The WATCH DOCS Traveling Film Festival: Human Rights in Film is one of the most important events in Poland dedicated to documentary cinema and human rights issues. Its 24th edition will also visit cities in our region: Toruń (April) and Włocławek (June). The festival combines socially engaged cinema with public debate.
WATCH DOCS was founded in 2001 on the initiative of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. Its name comes from the English terms “watchdogs” (institutions that keep an eye on those in power) and “watch docs” (watching documentary films). Its mission is to present documentaries that combine high artistic quality with reflection on human rights. Today, the festival is one of the most important events of its kind in Europe and attracts tens of thousands of viewers every year. In addition to film screenings, the organizers prepare a rich program of accompanying events—debates, meetings with filmmakers, activists, and experts. Thanks to this, the festival becomes a space for dialogue about contemporary social and political issues.
The Toruń Edition of the Festival
In Toruń, the festival takes place as part of the so-called traveling edition, which, after its main installment in Warsaw, reaches dozens of cities across Poland. Screenings are held at the Dwór Artusa Cultural Centre. The Toruń program spans 4 days and includes 11 carefully selected documentary films from around the world. These include both award-winning productions from international festivals and lesser-known but socially significant works. The films address topics such as armed conflicts, migration, women’s rights, climate change, and abuses of power. Thanks to free admission to the traveling events, the festival is widely accessible to audiences, including young people and students.
An important part of the festival are the accompanying events: panel discussions with experts, meetings with filmmakers, photographic exhibitions, and debates on current social issues. Film screenings often serve as a starting point for reflection on the contemporary world and the role of individuals in shaping it.
Program
April 21 (Tuesday)
17:30 – “Bloodline”, dir. Wojciech Węglarz, Poland 2024, 12 min
18:00 – “Divia”, dir. Dmytro Hreshko, Poland / Ukraine / Netherlands 2025, 79 min
19:30 – Ecocide. When the Earth Becomes a Battlefield – panel discussion
20:30 – “Black Water”, dir. Natxo Leuza, Spain 2025, 85 min
April 22 (Wednesday)
17:30 – “In My Sister’s Room”, dir. Pauline Doméjean, France 2025, 31 min
18:00 – “On One’s Own Terms”, dir. Tadeusz Chudy, Poland 2025, 67 min
19:10 – “Growing Up in Crisis: Depression, Rebellion, and Finding Your Own Path” – discussion
20:00 – “In Hell with Ive”, dir. Kristina Nikolova, Bulgaria / USA 2025, 79 min
April 23 (Thursday)
17:30 – “Kumotry”, dir. Emilia Śniegoska, Poland / Germany 2025, 69 min
19:15 – “I Hope This Email Finds You Well”, dir. Asia Zughaiar, Palestine 2025, 10 min
19:30 – “Gaza. A Letter from the Past”, dir. Kamal Aljafari, Palestine / Germany / France / Qatar 2025, 106 min
April 24 (Friday)
17:30 – “Truth or Dare”, dir. Tonislav Hristov, Finland / Bulgaria / Sweden / Norway 2025, 85 min
19:00 – Architects of Chaos – Disinformation in the Service of Conflict – talk with Marcin Ogdowski
20:00 – “Kabul. Prayer of a Warrior”, dir. Aboozar Amini, Netherlands / Belgium 2025, 102 min
The festival will visit Włocławek from June 22–26.
Paweł Jankowski
April 14, 2026