Will films co-produced with the Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund win awards at the Gdynia Film Festival?
Submissions have opened for the most important event in Polish cinema – the 51st edition of the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. Filmmakers once again have the opportunity to present their productions in three competition sections, reflecting the diversity and dynamism of contemporary Polish cinema. We hope that films co-produced with the Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund will be among the submissions.
The first of them is “The Road Less Traveled”, the directorial debut of actress Zuzanna Grabowska, filmed in our region, mainly in Górzno and Szubin. The second is the black comedy “Murder at the Philharmonic”, which Maciej Hydr shot at the Pomeranian Philharmonic in Bydgoszcz.
Last year, the Fund was represented by two outstanding and commercially successful films: “Chopin, Chopin!” directed by Michał Kwieciński and “A Good Home” by Wojciech Smarzowski, and in 2024 by “Seasons” directed by Michał Grzybowski. Eryk Kulm, who portrayed Frédéric Chopin, Agnieszka Dulęba-Kasza from “Seasons”, and Wojciech Smarzowski are recipients of last year’s Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region Film Award named after Pola Negri.
As in previous years, films can be submitted to the Main Competition, Perspectives, and Short Film Competition. The most prestigious Main Competition features the most anticipated premieres, with the race for the Golden Lions generating the greatest excitement. The Perspectives section, which debuted during the 49th edition of the festival in 2024, is dedicated to more daring and experimental projects that expand the language of cinema and address current social issues. The Short Film Competition gives young filmmakers a chance to emerge and present their talent to a wider audience.
The Polish Film Festival in Gdynia is not only a showcase of the latest achievements in Polish cinema, but also a place for meetings, discussions, and exchange of experiences. It is also where coordinators of film funds – including our Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund – come together.
The submission phase – an extremely important stage in preparing the festival – is now underway. From the submitted productions, titles will be selected that will attract filmmakers, critics, and cinema lovers from across Poland to Gdynia this autumn. For many creators, participation in the festival is a key moment in their careers, offering a chance to gain industry recognition and reach a wide audience.
Submissions are open until May 31, 2026. Feature films produced between September 1, 2025 and August 30, 2026 may be entered into the competitions, provided they were not submitted to the previous edition and meet the requirements set out in the regulations of the 51st Polish Film Festival in Gdynia.
The 51st edition of the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, organized by the Polish Filmmakers Association, will take place from September 21 to 26, 2026.
Paweł Jankowski
April 21, 2026