Film Region Kujawsko-Pomorskie: Bydgoszcz Documentary Filmmakers Honoured at OKFA
Two documentaries created by filmmakers associated with the Bydgoszcz Film Chronicle have been recognised at the 72nd Professor Henryk Kluba National Independent Film Competition (OKFA) in Konin.
OKFA is the oldest independent film festival in Poland and one of the country’s most important events promoting auteur cinema outside the mainstream distribution circuit. Organised by the Cultural and Arts Centre in Konin, the festival’s 72nd edition attracted strong interest from filmmakers across Poland. More than 260 films were submitted, with 57 selected for the official competition. Among them were two documentaries produced by filmmakers connected with the Bydgoszcz Film Chronicle. Both earned the appreciation of the jury, chaired by renowned actor Krzysztof Majchrzak.
The award in the Amateur Film category went to Half Past One (Wpół do drugiej), directed by Katarzyna Bogucka. The documentary tells the story of Mr. Jerzy and his extraordinary relationship with his dog, Wolter. Following the animal’s death, the protagonist struggles with loss, longing, and memories.
As described by the Bydgoszcz Film Chronicle:
“After his dog passed away, Mr. Jerzy put up notices around Bydgoszcz announcing the loss of his friend and now willingly shares the story with people he meets. The film enters the protagonist’s inner world and gradually reveals more about his life. It is a universal story about love and what happens when it is gone.”
The documentary offers a moving reflection on attachment, loneliness, and the need for human connection—themes that resonate strongly with the spirit of the festival.
A special distinction at OKFA was awarded to another Bydgoszcz Film Chronicle documentarian, Paweł Dobies. His film Field of Vision (Pole widzenia) had its festival premiere in Konin.
The Bydgoszcz Film Chronicle (BKF) is a unique initiative not only within the region but also on a national scale. Combining elements of a film school and a film club, it provides aspiring filmmakers with opportunities to develop their ideas and learn the craft under the guidance of acclaimed Bydgoszcz-born documentarians Maciej Cuske and Marcin Sauter.
To date, BKF has produced more than one hundred short films by young creators, including Under Sail (Pod żaglami) by Stanisław Cuske, Black Sunday (Czarna niedziela) by Jarosław Piskozub and Maciej Jasiński, and Unexpected (Nieoczekiwane) by Mateusz Buława.
Many BKF graduates continue their education at film and art schools and pursue professional careers in the film industry. Among them is Stanisław Cuske, who recently worked as part of the camera crew on Fatherland, directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, a production that received significant recognition at the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
Promotion Department
Dariusz Czołgowski
8 June 2026