Krzysztof Zanussi’s Latest Film to Be Made in Toruń
The latest film “Całopalenie” by the legend of Polish cinema, Krzysztof Zanussi—creator of such classics as “Family Life,” “Illumination,” and “Camouflage”—is being produced in partnership with the Kujawy and Pomerania Film Fund. Representatives of the production company Documentary and Feature Film Studios have arrived in Toruń to scout locations.
Filming for “Całopalenie” began in early March 2026. The cast will include acclaimed actors such as Ksawery Szlenkier, Karolina Kominek, Mateusz Rusin, Marcin Hycnar, Bartłomiej Kotschedoff, Michał Czarnik, Mateusz Więcławek, and Maria Mamona.
During nine days of shooting, scenes were filmed in nearly ten locations across Warsaw. Further filming is planned in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region as well as in Bulgaria. A film crew has now arrived in our city. “We came to Toruń to find… Toruń,” says Andrzej Besztak, production manager of “Całopalenie.” “We are looking—not just for a backdrop, because that would be unfair—we are looking for space. A space that will make our story credible and at the same time authentic. Toruń appears in the script as Toruń. We are not in some anonymous place where the action happens. We name this city. We want it to be beautiful, attractive, and real. That in itself is a value. We no longer want to shoot in Warsaw. So many films have already been made there that now it’s time to give other places a chance. This is an opportunity not only for Toruń, but also for this production. We imagine it will be an ideal collaboration.”
Why the director chose Toruń for what he himself describes as probably his final film remains unknown. “The appearance of Toruń in the script is the director’s choice,” explains Andrzej Besztak. “With Mr. Krzysztof Zanussi, nothing is accidental. He already knows why this city in particular, and we will all find out when we watch the film.”
The crew is interested in filming, among other places, in Toruń’s Old Town and along the Vistula River. “Our search in Toruń is twofold,” says Besztak. “First, we have specific scenes set in the city. We know what to expect—for example, in front of the travel agency run by our main character, or in front of the church central to the plot. These are concrete places. At this stage, it’s a matter of choice—like in a fruitcake: one prefers candied orange peel, another raisins—so we are looking for those ‘raisins’ or ‘peels’ that will best serve the story and make it authentic. Secondly, we plan to showcase the city. We want to shoot drone footage to present Toruń’s panorama. So far, we have only filmed interiors. These outdoor scenes in Toruń will not only illustrate the story but also provide breathing space. There are also musical ideas from Krzysztof Zanussi. We hope it will certainly be in his style, but also very contemporary. The Toruń part of filming will begin soon. We are counting on good weather and waiting until May to shoot in Toruń so that it looks beautiful. The river also offers tremendous possibilities. We want the film to be visually appealing.”
This is not the director’s first connection with the region. In 1984, Toruń played the role of a town in the so-called Recovered Territories in the film “A Year of the Quiet Sun.” The film features Podmurna Street, the Pauliński Bridge, St. James Street, the area around the “Okrąglak” detention center, and the interiors of the Great Hall of the Artus Court. Several scenes were also filmed in Grudziądz, near the former Jesuit monastery. It is worth noting that Krzysztof Zanussi is a recipient of the Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Film Award named after Pola Negri, which he received in 2024.
Paweł Jankowski
24 March 2026