Year of Kujawsko-Pomorskie people of cinema: Bydgoszcz Project “What’s On the Big Screen?”

The creators of the “What’s On the Big Screen?” project, carried out by the Rother’s Mills in Bydgoszcz, show that film can not only be watched, but also listened to, touched and experienced through all the senses, and that cinema can be a space open to a much wider audience. Blind and visually impaired people have a particularly important place in the project.

The organisers invite participants to step outside the cinema auditorium. The “Film Bydgoszcz” walk, which will take place on 18 September, will offer an opportunity to look at the city through the lens of its film history. The route will lead through some of Bydgoszcz’s most distinctive locations, including the area around the Old Market Square, Gdańska Street and Freedom Square. It will begin at Rother’s Mills and end at the Orzeł Cinema. Participants will learn about the history of Bydgoszcz cinemas and the city’s connections with film. An important element of the walk is the accessibility of the content presented, including audio descriptions of photographs, film excerpts and the surrounding space. The walk will last 90 minutes, with its pace and duration adapted to the needs of blind and visually impaired participants.

An important part of the programme is the “Sound in Film” workshop, during which participants will be able to explore how a film soundtrack is created. Particular attention will be paid to the Foley technique, which involves creating and recording sound effects corresponding to what is happening on screen. The footsteps of characters, the sound of doors opening, objects being moved or everyday activities – all these sounds can be recorded separately and then used in a film. The workshop demonstrates that sound is not merely an addition to the image. It helps create the atmosphere of a scene, builds tension, supports storytelling and influences the viewer’s emotions. The workshop is scheduled for 25 September at the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. It will be led by sound directors Katarzyna Figat and Mateusz Irysik.

Film screenings with audio description are another important element of the project. Thanks to specially prepared descriptions of the visual content, blind and visually impaired people can gain a better understanding of the characters, locations, gestures, set design and events appearing on screen. This makes it possible to convey elements that cannot be perceived through sight. On 30 September, Rother’s Mills will host a screening of Lukas Dhont’s film Close with audio description.

Paweł Janowski
Promotion Department

16 September 2026