The two festivals may run concurrently, but that is no hindrance to Polish docmakers who are out in force this year at both Ji.hlava IDFF and DOK Leipzig. Seven Polish productions have been selected for this year’s Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival (Ji.hlava IDFF), while eight projects will be pitched in Leipzig, in addition to a basket of selections in the festival program.
POLISH PROJECTS IN LEIPZIG
The eight projects presented in Leipzig are diverse in both style and content. Martyna Wróbel and Anna Biernacik’s Her Name Is Fields concerns the struggle to set boundaries when we love, and involves two young artists whose lives have spiralled into drug addiction. The film is produced by Magdalena Sztorc and Anna Zajączkowska of Mozaika Films, who are eyeing up a delivery date of Winter 2027. In Kama Czudowska’s Inner Wild, we encounter Karin who, as a child, dreamed of escaping her strict middle‑class household for a wilder life. As an adult, she chases her dreams to the farthest end of Europe, where she uncovers the true cost of freedom. Producer Dorota Schleiss is looking for festival and co-pro support ahead of an October 2026 delivery.
The logline to Paweł Ziemilski’s Love Letters is intriguing. ‘In a world that’s constantly changing, one thing remains: the desire to love and be loved. A journey through the letters sent to Juliet in Verona — past and present — reveals what time does (and doesn’t) do to the heart.’ The film is produced by Alicja Gancarz and Mateusz Wajda who are looking for co-production support and further financing before delivering their film in 2027. Maestra, meanwhile, is a documentary film telling the story of Lidia Grychtołówna, the grand dame of Polish piano music. Directed by Magda Nabiałczyk and produced by Iwona Harris of Lollipop Films, the film is close to closing its finance and in need both of sales representation and broadcaster support.
Alicja Gancarz is also producing two further projects. Julia Groszek’s Sugarland seeks to answer a curious question. The people of Chiapas, Mexico’s poorest state, drink the most Coca-Cola in the world – more than 2 litres per person per day. Why is this? The filmmakers are hoping to deliver the film in 2027. The Enchantress, meanwhile, directed by Martyna Peszko and hopeful of completion in 2026, tells of 94-year old Teresa Godlewska. She may have lost her fortune, her home, and her place in the world, but never her spark, and she continues to prove that youth is merely a state of mind.
The directing team of Maciek Nabrdalik and Piotr Małecki (also producer) will present Tickling the Devil, about celebrated American war photographer Christopher Morris who, after years spent in a world of violence, tries to find meaning at home with his
loved ones. But his inner demons prevent him from regaining balance…The budget on the film has been reached and the filmmakers are in Leipzig to secure festival selections, a sales agent and broadcasters ahead of its completion in December 2025. The eighth Polish project up for grabs is Karina Kleszczewska’s What a Coincidence? Produced by Dorota Schleiss and Jakub Klawikowski, the project investigates why, in a world where millions of people search for love, sex, and friendship through dating apps, many find themselves trapped in recurring psychological patterns. These patterns, often shaped by the subconscious and intergenerational trauma, dictate our choice of partners. The producers are seeking further financing, co-pro support and distribution interest.
Polish filmmakers are also present in the official program of DOK Leipzig with documentaries such as Trains by Maciej Drygas; Signs of Mr Plum by Urszula Morga and Bartosz Mikołajczyk; Małgorzata Goździk’s Dance with Me, Dad and Daria Kopiec’s The Pool or the Death of a Goldfish. Meanwhile, Pola Komorowa’s The Fragility of Unbroken Bones (produced by Marcin Marczyk and Udyssey Creative Technologies) is included in the festival’s DOK Exchange XR programme.
POLISH DOCS IN JI.HLAHA IDFF
Seven Polish productions have been selected for this year’s Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival. In the main Opus Bonum competition is Polish director Natalia Koniarzm who presents her film Silver – a powerful portrayal of miners and their families living in Bolivia’s highest silver mine. The film reveals a harsh reality shaped by relentless labour, danger, and deep social inequality.
In Constellations, which highlights acclaimed titles from international festivals, two Polish productions will be screened. The first, The Town That Drove Away by Grzegorz Piekarski and Natalia Pietsch, is a moving story about the disappearance of the ancient city of Hasankeyf in Kurdistan, submerged as a result of a massive dam project. The second film, My Dear Theo by Alisa Kovalenko, is an intimate portrait of a woman who becomes a soldier in wartime. Her inner dialogue with her son transforms into a profound meditation on love, sacrifice, and resilience.
In the Testimonies section, dedicated to films addressing social, political, and environmental themes, Polish director Joanna Grudzińska will present Poland versus History. The documentary revisits the controversy surrounding Jan Tomasz Gross’s book ‘Neighbours,’ raising difficult questions about memory, guilt, and historical responsibility.
The First Lights competition, showcasing outstanding debut and sophomore documentary features, will host the international premiere of Unearthed by Anna Szczepańska. Following the trail of a short documentary by Andrzej Brzozowski, the filmmaker spent fourteen years exploring the archaeological excavations near the former Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Her film uncovers not only the story of the recovered artefacts but also the complex relationship between history, memory, and the present.
In the Virtual Reality section, Joanna Popińska will present The Choice – Chapters 2 & 3, a continuation of her award-winning VR experience. Through minimalist animation and real-life testimonies, the project explores reproductive rights and personal stories that evoke empathy and challenge stigma.
In the national competition section Czech Joy, which highlights the latest Czech documentary productions, Weronika Mliczewska’s film Child of Dust will have its premiere. During the screening, audiences will accompany Sang – the film’s protagonist – on a moving journey to find his father, as he confronts the painful legacy of war and seeks answers about his own identity.
