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Warsaw Film Fest: Quality Over Glamour
19 Oct
Summary
- Festival prioritizes film quality over dazzling displays.
- Features 190 films, including 132 features, with 102 premieres.
- Industry section, Warsaw Industry Days, sees significant growth.
The 42nd Warsaw International Film Festival, which opened on October 9, 2026, and concludes on October 12, 2026, is showcasing 190 films, with 132 features among them. A significant portion, 102 films, are world, international, or regional premieres, highlighting the festival's role in discovering new cinematic works.
Festival director Joanna Szymańska-Szcześniak and program director Bartek Pulcyn are driving the event's vision, emphasizing film quality over superficial glamour. They aim to strengthen international partnerships and develop industry activities.
The Warsaw Industry Days section, launched last year, is experiencing rapid expansion. Eliza Subotowicz, head of Industry Days, reported a doubling of submissions to the Warsaw Co-Production Forum and increased international industry engagement.
This year's festival has seen encouraging preliminary results, with audience attendance increasing by mid-teens compared to the previous year. The festival is actively developing initiatives like 'Cinema in the Clouds' to integrate more deeply with the city and reach new audiences.
