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Thursday, November 7th

 

Gala Opening Reception and Award Ceremony

6:00 PM to 10 PM. Invitations and passes only.  

 

To obtain the pass, make a minimum donation of $175 per person.

Any pass holder can be accompanied by guests who are 25 years of age or younger for free.

More details

 

 

 

 

Thursday, November 7th

9:45PM. Free screening.

 

El Portal Theatre

5269 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601

 

 

THE DELUGE. POSTSCRIPTUM by Lukasz Czajka, 60 min.

 

TRAILER

 

Despite the anti-Semitic campaign unleashed by the Polish People's Authorities in the late

60s, director Jerzy Hoffman completed work on the film "Colonel Wolodyjowski." This

became the gateway to the realization of "The Deluge," the most expensive film in the

history of Polish cinematography. During his work, the director not only has to deal with

mounting production problems and the distrust of the People's Authorities but also with the

expectations of millions of Poles. "The Deluge: Postscriptum" takes a look behind the scenes

of the creation of the iconic Polish historical film, nominated for an Oscar in 1974, as well as

the colorful life story of its creator.  

 

 

& CURIOSA by Tessa Moult-Milewska, 8 min

 

 

Selected for Oscars 2025 foreign animation.

 

***

 

 

Friday, November 8th

7:00 PM. Tickets $20

Laemmle Royal Cinema,

11523 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025  

 

After the screening Q&A with Ewa Kasprzyk, Pawel Chmielewski and  Andrzej Andrzejewski

 

HUNT (Polowanie) by Pawel Chmielewski, 120 min.  

 

 

TRAILER

 

TICKETS TO THE MOVIE

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The film is inspired by true events and follows Michal Król, a resident of a provincial town. 

After a tragic accident caused by government negligence, Król decides to enter politics and run for mayor.

 

***

 

 

Saturday, November 9th

Laemmle Town Center Encino,

17200 Ventura Blvd UNIT 121, Encino, CA 91316

 

1:00 PM Free screening

PFFLA all animation films  

 

After the screening, Q&A with Jeremy Rzadowski and Marta Chyła-Janicka

 

THE SAD FOREST by Jeremi Rzadowski, 3 min  

 

TRAILER

 

 

The forest holds many dark and mysterious secrets of which the main characters become a part. 

On their night journey, they encounter a mysterious figure who shares a terrifying tale. 

The question remains whether the heroines will manage to escape their unfortunate fate.

 

WAWEL DRAGON by Cameron Carr, 6 min  

 

 

An award winning adaptation of a classic Polish folktale, rich in history, 

culture and magic told with an epic cinematic lens and stunning animation puppetry!

 

SHE CAT HIM by Marta Chyła-Janicka, 22 min  

 

 

A comedy-drama showing three stories from the life of a frustrated married couple of intellectuals - Anna and Dawid. 

The film is intended only for adults because of the sharp humor that emphasizes the impotence and emotional problems of the characters.

 

THE CORPSE by Maciej Rosa, 5 min  

 

 

When our time comes, we must leave the world and walk away. This is a standard procedure, but for one dead man, it was delayed. 

Because of the crack in heaven’s red tape, he needs to stay on earth one day longer. Just to fill in the time, he goes out of his place 

and experience the world last time.

 

LACK by Pawel Prewencki, 6 min  

 

 

The film tells a story about struggling with pain and suffering. It touches on a very personal experience. 

It is a story of loneliness, anger and grief experienced by parents who lose a child. It is an intimate and emotional 

visualization of the world in which bereaved people live. It tells about a situation for which no one is prepared, 

and the 'catalogue' of reactions we have known up to that point becomes useless.

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FRAME by Adi Rosenberg, 3.5 min

 

 

An elderly man in the early stages of dementia refuses to go to a nursing 

home and experiences tangible visions that threaten the imaginary world he has built.

 

 

***

 

 

2:00 PM Free screening  

 

Q&A with Piotr Matyja and Magdalena Juszczyk after the screening

 

A BEAR NAMED WOJTEK short by Iain Gardner, 28 min  

 

 

TRAILER

 

Displaced by the Second World War, a troop of Polish soldiers find an inseparable bond 

through an orphaned bear they named Wojtek. A BEAR NAMED WOJTEK tells the fantastic journey 

of an orphaned Syrian brown bear who was adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II, 

becoming a beacon of hope and an emblem of their fate.

 

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1863. FOR OUR FREEDOM AND YOURS documentary by Magdalena Juszczyk, 58 min  

 

 

An illustration of history and its forever connection to Polish strive for freedom.

January Uprising is the heart of the story.

 

 

THE ONLY SON short by Piotr Matyja, 15 min  

 

 

Jack, a Polish Immigrant living in Los Angeles, will have to decide if he'll sacrifice

his morals to save his son's future.

 

 

 

4:00 PM Tickets $20

 

PUPA LIBERA short by Magda Magdalena Trebert, 10 min

 

Being paid to spend a night is a crossing of a social threshold for Oliwia, making her feel beautiful enough that a man 

would pay for sex with her. This life-changing experience leads her to realise her worth, 

and the film explores themes of self-discovery, the need for touch, inner strength, and loneliness among people.

 

WHEN F***KING SPRING IS IN THE AIR feature by Danyael Sugawara, 111 min

 

Punky feel-good road movie about the 17 year old, rude, Polish Kasia and her worthless family.

 

 

 

6:00 PM Tickets $20

 

DOUGHY CAKE short by Katarzyna Markowicz, 11 min  

 

“Doughy Cake” is a short film about the anxiety before the upcoming birth of a child, aggravated 

by a realisation it is time to say goodbye to a loved one who is dying. Alicja, seven months pregnant, comes to her parents 

(Renata and Andrzej) to make sure that her mother will be with her during the birth. Her parents behave a bit unusually 

and then... they invite Alicja to their wedding and inform her about their honeymoon, which falls exactly on the expected date of delivery. 

When Alice gets nervous, Andrzej sees no other option but to let her in on what was driving them. It turns out that Renata 

has two months left to live and this is the last moment to enjoy life and somehow get through this difficult time of saying farewell. 

Alice, in the beginning just furious and disappointed, is now hurt and helpless. She is to become a mum, knowing that she will soon 

lose her own mother.

 

HEART FLUTTERS. HERCLEKOTY short by Eliza Godlewska, Alan Ruczynski, 23 min  

 

 

Kuba is a young, simple lad. He works in a carpenter's workshop and devotes any free moment to raising 

his twelve-year-old daughter. His appearance and the way of behaving contrast with his character and tenderness 

towards his child. Family is the most important thing to him, 

so he really hopes that he will be able to create a bond with a woman he's just started seeing. 

However, Kuba has one serious flaw – he acts before he thinks. His impetuousness leads to misfortune.

 

ON THE POLISH TRIANGLE short by Ewa Figurski, 41 min  

 

 

The movie is based on the radio play "On the Polish Triangle" broadcast in Chicago area on Polish Radio (92.7 FM). 

The movie itself is about modern Polish immigrants in the United States and their relatives coming

 from Poland for a family event. It shows different types of immigrants, 

a wide range of experiences as expatriates, and contrasting lifestyle ideas.

 

 

 

7:30 PM Tickets $20

 

THE DOG feature by Ireneusz Grzyb, 101 min  

 

 

After a mysterious disappearance of their beloved dog, two teenagers confront their parents, 

who gradually descend into madness in their attempt to solve the mystery. The parents install cameras 

in the house and introduce a new set of rules. Everyone is under suspicion. The situation begins to expose

 the sick bonds of a seemingly peaceful and ordinary neighbourhood family. Hounded and frightened, 

they find it increasingly more difficult to think logically, while the mystery becomes harder to unravel. 

The danger escalates until the domestic investigation spirals out of control, leading to madness and violence. 

A mysterious enemy, hiding in their own home, ensnares the characters and robs them of their safety.

 

 

 

Sunday, November 10th

Hellada Gallery,

117 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

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10:00 AM free screening

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THE ONE I LOVE documentary by Pawel Hejbudzki, 93 min  

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The film The One I Love explores deeply universal human issues, particularly the theme of revenge stemming

 from a lack of love and its devastating consequences. These themes are especially relevant today, resonating with conflicts not only

 in Ukraine but also in other regions affected by war. The story reflects how family disputes - ranging from political disagreements, grievances

 about upbringing, and unresolved traumas - can mirror larger global tensions, showing that even micro-scale conflicts shape the current world.

 The film has sparked engaging discussions with audiences in Shanghai and Warsaw, and it will soon do so in Rome, proving that, despite 

geographical distance from war zones, family conflicts are universally relatable across countries.

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11:30 AM free screening

 

LIFE: 8TH CHAPTER short by Bartłomiej Skupień, 23 min

 

A small-town family's happiness is at stake when alcoholism and ambition collide.

 

 

12:30 PM free screening  

 

Q&A with Filip Gasiorowski afret the screening

 

A LIFE BURNED OUT IN CLAY. THE STORY OF WANDA SZRAJBEROWNA

documentary by Krzysztof Henryk Paluszynski, 63 min

 

The film tells the story of the life and artwork of an exceptional woman living in the early 20th century, 

Wanda Szrajberówna – the leading lady of Polish ceramics. She was a teacher, painter, illustrator, ceramist, designer, 

activist, and promoter of art. It brings back the memory of this extremely sensitive and at the same time successful artist 

and promoter of the folk industry, full of passion, ambition and stubbornness.

Szrajberówna had a special love and affection for folk ceramics, allowing her to specialize in the field.

She acquired museum objects in the field, went on a solo journeys and discovering folk pottery centers 

in the remotest corners of Poland.

Simultaneously, her artistic persona was marked by extraordinary modesty and humility, posing challenges 

in identifying her works, which she never signed. She drew inspiration from folk culture, crafting baptismal fonts, 

shrines, saintly figurines, angels, and crosses, all esteemed for their high level of artistic craftsmanship during the interwar period. 

The film is anchored in fictionalized scenes, illustrating Wanda Szrajberówna's professional and artistic path.

 

WARMTH short by Klaudia Fortuniak, 15 min

 

Mother and daughter are going to a funeral. The mother is taking away the coal furnace for scrap that day, 

and the daughter is wearing brown tights. The furnace turns out to be heavy and tights inadequate for the ceremony.

 

CHRONOS short by Filip Gasiorowski, 14 min

 

Retired chef and timed cooking contests' champion Karol Chronowski lives stuck in the past. One day, a sudden 

phonecall breaks him out of his bubble – his long-lost son announces he's coming to visit. Karol once again takes up 

the race against time, attempting to prepare an adequate meal before the guest's arrival. He doesn't yet realise just 

how meaningful the forthcoming hours will turn out to be.

 

BE SOMEBODY short by Michal Toczek, 28 min

 

Story about a family discovering that they moved to an apartment of Lech Walesa.  

The story of the Solidarity leader complicates their lives in a bizarre way.

 

 

2:40 PM free screening

 

LIVE short by Mara Tamkovich, 13 min

 

A peaceful demonstration in Minsk is brutally put down by the police. Two female journalists from an independent 

Belarusian TV station are the only ones broadcasting the events live. When they are tracked down by a police drone,

 they face a dramatic choice. A drama inspired by the true story of Katerina Bakhvalova and Daria Chultsova from BELSAT TV.

Long synopsis (up to 500 characters):

A peaceful demonstration in Minsk in memory of Raman Bandarenka, a young man who was beaten to death, 

is brutally put down by the police. The world learns about it through the live coverage provided by two female 

journalists from an independent Belarusian TV station, who are the only ones reporting live on the unfolding events. 

For safety reasons, they report from the windows of a nearby apartment. When the

police start shooting at the protesters and the women are spotted by a police drone, they have little time to decide 

whether to continue their mission despite the risk.

 

ALWAYS FRESH MONEY documentary by Krzysztof Talczewski, 82 min

 

The documentary "Always fresh money" presents over 100 years of history of the Różycki bazaar, from 

the tsarist times to the present day. We get to know the specific world of Yiddish culture and Jewish merchants 

who dominated the bazaar before the Second World War. We show German repressions during the occupation 

and bazaar traders cooperating with the underground. The fight against the independent trade of the Stalinist 

authorities and the resistance of merchants. The fascination of the literary world with the specific and unique 

atmosphere of the Różycki bazaar (Tyrmand, Nowakowski, Hłasko, Głowacki). The fight against the mafia 

in the 90s and the slow decline of the bazaar.

 

 

4:30 PM Free screening

 

I’VE BEEN THERE short by Anja Zalewska, 14 min

 

Ina decides to become a plant as she comes of age. Yet, will the world let her grow?

 

LELIWA documentary by Andrzej Wyrozębski, 55 min

 

The film is a story about Henryk Leliwa-Roycewicz, colonel of the Polish Army, Olympian, 

commander of the "Kiliński" battalion. Next to Janusz Kusociński and Bronisław Czech, he is one of the most 

outstanding figures in the history of Polish sport.

 

JULIAN KULSKI AND THE MANAGEMENT OF OCCUPIED WARSAW

documentary by Hanna Zofia Etemadi, 63 min

 

The film fills the gap between the siege of the capital in September 1939 and the uprising in 1944, 

talking about the occupation history of Warsaw and its inhabitants, their everyday life and underground struggle. 

Through the eyes of a historian, we look at the occupier's actions aimed at reducing the capital to the role 

of a medium-sized German city; we observe the heroic efforts of the City Board under the leadership of Julian Kulski, 

who, after the arrest of Stefan Starzyński, organizes a fight to save the lives and property of Warsaw residents; 

saving national cultural treasures. There are also forgotten and memorable names of the Management Board's employees, 

who often paid the highest price for their dedication to the city. Unique archive materials and occupation 

songs create an interesting whole.

 

 

7:00 PM Free screening

 

THE LIGHTS ABOVE short by Luke J. Salewski, 17 min

 

Months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a series of unidentified aircraft sightings over Los Angeles 

lead a determined journalist to reluctantly pair up with a Japanese American photographer to prevent another attack.

 

GAME OVER feature by Paweł Powolny, 84 min

 

WOJTEK (29), an unemployed gamer, receives a court order to leave

the house of his mother, JOANNA (51), within a month. Upon returning home an argument occurs between them, 

after which Wojtek finds Joanna unconscious at the entrance to the staircase. The diagnosis shows a brainstem injury, 

resulting in the so-called "locked-in syndrome. Joanna is conscious, but other than eye movements she is unable to move. 

Her chance of recovery can be increased by expensive rehabilitation. Wojtek is forced to take matters into his own hands.

 

 

8:45 PM Free screening

 

TRENY JANA KOCHANOWSKIEGO short by Damian Bieniek, 31 min

 

“Polish Film Literature” is a multi-year educational project promoting Poland's literary heritage through 

artistic film adaptations of classics of Polish literature. The first film in the series is a screen adaptation 

of Jan Kochanowski's “Threnody.” The film did not have its official premiere and was only partially presented, 

showing one threnody; during film festivals as part of closed screenings.

 Today, the full, finished film, did not have its official premiere.

 

A THEATRE MANIFESTO OF AN OLD MAN, short by Christopher Vened Szwaja, 37 min

 

In A Manifesto of An Old Man Christopher states his philosophy of acting and theatre of meaning. 

He thinks that meaning has been lost in the modern/postmodern culture and needs to be restored 

or found anew. He is a proponent of the strict interpretation of the character.

 

***

 

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Polish Film Festival Los AngelesTM

117 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802, USA

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www.PFFLA.org Tel (USA): 562.682-9735 Director@PFFLA.org

                                             

Website design: Marek Dzida

2024 poster design: Piotr Karczewski

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