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PREVIOUS EVENTS

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PROGRAM 2025

November 20th , Thursday, 6:00 PM

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Gala Opening Reception and Award Ceremony

Invitations and passes only.  

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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

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Program of the 26th Annual Polish Film Festival Los Angeles:

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November 20th, Thursday, 9:00 PM

El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., N. Hollywood, CA 91601

FREE SCREENING

ANTONI PATEK PATRIOT AND WATCHMAKER  (Antony Patek patriota i zegarmistrz)

Director Krzysztof Henryk Paluszyński, Documentary Film, 65 min

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The film is a fictionalized documentary depicting the life and work of Antoni Patek – a November Uprising fighter settled in Switzerland, a figure of the Great Emigration, and a prominent entrepreneur. The film's protagonist left a lasting mark on world history, creating one of the most recognizable, exclusive, and coveted watch brands in the world – Patek Philippe. Antoni Patek created watches that not only measured time but were also masterpieces of art! It's no wonder he is called the watchmaker of kings. His products were worn by Queen Victoria, Queen Louise of Denmark, King Victor Emmanuel III, and Tsar Nicholas II, among others. Throughout his life in exile, Patek actively supported those who found themselves there, seeking refuge from the persecution of the occupying powers. The name Antoni Patek actively shaped the image of a vanished Poland in Europe and around the world. He adorned the watches produced in his factory with patriotic and religious motifs, such as portraits of Polish national heroes, battle scenes commemorating Poland's greatest victories, the coats of arms of Polish noble families, and images of the Virgin Mary. Along with other prominent figures from the post-uprising emigration, he cultivated Polish culture, striving to lay the foundations for the reconstruction of the Polish state. Although everything he did was with his lost homeland in mind, for many years he was greatly underappreciated. Almost forgotten. This film aims to restore Antoni Patek to his rightful place in the pantheon of great Poles. Patek's efforts to promote Polish culture, his patriotic and social activities, and above all, the contribution of the company he founded to the development of global watchmaking, provide excellent material for a film that explores not only this exceptional figure but also the extraordinary and difficult times for our country, when Poland was being erased from the map of Europe.

 

   

 

10:05 PM – Q&A with the filmmakers


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  November 21st, Friday, 8:00 PM

Hellada Gallery, 117 Linden Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802

FREE SCREENING

DR. ZYGMUNT KLUKOWSKI ANATOMY OF FREEDOM (Dr. Zygmunt Klukowski anatomia wolnosci)  

Director Damian Bieniek, Documentary Film, 31 min

 

 

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The Catholic University of Lublin Library preserves the rich legacy of Dr. Zygmunt Klukowski in its manuscript collection.  

During his rich and productive life, this physician, social activist, regionalist, bibliophile, and Home Army soldier amassed a substantial book collection, as well as a wealth of materials on the history of the Zamość region. Prominent among these are his memoirs from 1918-1939 and his diaries written during the German occupation and the first years after the Red Army entered Poland.  

These are invaluable sources depicting life in a small town in the interwar period, presented from the perspective of an educated man who, through his activities in the fields of health care and culture, sought to improve the standard of living of its residents as a physician and researched the history of this place as a regionalist.  

During the dark night of occupation, he continuously documented the lives of the inhabitants of Szczebrzeszyn and the surrounding towns and villages. It describes German crimes and the attitudes of local residents, not avoiding difficult topics, negative behavior, and brutal everyday life.

In 2024, Zygmunt Klukowski's diary from the years of occupation of the Zamość region (November 18, 1939 - March 18, 1954) was included on the prestigious Polish National Register of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.

 

   

8:40 PM – Q&A with the filmmakers


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November 22nd, Saturday, 1:00 PM

Laemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd, #121, Encino, CA 91316

FREE SCREENING

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BUTTERFLY EFFECT

Director Aglaja Semienova, Short Film, 9 min.

 

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After undergoing a great shake and losing his loved ones... Michael the butterfly has to choose between letting go of his past and moving on... or getting revenge.

 

    


EWA’S LETTER

Director Keaton James Browning, Short Film, 12 min

     

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As martial law grips 1980’s Poland, a single mother spearheads the Solidarity Movement, defying the oppressive government in the hopes of providing a brighter future for her son.

 

         


  

FROM YOU (Przez ciebie, po tobie)

Director Jędrzej Górski, Short Film, 15 min

 

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From You" is the story of a father and son who, after the death of their grandfather, a famous journalist, come together for one night to discuss the deceased. Everything takes a turn when hidden family secrets come to light, reshaping the dynamics of their relationship.

 

       


ENDS AND BEGINNINGS (Konce i poczatki) 

Director Klaudia Fortuniak, Short Film, 18 min

 

 

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Wednesday. Wrong lemons, Anna's pipes and stolen tram rails. And these beautiful apples, champions. What is ending today and what is beginning?

 

       


FATHERLAND  

Director Ania Johnston, Short Film, 15 min

 

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Sabina, a 22-year-old medical student, is tasked with burying her grandfather’s ashes in Rutki-Kossaki, Poland. According to her grandfather’s will, she must enlist the help of her estranged half-uncle, Mietek, a 78-year-old farmer and Rutki-Kossaki local. As Sabina and Mietek navigate their contrasting values and personalities—her quiet demeanor and trust in scientific progress contrasting with his outspoken attitude and naturalist mindset—the story explores themes of mortality, generational grief, and how family lineage can lead the heart to peace.

 

         


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MOTHER (Matka)

Director Sebastian Kwidziński, Short Film, 29 min

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Paulina is released after serving a sentence for the murder of her husband, Andrzej. She returns to her hometown to reunite with her eleven-year-old son, Nikodem. Jadwiga, Paulina's mother-in-law and Nikodem's daily caregiver, refuses to allow this reunion. The elderly woman is still grieving the loss of her son, Andrzej, and is unable to forgive Paulina for what she has done.

The film explores the subject of domestic violence and its consequences.

 

   


LET’S WAIT A LITTLE LONGER  

Director Wiktoria Kwoka, Short Film, 15 min

 

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Post-war Poland. 10-year-old Marysia lives in the countryside with her mother, Helena, who managed to survive a concentration camp. One day Helena announces that her brother - Marysia's uncle - is coming to join them for dinner. Although Marysia herself survived the occupation in shelter, she experiences first-hand that the nightmare of war does not end with the ceasefire.

 

   

2:45 PM - Q&A with the filmmakers

 


 

November 22nd, Saturday, 3:15 PM

Laemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd, #121, Encino, CA 91316

GDYNIA FILM SCHOOL PRESENTS:

FREE SCREENING

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NOTHING SERIOUS (Nic powaznego)

Director Kamil Czudeja, Short Film, 21 min

 

 

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Daniel ends up at a party where he can't find his way. By coincidence, he gets caught up in paying a delivery girl for a stack of pizzas. When Daniel manages to settle the debt, the newly met girl is stolen by an employee's bicycle. The unexpected situation breaks the ice and prompts the youngsters to have a frank conversation.

 

   

 


SUCH A PERFECT DAY (Taki szczesliwy dzien) 

Director Piotr Pluta, Short Film, 18 min

 

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Tomasz needs money. Today he will win it all back - his manufacture, his wife, and his son, who is turning 10 years old. Fortunately, his gambling addiction helps him win a lot of money. Today will be the day. However, trying to make his son happy may turn out to be a disaster for him .

 

    


ATTRACTION (Przyciaganie)  

Director Aleksandra Szczepaniak, Short Film, 19 min

 

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A scorching holiday in a countryside puts a close relationship of teenage siblings into a test. Charmed by her younger brother Ania, makes an effort to fight for his feelings.

 

   

 


 

OLGA  

Director Lulu Pomorova, Documentary Film, 17 min

 

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Breaking stereotypes, Olga shares her daily life in hope of being understood. Even though the world is not yet ready to accept her rights as sexual worker, she is trying to fight for them.

 

   


 LOVE PROXY 

Director Marcin Niemkiewicz, Short Film, 24 min

 

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Gniewko, a sensitive, and shy software engineer works for a major IT company. His life takes a turn when he gets a chance to use an extraordinary invention – a robot doppelgänger. This robot not only looks better, but also behaves in a more confident manner. It’s calm, persistent, and comes with a built-in speech auto-correction feature.

The idea of using the robot for work is enticing, but Gniewko has something else in mind. He plans to use his mechanical alter ego to get closer to Lena – a co-worker he's secretly in love with.

 

   

5:00 PM – Q&A with the filmmakers

   


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November 22nd, Saturday, 5:30 PM

Laemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd, #121, Encino, CA 91316

WAJDA SCHOOL AND STUDIO PRESENTS:

FREE SCREENING

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THE TRAP  

Director Vitalii Havura, Short Film, 9 min 

 

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Ukraine, 2022. Kherson under Russian occupation. Son, who is involved with the armed underground, visits his mother to find out if she has given the Russians his whereabouts. The woman is certain that the occupation is actually salvation, and that everyone should cooperate with the Russians. The mother and son quarrel. The already tense situation results in an unexpected twist as the son decides to leave.

 

   

  


STIMULANTS & EMPATHOGENS (Stymulanty i empatogeny)

Director Mateusz Pacewicz, Short Film, 25 min  

 

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Antek (18), a a closeted teenage gay from a wealthy family, invites a drug dealer - Kuba (18) - he has a hopeless crush on - to his villa under the pretext of another drug transaction. However, he does not know that Kuba has a mission that he received from his superiors - his Father and his Brother. The dealer's family suspects that Antek resells their mephedrone at a profit at his school, so Kuba is supposed to investigate the situation. The story begins as a romantic comedy of errors, turns into a social satire to end, after various adventures, with an emotional plot twist.

 

   


GETTING TO KNOW ME (Jeszcze mnie nie znasz)

Director Joanna Krzyżewska, Experimental Film, 30 min

 

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Surprised by unexpected news of a pregnancy, the couple decides to capture this peculiar time in their lives on film. The mobile phone they pass from one to another witnesses their everyday life and instigates questions and doubts.

She experiences extreme emotions that should better be hidden than revealed. He consequently renovates the flat and feels that there is no room for his weakness. However, they try to hold hands. Everyday life exposes the dynamics of a couple who have to get to know each other once again.

 

   


BASIA: THREE SHORT STORIES (Trzy opowiadania o Basi)

Director Mateusz Pietrak, Documentary Film, 29 min

 

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An intimate portrait of Basia, an energetic lady in her eighties. We observe her as a grandmother, mother and sister. In simple scenes from her daily life, humour meets nostalgia as the essential themes of love, aging and death are unexpectedly touched upon. Passing away is a leitmotif that fully resonates in the unpredictable finale.

 

   

6:50 PM – Q&A with the filmmakers

   


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November 22nd, Saturday, 7:30 PM

Laemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd, #121, Encino, CA 91316

 TICKETS:  $16 at the ticket office before the screening.

 


BIDET

Director James Brylowski, Short Film, 7 min

 

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A group of best friends are hunted by a possessed bidet.

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.TRAILER

 

   


THE ROAD TO NOWHERE (Droga donikad)

Director Amadeusz Kocan, Feature Film, 84 min

 

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In a ruined world where survival is the only goal, a lone wanderer roams the wastelands. Haunted by fragmented memories of a life once lived, he meets a stranger and begins to unravel his dark past. As time loses its meaning and the last remnants of humanity slip through his fingers, the journey becomes a battle not only against the void around him but against the turmoil within his own soul.

 

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9:00 PM – Q&A with the filmmakers

 


 

November 23rd, Sunday, 1:30 PM

Hellada Gallery, 117 Linden Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802

FREE SCREENING

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ESSENCE OF YOURSELF

Director Patrycja Kupczyk, Animation Film , 1,5 min

 

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In a moment of turmoil, stress, and overwhelm, Celly, the brain cell escapes her body seeking excitement in the outside world, unaware that her body is in grave danger, if she doesn’t take a break.

 

      


IT’S SHOWTIME!!!

Director Jakub Kostewicz, Animation Film , 4 min

 

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The pre-emptive explanation of the artist's intentions stands in opposition to their mysterious persona. The babble of a clumsy host makes it harder and harder to engage with the performance.  

'It's Showtime!!!' is a spoof on the mechanism of assimilation of queer culture by the mainstream audience. Underground drag practice is commodified by the artworld to fit its narrow criteria.

 

        


MARGO

Director Michalina Sąsiadek, Animation Film, 9,5 min

 

A puppet animation short film called Margo tells the story of a young inventor facing the challenge of creating an invention. However, she lacks some of the plans for the device in question and is also interrupted by mysterious drawers in the middle of her work. The character has to deal with constant failures, as well as interference from an unknown entity - an enemy, or perhaps a friend?

 

        


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NUTCRACKER GIRL (Dziewczynka do orzechow)

Director Michalina Musialik, Animation Film, 14 min

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The Nutcracker Girl" is a film in the therapeutic genre that symbolically addresses the issue of gender inequality. One Christmas evening, a little girl discovers toys under the tree—a rocking horse, an army of toy soldiers, and a dollhouse. One of the toy soldiers becomes interested in her cherished doll. While dancing together, he unexpectedly crosses a line by putting his hand under her skirt. Shocked, the doll rejects him, leading to a retaliatory act where he smashes her head. This incident initiates a series of events, offering the little girl a glimpse into the real world of adults, full of sexual needs, lust for power and the pursuit of personal satisfaction.

 

     


THERE WILL BE NO OTHER END

Director Piotr Milczarek, Animation Film , 8 min

 

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A short film about society (in five chapters).

 

     


THE DOOR (Drzwi)

Director Paulina Woźniak, Animation Film, 2 min

 

 

It’s the middle of the night, and the protagonist wakes up, disturbed by sounds coming from behind her bedroom door. In the darkness, she tries to make sense of the unsettling situation, observing the light seeping through the door and listening intently to the noises. Unable to see what is happening, she realizes that, while she is observing the unseen, something is also watching her.

The film was created as a form of art therapy, based on the personal experience of losing someone in a shared space. It serves as a sensory analysis of those events, examining feelings of fear and uncertainty.

 

     


PAPER LOVE

Director Jeremi Rzadowski, Animation Film, 6,5 min

 

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One night, a terrified princess appears before a cruel ruler. When she learns of her father's plans for her, the princess decides to escape. The ruler's trusted servant, Putok, sets off in pursuit of her. Will the desire for freedom and the right to make her own choices triumph over the possessive vision of the despotic king? The characters created by the author, cut out of paper and animated under the camera, come to life, showcasing the extraordinary nature of a child's imagination, spontaneity, and the joy of bringing ideas to life.

                

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THE EXECUTION OF MEMORY (Ekzekucja pamieci)

Director Gabi Bania, Animation Film, 10 min

 

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The film is a metaphorical story about the "demons of the past" and the fight that must be taken to be able to free ourselves from them.

The animation is a screen adaptation of Jerzy Ficowski’s poem under the same title from the poetry volume "A Reading of Ashes" that is devoted to the subject of the Holocaust and World War II.

The poetry volume was published on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

                

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FLAME

Submitter Elzbieta Muskietorz, Animation Film, 2 min

       

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"Flame" / "Spark" is a new interpretation of the lyrics of a classic Polish lullaby, rewritten in a way that highlights the issue of social pressure faced by women. From a young age, girls are taught to believe that getting married is the key to a fairytale life. In this story, the spark symbolizes the influence of pop culture and princess movies, while the shadows reflect societal expectations.

However, it soon becomes clear that happiness is not guaranteed for everyone, and some find themselves trapped in toxic relationships. Will the protagonist be able to break the cycle? And what awaits her at the crossroads?

The animation was created using an original, experimental wood-burning technique, giving it a distinctive character. The entire piece revolves around the symbolism of fire: the spark associated with emotions, the candle representing the heart, toxic smoke, and mysterious will-o'-the-wisps.

 

   


   

TO THE KINDERGARTEN, LA LA LA (Do przedszkola la, la, la)

Director Kajetan Łukasz Pochylski, Animation Film, 8,5 min

 

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This is a short story inspired by the everyday journey to kindergarten of a father and daughter. The encountered characters are an exaggerated depiction of residents of Polish apartment blocks. What adults might see as a kind of "pathology", for a child is a normal situation, which they name and describe in a way understandable to themselves, their age, and maturity. The daily journey to kindergarten depicted in the film is a real challenge and cultural shock.

 

   


PLEASE DON’T CALL

Director Agnieszka Łukasiewicz, Animation Film, 2 min

      

 

A chase in which a motorcyclist is being pursued by their inner demons.

 

   

  


NIBBLING OF THE NIGHT (Nocne podgryzanie)

Director Gabi Bania, Animation Film, 10 min

 

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Nibbling of the Night" is a women-empowering film and a black comedy with an inspiring moral, which, under a mask of humor, presents a story about the mutual understanding of three women who help each other, creating a female alliance. Although they seem to be the exact opposite of one another, they are united by a common desire for freedom, happiness and living as independent and emancipated.

The film also tells the problem of unhappy people who lack the strength to make the necessary changes in their lives and who need the stimulus given to them by others to take control of their fate again.

Suzy and Billy are an unhappy middle-aged couple whose affection has long faded away. Suzy feels used by her careless husband, enslaved by the role of a subordinate housewife. She escapes from her worries and loneliness into an addiction of night's gluttony, spending night hours next to the kitchen’s refrigerator. However, one night, her depressing fate is going to change thanks to a visit of two female vampires, who become for her a model of the strong, independent, and emancipated woman she always wanted to be.

The animation contains references to Gothic literature, and all the characters' dialogues are spoken in rhymes similarly to the Polish stage dramas of the Romantic era.

The film was made using the classic stop-motion puppet animation technique and took over three years to create. Everything we see on screen was hand-made and hand-painted.

 

   


FOUR WALLS OF MEMORY (Cztery sciany pamieci)

Director Joanna Płatek, Animation Film , 12 min

   

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A story about a girl who wanted to escape her own fear, but accidentally traps herself

together with it in a small cabin in the woods. Locked inside four walls, with no way out, she has to deal with hunger, cold and the fear of something that once wanted to hurt her... but now lies dead beside her.

 

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3:00 PM - Q&A with the filmmakers

 


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November 23rd, Sunday, 3:30 PM

Hellada Gallery, 117 Linden Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802

 FREE SCREENING

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SYNC

Director Carolina Alvarez, Feature Film, 84 min

     

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In a near-future, micro-chipped Los Angeles, a new communications app "Sync" allows individuals to sync minds with one another in order to communicate more efficiently and foster closer connection. A young, anxious woman, Ayla, decides to move in with a new roommate, Devin, who is a childhood friend with whom she lost touch. The women decide to sync their minds for a chance to foster a closer friendship. Ayla begins to notice some very disturbing thoughts and behavior from Devin and as their relationship quickly grows toxic, she starts dreaming about Devin's memories. Ayla realizes she has less than 72 hours to save herself from permanent mental domination before the sync is officially complete.

 

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5:00 PM - Q&A with the filmmakers

 


 

November 23rd, Sunday, 5:20 PM

Hellada Gallery, 117 Linden Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802

FREE SCREENING

 


THE MULTIDIMENSIONALS: STAR ENVOY

Director Ewa Pirog-Rojas, Feature Film, 83 min  

 

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Ulrin, a born underdog is tasked with getting an unacknowledged Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) black budget program known as STAR ENVOY up and running. Ulrin locates and recruits civilians with extraterrestrial connections for government service as "ambassadors". Along the way he is helped by different species working within the government structure while navigating other unseen forces which threaten to destroy the program. Will it be a failure of cosmic proportions?

 

   

6:45 PM - Q&A with the filmmakers

 


 

November 23rd, Sunday, 7:00 PM

Hellada Gallery, 117 Linden Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802

FREE SCREENING

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DISCOVERING EDMUND

Director Isabella Kolb, Documentary Film, 49 min

 

 

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When director Isabella Kolb learned that her great-great-uncle was imprisoned in Stutthof, the first German concentration camp established on Polish soil during the Second World War, she begins an investigation into his story and the camp's little-known history. Despite its significance, Stutthof remains one of the least documented sites of Nazi persecution, leaving families of its victims with lingering questions.  

Through witness testimonies and archival traces, the film follows Kolb's search for Uncle Edmund and the lives of those who endured Stutthof, offering a quiet reflection on memory, loss, and the lasting echoes of trauma that continue to shape the generations that followed.

 

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7:50 PM - Q&A with the filmmakers

   


 

November 23rd, Sunday, 8:10 PM

Hellada Gallery, 117 Linden Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802

FREE SCREENING

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE (Ludzie w drodze)

Directors Dominika Laster, Trevor Meier, Documentary Film , 17 min

 

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This film documents the dire humanitarian crisis of non-white refugees stranded on the Poland-Belarus border and explores the local activist interventions to address the situation. The film aims to draw international attention and spark the political will to redress this crisis, which is both acute and chronic, and requires urgent and strategic intervention.

The film further amplifies the work of local activists engaged in developing varied interventions from the very outset of this humanitarian crisis.

 

   


ELMI

Director Bartosz Wróblewski, Documentary Film , 31 min

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Over 30 years ago Elmi Abdi left his home in a shirt and sandals, without documents or money. To this day he has not returned. The civil war in Somalia unexpectedly led him to a years-long journey around the world, which ended in Poland. There he played soccer with Poles, worked behind a bar in Warsaw, and sold drinks as a non-drinking Muslim. He learned a new language and eventually decided, based on his own difficult experiences, to dedicate his life to helping people who found themselves in similar situations. He was named Social Worker of the Year in 2019. He believes that one should never give up but always try to overcome difficulties, no matter how serious they are.

 

   


IN LIMBO

Director Alina Maksimienko, Documentary Film, 71 min

 

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First days of the War Alina, one of the film’s protagonists, disabled after leg surgery, spends alone

with the cat, in her home in a small city near Kyiv. She looks for the ways to escape. The bridges

are destroyed. Alina manages to find the only road useful and get away with the cat to her parents, caught by the War in their cottage in the nearby village. For the first weeks of the invasion everyone tries to live normally. The mother conducts online lessons, the father takes care of the cats and all the other animals in the neighborhood left behind, Alina records current events with her camera. The sounds of the approaching front force the family to alter their perspective. The way one sees and feels changes. When the neighbors leave their homes, Alina and her parents, under the cover of the night, hurry to pack. However, at the last moment, the father decides to stay. The camera tells the story of people caught in the war situation caused by the aggressive invasion. It portraits the process of how the family ties, the emotional bonds, relationship with the animals and the country itself – are getting deeper and stronger.

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10:10 PM - Q&A with the filmmakers

  

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.Friday, May 2nd, 7:00PM

PFFLA Screening Room, 117 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

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Screening of OSTATNI KLAPS (Final Smack) (2025), 91 min, 

Directed by Gerwazy Regula, starring Mariusz Pujszo, Agnieszka Frykowska, Marek Wlodarczyk.

Q&A with Mariusz Pujszo and Piotr Adamczuk will follow.

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Free admission. Donations welcome.

 

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Sunday, May 4th, 1:30 PM

Polish Center Adams, 3424 W. Adams Blvd, CA 90018

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Screening of KROLOWIE ZYCIA (Kings for a Day) (2025), 95 min, 

Directed by Francois Velle

Q&A with Mariusz Pujszo and Piotr Adamczuk will follow.

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Free admission. Donations welcome.

 

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Annual Board of Directors Meeting

Sunday, March 16th, at 5:00PM, 2025

PFFLA screening room, 117 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

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This meeting is open to public 

 

 

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PFFLA NEWS FLASH ( X )

November 21st, 2024

 

PFFLA PRESS coverage at Trojmiasto.pl

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November 7th, 2024. Pawel Chmielewski Director of HUNT and Marek Dzida, Director of PFFLA

at the 25th Annual Gala Opening of Polish Film Festival Los Angeles at El Portal Theatre, N. Hollywood.

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PFFLA NEWS FLASH ( VIII )

October 24th, 2024

 

Polish Film Festival Los Angeles welcomes Waldemar Wilk as part of the team.

  Waldemar Wilk is the driving force behind the festival's creative vision, 

and he is working tirelessly putting together the 25th Polish Film Festival in Los Angeles!

 

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Film expert, cinema historian, film critic, publicist.

 In 1984 he connected to film forever! A cinema programmer, film distributor and a journalist. A script and edit doctor for Aurum Film.

In 1985 he was elected chairman of the Polish Federation of Film Clubs. The jury of the International Federation of Film Clubs FICC. From 1988 he collaborated with the Lagow Film Festivals as the curator of retrospectives and programmer.

 Chairperson of the Polish Film Festivals in Lubomierz, Jelenia Gora and many others. Jury for the International Film Festivals, co-author and book editor.

 


 


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PFFLA NEWS FLASH ( VI )

September 20th, 2024

 

The films of 25th Polish Film Festival Los Angeles have been selected. They are:

 

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FEATURES

 

GAME OVER, 84 min

WHEN F***KING SPRING IS IN THE AIR, 111 min

THE DOG, 90 min

 

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DOCUMENTARIES

 

THE DELUGE. POSTSCRIPTUM, 60 min

JULIAN KULSKI AND THE MANAGEMENT

OF OCCUPIED WARSAW, 63 min

LELIWA, 54 min

THE ONE I LOVE, 93 min

A LIFE BURNED OUT IN CLAY, 63 min

ALWAYS FRESH MONEY, 82 min

FOR OUR FREEDOM AND YOURS, 58 min

A THEATER MANIFESTO OF AN OLD MAN, 37 min

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SHORTS

 

A BEAR NAMED WOJTEK, 28 min

WARMTH, 15 min

CHRONOS, 13 min

BE SOMEBODY, 27 min

THE ONLY SON, 15 min

HEART FLUTTERS, HERCKLEKOTY, 23 min

FRAME, 4 min

THE LIGHTS ABOVE, 17 min

DOUGHY CAKE, 11 min

TRENY JANA KOCHANOWSKIEGO, 31 min

LIVE, 13 min

I’VE BEAN THERE, 14 min

LIFE: 8TH CHAPTER, 23 min

PUPA LIBERIA, 10 min

ON THE POLISH TRIANGLE, 41 min

 

ANIMATIONS

 

THE CORPSE, 5 min

SHE CAT HIM, 22 min

WAWEL DRAGON, 6 min

LACK, 11 min

THE SAD FOREST, 3 min  

FRAME, 3,5 min

 


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PFFLA NEWS FLASH ( II )

August 14, 2024

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To add to a festive celebration of the 25th anniversary of the festival

everyone who donates $175 or more for a Gala Award Reception on November 7th will be able to bring 

guests for free - as long as they are 25 years of age or younger.

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Marek Dzida

PFFLA Executive Director

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PFFLA NEWS FLASH ( I )

August 6, 2024

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The 2024 film submission open window has concluded. 

From now on until September 30th, the PFFLA Selection Committee 

will choose the films to be nominated to the Hollywood Eagle Awards and 

to be included in the 25th Annual Polish Film Festival Los Angeles program.

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There are 55 films submitted. 

19 animations, 16 short films, 17 documentaries, 3 feature films. 

There will be additional, not competing for the awards feature films included 

in the program and will be announced in a later day.

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Let's wait for the list of accepted to the festival films patiently. 

We will publicize the lucky ones as soon as we make our decision.

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Marek Dzida

PFFLA Executive Director

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Screen shot from an animation film “JOKO” by Dr. Izabela Pluciński

 

Fingerprints & drawings titled “Series Identities”

artwork by Dr. Piotr Perski

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Saturday, March 22nd at 5pm 

Screening of JOKO by Dr. Izabela Plucinski

and four films: IDENTITIES, IDENTITIES 2, TRAVELS, and MATHIEU by Dr.Piotr Perski.

FREE ADMISSION

Polish Film Festival LA screening room, 117 Linden Ave, Long Beach

 

 

Polish Film Institute in cooperation with Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C. 

and in cooperation with Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles, 

and in cooperation with Polish Film FestivalL Los Angles, 

 

presents:

AN ART EXHIBIT by two Polish artists: Dr. Izabela Plucińska and Dr. Piotr Perski featuring the following:

Animation film “JOKO” by Dr. Izabela Pluciński

&

Fingerprints & drawings titled “Series Identities” 

and 4 films: “Identities”, “Identities 2”, “Travels”, and “Mathieu” by Dr.Piotr Perski.

 

 

Program: 

5pm to 8pm - Reception and artist's presentation.

8pm - film screenings.

Snacks and refreshments will be available.

 

***

 

Dr. Izabela Plucińska

She is a multi-awarded Polish animator and director who lives and works in Berlin. She has developed her own technique for creating animated films: she films figures that she herself makes from clay and plasticine. Thanks to the developed, special way of animation, the director manages to achieve the effect of smooth penetration of colors and even "painting" with plasticine.

 

Dr. Piotr Perski

He is a Polish artist and university professor from Kalisz, lives in Barcelona. He participates in the publication and illustration of: artist's books from the workshop directed by Karen Stahlecker. Since 2020 he has been a lecturer at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Barcelona. He has participated in more than 70 group exhibitions in Spain, Poland, Germany, Cyprus, Singapore, USA and in Spanish and Polish art competitions.

 


 

 

PFFLA NEWS FLASH ( XI )

January 26th, 2025

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Oscar nominations for 2025 Academy Awards

Award annoucement: March 2nd, Dolby Theatre, Hollywood

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BEST PICTURE

Anora

The Brutalist

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Pérez

I’m Still Here

Nickel Boys

The Substance

Wicked

*

BEST DIRECTING

Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez

Sean Baker, Anora

Brady Corbet, The Brutalist

Coralie Fargeat, The Substance

James Mangold, A Complete Unknown

*

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown

Colman Domingo, Sing Sing

Ralph Fiennes, Conclave

Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice

*

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked

Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez

Mikey Madison, Anora

Demi Moore, The Substance

Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here

*

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Yura Borisov, Anora

Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown

Guy Pearce, The Brutalist

Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

*

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown

Ariana Grande, Wicked

Felicity Jones, The Brutalist

Isabella Rossellini, Conclave

Zoe Saldańa, Emilia Pérez

*

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

A Complete Unknown, James Mangold and Jay Cocks

Conclave, Peter Straughan

Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard in collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi

Nickel Boys, RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes

Sing Sing, Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin and John "Divine G" Whitfield

*

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Anora, Sean Baker

The Brutalist, Brady Corbet & Mona Fastvold

A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg

September 5, Moritz Binder and Tim Fehlbaum and co-written by Alex David

The Substance, Coralie Fargeat

*

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

A Complete Unknown, Arianne Phillips

Conclave, Lisy Christl

Gladiator II, Janty Yates and Dave Crossman

Nosferatu, Linda Muir

Wicked, Paul Tazewell

*

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

A Different Man, Mike Marino, David Presto and Crystal Jurado

Emilia Pérez, Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier and Jean-Christophe Spadaccini

Nosferatu, David White, Traci Loader and Suzanne Stokes-Munton

The Substance, Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon and Marilyne Scarselli

Wicked, Frances Hannon, Laura Blount and Sarah Nuth

*

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

The Brutalist, Daniel Blumberg

Conclave, Volker Bertelmann

Emilia Pérez, Clément Ducol and Camille

Wicked, John Powell and Stephen Schwartz

The Wild Robot, Kris Bowers

 

BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM

A Lien

Anuja

I’m Not a Robot

The Last Ranger

The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

*

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM

Beautiful Men

In the Shadow of the Cypress

Magic Candies

Wander to Wonder

Yuck!

*

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

The Brutalist, Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Patricia Cuccia

Conclave, Production Design: Suzie Davies; Set Decoration: Cynthia Sleiter

Dune: Part Two, Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau

Nosferatu, Production Design: Craig Lathrop; Set Decoration: Beatrice Brentnerová

Wicked, Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

*

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Brutalist, Lol Crawley

Dune: Part Two, Greig Fraser

Emilia Pérez, Paul Guilhaume

Maria, Ed Lachman

Nosferatu, Jarin Blaschke

*

BEST FILM EDITING

Anora, Sean Baker

The Brutalist, David Jancso

Conclave, Nick Emerson

Emilia Pérez, Juliette Welfling

Wicked, Myron Kerstein

*

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

“Never Too Late” from Elton John: Never Too Late. Music and Lyrics by Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt and Bernie Taupin

“El Mal” from Emilia Pérez. Music by Clément Ducol and Camille; Lyric by Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard

“Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez. Music and Lyric by Camille and Clément Ducol

“Like A Bird” from Sing Sing. Music and Lyric by Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada

“The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight. Music and Lyrics by Diane Warren

*

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM

Black Box Diaries

No Other Land

Porcelain War

Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat

Sugarcane

*

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM

Death by Numbers

I Am Ready, Warden

Incident

Instruments of a Beating Heart

The Only Girl in the Orchestra

*

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

Brazil, I’m Still Here

Denmark/Poland/Sweden, The Girl With the Needle  

***CINEMATOGRAPHY by Michal Dymek (Poland)***

France, Emilia Pérez

Germany, The Seed of the Sacred Fig

Latvia, Flow

*

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Flow

Inside Out 2

Memoir of a Snail

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

The Wild Robot

*

BEST SOUND

A Complete Unknown, Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey and David Giammarco

Dune: Part Two, Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett and Doug Hemphill

Emilia Pérez, Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldčre, Maxence Dussčre, Cyril Holtz and Niels Barletta

Wicked, Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson and John Marquis

The Wild Robot, Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A. Rizzo and Leff Lefferts

*

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Alien: Romulus, Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin and Shane Mahan

Better Man, Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft and Peter Stubbs

Dune: Part Two, Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe and Gerd Nefzer

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story and Rodney Burke

Wicked, Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk and Paul Corbould

 

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PFFLA NEWS FLASH ( IX )

November 16th, 2024

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Free film screening

 

Sunday, November 17th, 5:00PM

at HELLADA GALLERY, 117 Linden Ave, Long Beach

THE DOG by Ireneusz Grzyb, 101 min   

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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.

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Free film screening

 

Sunday, November 17th, 7:30PM

at HELLADA GALLERY, 117 Linden Ave, Long Beach

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

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

 


 

 

PFFLA NEWS FLASH ( V )

September 13th, 2024

 

Polish Film Festival Los Angeles will be at Polish Festival in Adams, LA.

Saturday and Sunday, October 5th & 6th.

Polish Parish and Cultural Center, 3424 W. Adams Blvd, Los Angles, CA 90018

Saturday: 12noon to 9PM, Sunday: 12noon to 7PM.

Free admission. Free parking. All ages.

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POLISH FILM FESTIVAL LOS ANGELES 

will present a surprise interactive booth during Polish Festival in Adams.

on Saturday, October 5th (12 PM to11 PM). 

You will be able to sign up to our mailing list and also receive an invitation to 

 the Gala Award Ceremony at the El Portal Theatre on Noveber 7th. 

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There will be extra entertainment + giveaway of precious PFFLA possessions. 

Polish food, beer, music, crafts, 

live performances, contests, sweets, deli and most importantly great Polish people & PFFLA!

A true festival to be enjoyed by all of us!

Film festival info: (562) 682-9735, www.PFFLA.org

 

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PFFLA NEWS FLASH ( IV )

September 7th, 2024

 

Polish Film Festival Los Angeles will be at Polish Harvest Festival in Yorba Linda

Saturday and Sunday, September 21st & 22nd

Polish Parish and Cultural Center, 3999 Rose Dr., Yorba Linda, CA 92886.

Saturday 12PM - 11PM, Sunday: 10:30AM - 4PM

Free admission. Free parking. All ages.

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POLISH FILM FESTIVAL LOS ANGELES 

will present a surprise interactive booth during Polish Harvest Festival

 at Yorba Linda on Saturday, September 21st (12 PM to11 PM). 

You will be able to sign up to our mailing list and also receive an invitation to 

 the Gala Award Ceremony at the El Portal Theatre on Noveber 7th. 

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There will be extra entertainment + giveaway of precious PFFLA possessions. 

Look for us near the main stage of the festival. Polish food, beer, music, crafts, 

live performances, contests, sweets, deli and most importantly great Polish people & PFFLA!

A true festival to be enjoyed by all of us!

Harvest festival Info: (714) 996-8161

Film festival info: (562) 682-9735, www.PFFLA.org

 


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PFFLA NEWS FLASH ( III )

September 5th, 2024

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Sunday, October 20th, 2024, 12:00PM,

PFFLA Volunteer Meeting

117 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

Everyone is welcome to join!

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Friday, August 16th, 8:00PM, 

PFFLA Screening Room, 117 Linden Ave, Long Beach

 

HERITAGE (Spadek)

Director: Jakub Laskowski

Cast: Michal Kaleta, Andrzej Konopka, Maciej Musialowski

Runtime: 75 minutes

Film is screened with English subtitles

Free admission, Polish snacks and beers will be available.

Janek, a graphic designer from a big city, is summoned to the opening of the last will of a complete stranger. Eager to learn the history of his family, he and his younger sister drive to a small town. Unexpectedly, Janek receives a house by a lake, but he's not the only one who claims the right to the property. Janek's acceptance sets off an avalanche of disastrous events that throw his organised life out of kilter.

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Friday, August 9th, 8:00PM, 

PFFLA Screening Room, 117 Linden Ave, Long Beach

 

 

PHENOMENON (Fenomen) 

Director: Małgorzata Kowalczyk

Cast:  Jerzy Owsiak, Agata Mlynarska

Music: Szymon Nidzworski

Runtime: 95 minutes

Film is screened with English subtitles

Free admission, Polish snacks and beers will be available.

In the early 1990s, in crisis-stricken Poland, a controversial TV star Jurek Owsiak responds to the plea of two doctors. They desperately need money for medical equipment. Owsiak starts a fundraiser and, consequently, creates the largest charity organization in the country, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. Over the next two decades, the Orchestra grows stronger with Polish democracy, mixing charity with rock music and a hippie ethos. Przystanek Woodstock, an event that is intended to be a free music festival for Orchestra volunteers, has become the largest free festival in Europe, celebrating the ideals of rock'n'roll.

"Phenomenon" is an intimate portrait of Owsiak. We see him as he transforms from a carefree hippie into a symbol of charity, unaware that he will inadvertently place himself in the centre of a brutal political conflict. In 2019, Paweł Adamowicz, the president of Gdańsk, dies during the annual final of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity.

Utopian vision based on music, love and friendship clashes with a new era ruled by internet hate. The resulting tragedy is a huge blow to the very heart of Owsiak's idealism. We witness how he and his Orchestra cope with this challenge.

 

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2024 PFFLA poster unveiling ceremony

 

Friday, August 9th at 7:00 PM 

at PFFLA Screening Room, 

117 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802.

Champagne, cheesecake and sweets will be served. 

The auction of the first print will be conducted for everyone 

who would wish to participate.

 

This is a free of charge event.

 

 

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Sunday, July 27th, 8:00PM, 

PFFLA Screening Room, 117 Linden Ave, Long Beach 

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Screening of

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BIG LITTLE WORDS by Mariusz Brozek

recipient of Hollywood Eagle Award for the Best Short Film of 2023

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PINEAPPLE PIZZA by Dorian Czapla

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STAGNANT by Konrad Kultys

recipient of Bridging the Borders Award of 2023

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BIG LITTLE WORDS (Duże słówka )

Director: Mariusz Brozek

Cast:  Szymon Bandyk, Artur Drewnowski, Iga Górecka

Music/Sound: Bartosz Grzybowski, Max Kubis, Michal Wroblewski

Runtime: 13 minutes

 

The main heroine, Suzie, is fed up with a male voice-over

telling her what to do and deciding about her story. She fires

the narrator, so no one disturbs her free will. She is a young,

educated, and independent woman. But freedom comes with

responsibility and it turns out that it's not that easy to decide

on one's story. The first moments of freedom are pure

pleasure, but can quickly turn into a bad hangover with a

severe headache. Isolation and breakup between the two

genders bring Suzie and the narrator pain, but also a new

perspective.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PINEAPPLE PIZZA

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Director: Dorian Czapla

Runtime: 4 minutes

 

A group of friends orders pizza for dinner, but when one of them orders pizza with pineapple they start arguing whether it is acceptable or not.  

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STAGNANT

Director: Konrad Kultys

Cast:  Igor Kowalunas, Mateusz Czwartosz, Izabella Dudziak

Music: Brunon Lubas

Runtime: 18 minutes

 

Tough skinhead Adam ignores his disability, depite it he tries to dominate his loved ones.

A decision by his caring brother to change jobs pushes Adam to reconsider his situation and and face up to his own limitations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sunday, July 21st, 2024, 5:30PM,

Board of Directors and Volunteer Meeting

PFFLA, 117 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

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Friday, July 13th, 2024, 8:00 PM.

PFFLA screening room

117 Linden Ave, Long Beach

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Screening of DAY AND NIGHT (Dzień i noc)

Directors: Katarzyna Machalek, Lukasz Machowski

Cast:  Martyna Bazychowska, Aleksandra Galczynska, Katarzyna Janiszewska

Music: Nascuy Linares

Runtime: 89 minutes

 

Nawoja, a tormented witch, buries the head of a dead animal under the barn, casting a curse on the perfect life of her neighbor Bielakowa. Young Bielakowa organizes a rehearsal of an all-female folk band in her house, even though she feels that evil forces are creeping into her world. A friendship develops between the band members. Before the day is over, the girls will have to face the curse of Nawoja. They meet again a few decades later for another rehearsal - older, wiser, but still a tight-knit and spirited group. An elderly woman is visited by the memories of a friend she had in her youth. The two young girls were inseparable, like one soul inhabiting two bodies. Her memories, falling into place like pieces of a puzzle, conjure a story of women's hard fates: failed marriages, unkept promises, dashed hopes and dreams.

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Saturday, June 22nd, 2024, 8:00 PM.

PFFLA screening room

117 Linden Ave, Long Beach

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Screening of EVERYTHING IS FINE (Wszystko w porzą dku)

Director: Piotr Matyja

Cast:  Stanislaw Linowski, Aleksandra Skraba, Mikolaj Kubacki

Music: Pawel Sikora, Lukasz Utko

Runtime: 24 minutes

 

After waking up in the forest with no recollection, a young man seeks to find out what happened only to discover an uncomfortable truth about himself.

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Saturday, June 1st, 2024, 8:30 PM.

PFFLA screening room

117 Linden Ave, Long Beach

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Screening of HELA

Director: Anna Maria Kasperska

Cast:  Marta Starmielska, Martyna Zozula, Bogdan Lachendrowicz

Music: Monika Szpyrka

Runtime: 84 minutes

 

When teenage trouble maker orphan Hela learns that her 5 years old sister has been adopted, she decides to run away from the reformatory with hope to find her sibling.

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Saturday, May 18th, 2024, 8:00 PM.

PFFLA screening room

117 Linden Ave, Long Beach

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Screening of INA BENITA. TWO LIVES (Ina Benita. Dwa ż ycia)

Director: Jacek Papis

Cast:  Ina Benita, Piotr Gacek, Janina Hera

Music: Piotr Leniewicz , Jacek Papis

Runtime: 72 minutes

 

Incredible story of Ina Benita, one of the most enigmatic figures of Polish cinema of the 1930s. She was a star whose chances of a great international career were buried by a war. For years her fate was shrouded in mystery. Throughout the post-war period the legend was that she died in the sewers during the Warsaw Uprising. It was only in 2019 that a young journalist, Marek Teler, discovered that she had actually died in Pennsylvania in 1980s. What did she do during the war? Why was she infamous? Why did she never tell her American family who she had been before the war? This documentary film attempts to unravel the amazing story of this extraordinary actress.

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Sunday, May 5th, 2024, 4:00 PM,

Board of Directors and Volunteer Meeting

PFFLA, 117 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

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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