Highlights from the upcoming 64th Krakow Film Festival

The final deadline for submitting films to the Krakow Film Festival passed last week. Although it's quality – and not quantity – that counts during the selection process, it's hard not to mention this year's record number of submissions. Every one of the over 2500 entries is being meticulously reviewed by our team of selectors and the recommended titles are also watched by the festival director, Krzysztof Gierat. The most intriguing documentaries and short films from around the world will be screened in Kraków's cinemas and online in late May and early June.

As every year, we received a lot of submissions. This is fantastic news as it indicates the Krakow Film Festival's immense popularity and testifies to its international recognition. We've noticed a significant increase in submissions from Polish filmmakers, and we're proud that local creators pick Kraków to premiere their documentaries and short films – comments Patrycja Czarny, the selection coordinator of the Krakow Film Festival.

The last Polish submissions arrived just before midnight on 15 February. The festival selectors still have some time to watch the titles submitted towards the end of the call period.

How many?

As every year, the majority of submitted titles consisted of short fiction films from around the world. Three two-person selection teams are responsible for viewing a staggering 1343 films. Film scholar Marta Stańczyk evaluates the submitted productions alongside journalist Mateusz Demski, while film scholar Anna Waszczuk discusses her impressions with director Jakub Radej, and film scholar Bartek Tesarz shares his insights with director Artur Wyrzykowski.

Nearly 400 short documentaries are reviewed by film expert Maciej Gil and director Teresa Czepiec. Meanwhile, curator and director Wiola Sowy, along with film scholar Olga Bobrowska, have set out to watch 256 short animated films.

More than 550 feature-length documentary films are evaluated by these duos: journalist Tadeusz Marek and director Aniela Gabryel, journalist Marcin Stachowicz and director Clara Kleininge-Wanik – both under the supervision of section curator and journalist Anita Piotrowska, accompanied by director Grzegorz Zariczny during the process.

Titles recommended by the selection teams are then submitted to festival director Krzysztof Gierat. It is up to him to make the final programming decisions

Where from?

Poland, France, Germany, Spain, and Iran. These countries accounted for the highest number of submissions. We received a whopping 330 production or co-productions from Poland, 284 from France, 239 from Germany, 201 from Spain, and 191 from Iran. We also received individual submissions from countries with slightly smaller film markets, such as Tanzania, Algeria, Cyprus, Kosovo, and Mauritania.

When?

By mid-April the selection team, along with festival director Krzysztof Gierat, will pick the productions to be presented in four equally important competitions – three international ones: documentary, short film, and DocFilmMusic, as well as the Polish competition. Some of the competition titles have already been announced:

Camera pointed at me and my loved ones

Made in Sweden

Queer stars straight from the Berlinale

Fascinating tales from around the globe will also be featured in special film sections. One of them will be “Focus on Romania”, offering a glimpse into the latest cinematic achievements from that region. As is the tradition, the finest science films will be part of the Docs+Science section curated by Karol Jałochowski – journalist for the weekly magazine Polityka, physicist, and documentary filmmaker. The Kids & Youth Fest section, overseen for several years by Magdalena Walo, is also going to make a return.

Passes for the 64^th Krakow Film Festival are on sale now!

Krakow Film Festival is on the exclusive list of qualifying events for the Oscars® in the categories of short film (live action, animated, documentary) and documentary feature, as well as a recommending event for the European Film Awards in the same categories.

The 64th Krakow Film Festival will be held in cinemas from 26 May to 2 June and online on KFF VOD from 31 May to 16 June 2024.