The Warsaw International Film Festival is preparing to celebrate its 41st edition from October 10 to 19, marking the beginning of a new chapter in its history. With a completely renewed visual identity, a new leadership team and a more extensive programme than ever before, the event aims to strengthen its position as one of the most dynamic and engaging film festivals in Europe.

The Polish festival will unfold across eight venues in the capital, presenting a line-up that includes 112 feature films and 56 shorts, more than 80 of which will be world, international, European or regional premieres. The International Competition, the heart of the festival, will feature several eagerly awaited titles: Anniversary, the new U.S. production by Jan Komasa, will open the event. Also screening are Y by Maria Popistașu and Alexandru Baciu (Romania/Greece), Brother by Maciej Sobieszczański (Poland/Czech Republic) and Home Sweet Home by Wojciech Smarzowski (Poland). Among the international premieres are Our Girls by Mike van Diem (Netherlands/Austria/Belgium), Anorgasmia by Jon Einarsson Gustafsson (Iceland/Canada/Czech Republic), The Eternity Man by Ivan Nikolaichuk (Ukraine/Finland/Canada) and Dear Sobriety: You’re Killing Me by Raúl Campos (Mexico), along with the European premiere of Matriarch by Kath Akuhata-Brown (New Zealand).

The 1–2 Competition, dedicated to first and second features, will present the world premieres of Hunger Strike Breakfast by Karolis Kaupinis (Lithuania/Czech Republic/Latvia) and My Father’s Scent by M Siam (Egypt/Norway/Sweden/Switzerland/France/Saudi Arabia/Qatar). The line-up also includes Bubbles by Sebastian Husak (Germany), Wild Strawberries by Tatyana Pandurska (Bulgaria) and You Found Me by Alice Vial (France), among others. Also featured are acclaimed films from major festivals such as Cannes, Locarno and Sundance, including A Useful Ghost by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, winner of Cannes’ Critics’ Week, Kika by Alexe Poukine, Wild Foxes by Valéry Carnoy and Solomamma by Janicke Askevold.

The Documentary Competition will feature eight world premieres, while the Short Films Competition will once again serve as a qualifier for the Academy Awards. One of the most anticipated highlights is the return of the Encounters section, showcasing outstanding titles from Cannes, Venice, Locarno and Toronto. Audiences will vote to determine the winner of a PLN 40,000 (approx. €9,400) prize, awarded to the Polish distributor of the winning film. Among the contenders are It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi, The Smashing Machine by Benny Safdie, The Secret Agent by Kleber Mendonça Filho and The Holy Boy by Paolo Strippoli.

Out of competition, audiences can look forward to special screenings such as The Last Viking by Anders Thomas Jensen and After the Hunt by Luca Guadagnino, along with a refreshed Free Spirit section devoted to independent and rebellious cinema. The festival will also introduce Animus. Cinema of Values, a new initiative focusing on films that explore social responsibility and moral courage.

Among the festival’s unique experiences are Cinema in the Clouds, an open-air cinema located on the 46th floor of Varso Tower, the Boom Generation screenings tailored for senior audiences, the Family Film Weekend, and a special film music concert dedicated to Polish composer Michał Lorenc, performed by the ensemble DesOrient. The closing film will be The Voice of Hind Rajab by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, winner of the Grand Jury Prize in Venice.

For industry professionals, WIFF will launch Warsaw Industry Days, taking place from October 13 to 18, a programme designed to strengthen connections between Central and Eastern European creators and the international film industry. The initiative will feature co-production forums, workshops and networking sessions aimed at fostering collaboration and new creative partnerships.