Best Polish (Shorts)

A Cappella (Gorzko)
Under the cover of the choir’s daily rehearsals lies a secret that Karol and Henryk have been hiding for years. As a mature couple, they have learned to live in the shadows, but one invitation can change everything. Will the melody of love ring out in full voice or sink into silence? ‘A Cappella’ is a story of courage, love and second chances – even many years later.

directed & written: Marcin Kluczykowski, cast: Wojciech Kalinowski, Janusz Łagodziński, Aleksandra Skraba, Mateusz Grodecki, cinematography: Mateusz Kucharski, production: Poland 2024, running time: 29 minutes, category: feature film, English subtitles
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HEM
A new country, a new life, a new feeling – Mai wants to escape the past, but the past is not going to let her go. In the suffocating reality of illegal work in Poland, something fragile and delicate is born: love for Daria. Will it be enough to break out of the trap and make a fresh start? A mesmerising story about freedom, survival and a feeling that blossoms where no one expects it. One of the few Polish feature films starring people of Vietnamese origin. Shot on Kodak 16mm film.

directed & written: Konrad Kultys, cast: Lan Pham, Helena Urbańska, Viet Anh Do, Tran Anh Vu, Marcin Walkowski, Jakub Gąsior, Grzegorz Żebrowski, Mateusz Mruk, Rafał Przytocki, Dawid Kornacki, music: Magdalena Sowul, cinematography: Vincent Prochoroff, production: Poland 2024, running time: 27 minutes, category: feature film, English/Polish subtitles
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Ladylike
Strength or vulnerability? Fight or flight? Alex has always escaped the patterns, but in a world where masculinity is measured by the strength of fists, vulnerability is like a mark on his back. When the mysterious Tom joins the class, the boy gains an ally – and something more. Will they manage to face the brutal rules of their milieu together without losing themselves?   

directed & written: Olga Hajnosz, cast: Alexander Biel, Michał Bielawski, Teodor Gonera, Patryk Sojka, Karol Pawluszek, music: Bartosz Dziadosz, cinematography: Jakub Piórkowski, production: Poland 2024, running time: 20 minutes, category: feature film, English subtitles
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Rest Of Our Life (Reszta Naszego Życia)
A new flat, an engagement, a future together – Eryk is sure he is about to enter the happiest phase of his life. However, one accidental discovery shatters his sense of stability. When his lover’s true gender identity comes to light, their love is put to the test. Will what they share survive the confrontation with the truth? An intimate story about acceptance, fear and redefining what ‘we’ means. 

directed & written: Filip Tomczak, cast: Ewelina Pankowska, Filip Kosior, music: Anna Grodzka, cinematography: Mateusz Gzel, production: Poland 2024, running time: 14 minutes, category: feature film, English subtitles
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