The Warsaw International Film Festival (WIFF) is returning in full force for its 41st edition, set to run from 10-19 October across eight venues in the Polish capital. With a refreshed visual identity, a new leadership team and a more ambitious programme, WIFF is positioning itself as one of Europe’s most dynamic film events.

The festival will showcase 112 features and 56 shorts, including over 80 world, international, European and regional premieres. Its core competitions remain intact. The International Competition boasts world premieres such as Jan Komasa’s highly anticipated US production Anniversary (the opening film), Maria Popistașu & Alexandru Baciu's Y (Romania/Greece), Maciej Sobieszczański's Brother (Poland/Czech Republic) and Wojciech Smarzowski's Home Sweet Home (Poland), alongside the international premieres of Mike van Diem’s Our Girls (Netherlands/Austria/Belgium), Jon Einarsson Gustafsson’s Anorgasmia (Iceland/Canada/Czech Republic), Ivan Nikolaichuk's The Eternity Man (Ukraine/Finland/Canada) and Raúl Campos' Dear Sobriety: You're Killing Me (Mexico), and the European premiere of Kath Akuhata-Brown's Matriarch (New Zealand), as well as Pauline Loquès' Nino [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Pauline Loquès
scheda film] (premiered in Cannes' Critics' Week), Tereza Nvotová's Father [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Tereza Nvotová
scheda film] (premiered in Venice's Orizzonti), Joscha Bongard's Babystar [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Joscha Bongard
scheda film] (premiered in Toronto's Discovery), Sergio Oksman's A Scary Movie [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] (premiered in San Sebastián's Zabaltegi-Tabakalera), Alex Burunova's Satisfaction [+leggi anche:
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The 1-2 Competition, dedicated to debuts and sophomore films, includes the world premieres of Karolis Kaupinis' Hunger Strike Breakfast (Lithuania/Czech Republic/Latvia) and M Siam's My Father's Scent (Egypt/Norway/Sweden/Switzerland/France/Saudi Arabia/Qatar), alongside Sebastian Husak's Bubbles (Germany), Tatyana Pandurska's Wild Strawberries (Bulgaria), Alice Vial's You Found Me (France), Bartosz Paduch's Territory (Poland) and Shyman P Madiraju's 55 (India), as well as Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke's A Useful Ghost [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] (the main winner in Cannes' Critics' Week), Zuzana Kirchnerová's Caravan [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Zuzana Kirchnerová
scheda film] (premiered in Cannes' Un Certain Regard), Alexe Poukine's Kika [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Alexe Poukine
scheda film] (premiered in Cannes' Critics' Week), Valéry Carnoy's Wild Foxes [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Valéry Carnoy
scheda film] (premiered in Cannes' Directors' Fortnight), Or Sinai's Mama (premiered in a Cannes Special Screening), Janicke Askevold's Solomamma [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Janicke Askevold
scheda film] (premiered in Locarno's competition), Ondřej Provazník's Broken Voices [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Ondřej Provazník
scheda film] (premiered in Karlovy Vary's competition) and Cole Webley's Omaha (premiered in Sundance's US Dramatic competition).

Lastly, the Documentary Competition features no fewer than eight world premieres, and the Short Films Competition will once again act as an Oscar qualifier.

This year marks the return of the Encounters section, a showcase of standout films from Cannes, Venice, Locarno and Toronto, with audience voting determining the winner of the PLN 40,000 (€9,400) prize, awarded to the film’s Polish distributor. Among the contenders are Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Jafar Panahi
scheda film], Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine (Silver Lion at Venice), Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] and Paolo Strippoli’s The Holy Boy.

Out-of-competition highlights include Anders Thomas Jensen’s The Last Viking [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Anders Thomas Jensen
scheda film] and Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] (both shown as part of the new special screenings), as well as a refreshed Free Spirit section, showcasing independent and rebellious cinema. A brand-new initiative, Animus. Cinema of Values, will explore films that address social responsibility and moral courage.

Audiences can also look forward to unique experiences such as Cinema in the Clouds on the 46th floor of Varso Tower, the senior-friendly Boom Generation screenings, the Family Film Weekend, and a special film-music concert dedicated to Polish composer Michał Lorenc, performed by ensemble DesOrient. The closing film will be Kaouther Ben Hania’s Venice Grand Jury Prize winner The Voice of Hind Rajab [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Kaouther Ben Hania
scheda film].

For industry professionals, WIFF will introduce the Warsaw Industry Days (13-18 October – see the news), designed to foster connections between Central and Eastern European creators and the international film industry. The programme will include co-production forums, workshops and networking events aimed at building regional collaboration and co-production opportunities.