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The 39th edition of the Warsaw Film Festival (WFF) commenced last weekend, treating cinephiles to over 138 films in competitive and non-competitive sections, including world, international, and European premieres.
Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the festival hasn’t forgotten the Russian invasion. WFF features eight Ukrainian films, including six documentaries reflecting the current situation, war, and politics.
In an age of internet streaming and TV series dominance, the festival’s director, Stefan Laudyn, quoted Krzysztof Kieślowski, stating that “television is solitude, and cinema is community.” For WFF audiences, the cinema experience is vastly different from watching at home, even with the comfiest couch and largest screen.
The festival opened with “The Smile of Fate,” a tale of love and danger on a Greek island, and “Murals,” a nine-minute Ukrainian-Polish artistic non-profit project showcasing Banksy’s art amid war-torn landscapes.
WFF began on October 6th and will run until October 15th, with screenings at Atlantic and Multikino Złote Tarasy. Tickets can be purchased online or at the cinema.
The 39th Warsaw International Film Festival, organized by the Warsaw Film Foundation, receives support from the City of Warsaw, Polish Film Institute, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and the Mazowieckie Voivodeship.
The festival features competitive sections including International, 1-2, Creme de la Creme, Free Spirit, Documentary, and Short Films. Non-competitive sections include Polish Classics, Special Screenings, Family Film Weekend, and Best Polish Short Films.