The 24th edition of CINEMAFORUM – the International Short Film Festival – was not only a success with audiences but also a celebration of outstanding discoveries and award-winning films. Meet the winners!
– It’s been an intense and inspiring five days. For the first time, the festival was held at KINOMUZEUM, right next to the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. We’re thrilled to see that interest in short films continues to grow year after year. This time, we even saw record-breaking attendance at non-competition screenings and accompanying events. It’s important to highlight that auteur short cinema can be deeply inspiring — setting new trends and sparking meaningful conversations that audiences and filmmakers continued during our post-screening Q&A sessions – summarizes Maciej Dominiak, festival producer and director of the FILMFORUM Association.
Who received the GRAND PRIX and the AUDIENCE AWARD?
The Jury for this year’s International Short Narrative Competition included Janusz Zaorski – director and screenwriter (Chairman), Maciej Buchwald – director and screenwriter, Beata Walentowska – film editor, and Masza Wągrocka – actress. After watching 14 films, the Jury awarded the GRAND PRIX of the International Short Narrative Competition to THE MAN WHO COULD NOT REMAIN SILENT, directed by Nebojša Slijepčević (Croatia, France, Bulgaria, and Slovenia). In its statement, the Jury described the film as wise, accomplished, mature, and gripping from beginning to end.
The Audience Award went to THE PRINCE, directed by Alex Sarda (Spain).
Who won the JAN MACHULSKI AWARDS (21st edition)?
This year’s Jan Machulski Awards Committee included Adam Bajerski – cinematographer, representative of the Polish Society of Cinematographers (PSC), Grzegorz Milczarczyk – film, television, and theatre actor, director, and educator, Sylwia Motyl – director of the International Film Festival ZOOM–ZBLIŻENIA in Jelenia Góra, Bartosz Pietras – film editor, representative of the Polish Association of Film Editors (PSM), Bartosz Stankiewicz – director and screenwriter, last year’s Jan Machulski Award winner in the “Best Film” category, and Michał Szcześniak – director, screenwriter, and board member of the Polish Filmmakers Association.
After reviewing 35 films nominated for the Jan Machulski Awards, the Committee announced the winners in the following categories:
>>> Best Film
Ewa Borysewicz for directing, Piotr Szczepanowicz and Jakub Karwowski for producing CUD (THE MIRACLE)
The financial award for the director was funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund. The financial award for the producers was funded by the Polish Film Institute.
>>> Best Director
Mohammed Almughanni for POMARAŃCZA Z JAFFY (AN ORANGE FROM JAFFA)
The financial award was funded by the Polish Filmmakers Association.
>>> Best Screenplay
Agnieszka Nowosielska for AVE EVA, directed by Agnieszka Nowosielska
The financial award was funded by the Polish Filmmakers Association.
>>> Best Cinematography
Mateusz Czuchnowski for GRANICA (BORDER), directed by Maria Magriel
The financial award was funded by the Polish Society of Cinematographers (PSC).
>>> Best Editing
Tomasz Kajetan Naruszewicz for SERWIS (SERVICE), directed by Michał Edelman
The financial award was funded by the Polish Association of Film Editors (PSM).
>>> Best Actress
Zofia Zoń for AVE EVA, directed by Agnieszka Nowosielska
The financial award was funded by the FILMFORUM Association.
>>> Best Actor
Michał Murawski for STYMULANTY & EMPATOGENY (STIMULANTS & EMPATHOGENS), directed by Mateusz Pacewicz
The financial award was funded by the Polish Filmmakers Association.
>>> Best Documentary Film
ŚWIEŻAK (FRESHMAN), directed by Michał Edelman and Tomasz Pawlik
The financial award was funded by the Polish Filmmakers Association.
>>> Best Animated Film
JAK BYĆ MĘCZENNIKIEM (MARTYR’S GUIDEBOOK), directed by Maksymilian Rzontkowski
The financial award was funded by the FILMFORUM Association.
The Committee also decided to present a Special Award to Damian Kosowski for LUDZIE I RZECZY (PEOPLE AND THINGS) for presenting a highly relevant topic from our contemporary reality through a unique perspective — that of the near future, the year 2028. The award recognizes the film’s deeply convincing storytelling and excellent craftsmanship across all cinematic elements.
Congratulations to all the winners — and see you next year for the 25th edition of the festival!
>>>
The event is organized by the FILMFORUM Association.
The project receives strategic funding from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage through the Culture Promotion Fund and from the City of Warsaw.
The project is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
The main festival venue is KINOMUZEUM in Warsaw.
The partners of this year’s edition include: Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, Wajda Film Centre, Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain, American Film Festival, Mazovia Warsaw Film Commission, Mazovian Institute of Culture, and British Council.
The industry partners of the Jan Machulski Awards are the Polish Filmmakers Association, the Polish Association of Film Editors (PSM), and the Polish Society of Cinematographers (PSC).
Partner Festivals of the Jan Machulski Awards:
OFFELIADA National Festival of Amateur and Independent Films in Gniezno
International Film Festival ZOOM – ZBLIŻENIA in Jelenia Góra
O!PLA National Festival of Polish Animation
Professor Henryk Kluba National Independent Film Competition – OKFA in Konin
FREEDOM Film Festival in Radom
Solanin Film Festival in Nowa Sól
WAMA Film Festival in Olsztyn
CINEMAFORUM – International Short Film Festival in Warsaw
The festival’s media partners include: Filmweb, Miesięcznik KINO, Magazyn Filmowy Stowarzyszenia Filmowców Polskich, SFP.org.pl, Czasopismo Ekrany, Pełna Sala, Ryjówka, KINO.rozmowa, SpoilerMaster, Typowy Jędrzej, Going., Film Planeta.