We are delighted to share that Na własnych zasadach (On One’s Own Terms), a documentary directed by Tadeusz Chudy, a graduate of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School at the University of Silesia in Katowice, has been selected for the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival – one of the world’s leading documentary festivals.
The film will be presented in the World Showcase section and will have its international premiere at the festival.
Screenings:
– April 26, 2026, 7:45 PM
– April 27, 2026, 2:15 PM
TIFF Lightbox, Toronto
Na własnych zasadach tells the story of Paweł and Julka – step-siblings raised in foster care who dream of independence. When an opportunity for a new life arises, reality quickly puts their plans to the test.
This is another important step in the film’s international journey – fingers crossed!
We are delighted to share that RODOS, directed by our student Filip Szela, will be presented in the competition of the 66th Krakow Film Festival!
RODOS
director: Filip Szela | cinematography: Filip Fiszer | production manager: Karolina Olszowiec | produced by the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School, University of Silesia in Katowice | 2026
It is a tender and nostalgic observation of life in allotment gardens – a story about everyday routines and the passage of time.
In addition, the following films have also been selected for the short and feature-length documentary competition:
Kontrewers, dir. Zuza Banasińska – produced by Aleksandra Aleksander, a graduate of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School, University of Silesia in Katowice. The film blends archival materials with an intimate story about memory and the relationship with the past.
Stroiciele, dir. Paweł Chorzępa – directed by a lecturer at the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School, University of Silesia in Katowice, the film reveals the behind-the-scenes work of piano tuners during the Chopin Competition.
The 66th Krakow Film Festival will take place from May 31 to June 7, 2026.
Congratulations to all the filmmakers – we’re keeping our fingers crossed and hope to see you in Krakow!
The film “Dad’s Not Home”, directed by our student Jan Saczek – last year’s Student Academy Award winner – was selected for the Short Film Competition at the 50th Cleveland International Film Festival
During the festival, the film was represented by our student Lidia Le Thanh – the production manager – along with Ignacy Cofała, assistant production manager
The presence of the film in the program of one of the most important film festivals in the United States is a great honor for us and a confirmation of the high level of our students’ work.
Two underage brothers hide from the world that their father suffers from frontotemporal dementia. They must take care of him and manage the household in order to stay together.
“Dad’s Not Home”
dir. Jan Saczek | cinematography: Patryk Roman | production manager: Lidia Le Thanh | produced by: Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School, University of Silesia in Katowice | 2025
The participation of the film’s delegation was supported by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute
We invite you to a unique artistic event taking place on April 24, 2026, from 16:45 to 18:00 in the cinema hall of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School of the University of Silesia in Katowice, as part of the Węgiel Film Festival.
Alongside competition screenings and accompanying events, the festival program also includes special presentations showcasing the artistic work of creators affiliated with the university.
One of these will be a presentation of a work by a faculty member of our department – prof. Ryszard Czernow
Duch materii is a sonovisual composition situated at the intersection of photography, animation, and video art, based on the earlier project “Martwe z natury.” Through the animation of digital images and a carefully designed sound layer, the work takes on a quasi-film form, creating an immersive experience focused on the transformation of matter and the role of time.
🔗 Full event description available on the festival website:
Ryszard Czernow – multimedia artist, trained as a cinematographer. Lecturer at the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School of the University of Silesia in Katowice. He has been involved in photographic practice since the 1980s, focusing on experiments with image and its transformation. Recognized as a pioneer in the creative use of digital techniques in photography, he coined the term “cybergraphy,” which defines his original method of working with images.
In his artistic practice, he combines photography with multimedia forms, creating projects situated at the intersection of visual arts. His works have been presented in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Poland and abroad.
Free admission.
We warmly invite everyone interested to visit the Film School especially during these days - due to the wide range of activities taking place as part of the 23rd edition of the Węgiel Film Festival
Stills from „𝐃𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐢”Stills from „𝐃𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐢”
We invite you to the opening of the exhibition Ruderarius and the presentation of the book of the same title by our student, Kaja Struszczyk.
Gallery space “2 Strony” (ground floor)
April 16, 2026
3:30 PM
Kaja Struszczyk – “Ruderarius”
“Greenery. Trees. A blooming summer meadow. Inconspicuous plants, gathered in the form of a herbarium. These elements make up Ruderarius. Yet beneath this seemingly neutral and objective photography lie tons of ash, heavy metals, and other toxic waste produced as a result of mining.
While working on the project, I was guided by the idea of concealing what is most harmful, dangerous, and degraded. A similar concept underlies the afforestation of spoil heaps: to create an entirely new place in terms of its ecological, aesthetic, and functional qualities. At the core of these actions is, above all, the desire to create a safe environment.”
