Past Editions
The Kosciuszko Foundation Polish Film Festival launched its inaugural edition in Washington DC in 2024, marking a significant milestone in promoting Polish cinema in the United States capital. The debut festival celebrated emerging and established Polish filmmakers, presenting awards in several categories including Best Feature Film, Best Short Film and Audience Awards.
2025
The second edition of the Kosciuszko Foundation Washington, D.C. Polish Film Festival took place March 4–9, 2025, celebrating Polish cinema and culture. Screenings at E Street Cinema and Bethesda Row Cinema drew hundreds of attendees, with Q&A sessions and discussions. Notable festival guests included Ellen Kuras, Gabriela Muskała, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Marcin Koszalka, Łukasz Karwowski, Artur Zaborski, and Władysław Deva. The festival featured a special event, Focus on Ukraine, showcasing three films and a post-film discussion on the human impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The 2025 festival line-up included the following feature films:
· Jesters, dir. Gabriela Muskała
· Two Sisters, dir. Łukasz Karwowski
· People, dir. Maciej Ślesicki
· Wet Monday, dir. Justyna Mytnik
· White Courage, dir. Marcin Koszałka
· It’s Not My Film, dir. Maria Zbąska
· Sparrow, dir. Tomasz Gąssowski
· Seasons, dir. Michał Grzybowski
· Simona Kossak, dir. Adrian Paszek
· Go Against the Flow, dir. Wiesław Paluch
· Minghun, dir. Jan P. Matuszyński
Best Feature Film:
White Courage (Biała Odwaga) directed by Marcin Koszałka received the award for a breathtaking cinematic vision of a little-known wartime story, in which the natural majesty of the Polish mountains goes hand in hand with dramatic choices faced by people grappling with a totalitarian regime. We feel that White Courage, despite its historical costume and local setting, speaks deeply to the world of today, in which the issues of loyalty, betrayal and courage in the face of authoritarianism are becoming more vital with each passing day."
Best Short Film:
Red (Rouge) directed by Sophie Horry of the Warsaw Film School received the award for masterful direction and visual storytelling. The jury applauded the director for navigating a sensitive and provocative subject with subtlety, maturity, and artistic integrity.
Best Actor:
Filip Pławiak for a masterful portrait of Jędrek, a highlander and in leader in the Goralenvolk organization during World War II in White Courage. His performance vividly depicted the conflict between two brothers on opposite sides of the war. To prepare, Filip trained for over a year in mountain climbing and performed all the challenging scenes himself without stunt doubles.
Best Actress:
Sandra Drzymalska her outstanding performances in White Courage (Biała Odwaga) and Simona Kossak, showcasing her remarkable versatility and emotional depth. In “White Courage”, she brought authenticity and nuance to the role of Bronka while in Simona Kossak, she embodied the titular character with extraordinary sensitivity, capturing both the resilience and enigmatic spirit of the pioneering ecologist.
Best Director:
Marcin Koszałka for his contemporary cinematic masterpiece, White Courage. Koszałka crafted a complex narrative with electrifying intensity and profound psychological insight, offering a powerful and emotionally charged exploration of a highly controversial historical subject.
Audience Awards:
Audience Awards:
· Best Film: White Courage
· Best Short Film: An Orange from Jaffa
