Past Editions
The Kosciuszko Foundation Polish Film Festival launched its inaugural edition in Washington, D.C. in 2024, marking a significant milestone in bringing Polish cinema to the capital of the United States. The debut festival showcased both emerging and acclaimed Polish filmmakers and presented awards in several categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, and the Audience Award.
2024
Building on this success, the inaugural Kosciuszko Foundation Rocky Mountain Polish Film Festival welcomed audiences in the U.S. Rocky Mountain region on November 16–17, 2024. The event featured a curated selection of contemporary Polish films and reflected the Foundation’s growing commitment to sharing Poland’s vibrant cinematic storytelling with a broader American audience.
Feature Films
As part of its 2024 program, the Kosciuszko Foundation Rocky Mountain Polish Film Festival presented three acclaimed feature films that offered audiences a powerful and diverse view of contemporary Polish cinema.
Scarborn (Kos), winner of the Best Film Award at the Gdynia Film Festival, is a sweeping historical drama about General Tadeusz “Kos” Kościuszko’s return to Poland in 1794 after supporting George Washington in the American Revolution, as he prepares to ignite an uprising against Russian forces.
The Feast of Fire (Święto Ognia), directed by Kinga Dębska and starring Paulina Pytlak (Best New Actress) and Kinga Preis (Best Supporting Actress), tells the moving story of two young women—a ballerina and a child with a debilitating illness—who confront their physical limits and ultimately triumph in spirit.
Doppelgänger (Sobowtór), a gripping psychological thriller set in the late 1970s, explores espionage, identity theft, and moral ambiguity through a distinctly Polish lens. The film, which earned multiple awards at the Gdynia Film Festival, including Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Cinematography, delivers a nuanced, John le Carré-style reflection on duplicity and human nature.
Short Films
The short film selection at the festival highlighted emerging Polish filmmakers and offered intimate, thought-provoking perspectives on contemporary life.
The Mandala (Mandala), directed by Mikołaj Janik, portrays a mother’s struggle to overcome haunting memories and violence in a moving exploration of trauma and resilience.
In Mom Is Coming Back (Mama wraca), also directed by Janik, a mother redefines caregiving by embracing her passions and including her child with cerebral palsy in every adventure, from everyday activities to cross-country skiing.
My Old Gals (Moje Stare), directed by Natasza Parzymies, follows two elderly friends on a joyful escape from a nursing home, a touching reflection on friendship, memory, and freedom.
Count My Lov3 (Il3 mni3 kochasz) by Ewa Japola adds a playful twist to the program—a witty, modern story about a woman seeking love through numerical formulas, questioning whether data can ever capture the essence of human emotion.
Jury
The Jury of the inaugural Kosciuszko Foundation Rocky Mountain Polish Film Festival brings together distinguished professionals from across the international film and cultural landscape.
Liliana Komorowska – Actress and documentary filmmaker, graduate of the Theatre Academy in Warsaw, and founder of the Liliana Komorowska for the Arts Foundation.
Ron Henderson – Co-founder of the Denver Film Society and Denver Film Festival, honored with Poland’s Order of Merit for promoting Polish cinema abroad.
Dr. Beata Lisowska – Film and culture scholar at the Academy of Humanities and Economics in Łódź, specializing in visual culture and media.
Piotr Gzowski – Actor, writer, and educator with an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, active in Polish-American cultural projects.
Craig Volk – Award-winning playwright and screenwriter with credits including the Emmy-winning series Northern Exposure.
Katarzyna Niezabitowska-Szczuka – TV journalist and editor at Polish Television (TVP), focused on film, cultural programming, and education.
Board of Directors
The Kosciuszko Foundation Rocky Mountain Polish Film Festival is led by professionals dedicated to promoting Polish culture and cinema in Colorado.
Dr. Marek Gołkowski, Chair of Electrical Engineering at the University of Colorado Denver, serves as President of the Rocky Mountain Chapter.
Katarzyna Hypsher, interior architect and founder of Życie Kolorado, has long supported the local Polish community.
Małgorzata Schwab, IT executive and AI researcher, brings her experience from the DC Polish Film Festival to this regional initiative.
