“Less Red Carpet, More Love of Cinema”: The Warsaw Film Festival Wants to Be a Destination for Discovery

The 42nd Warsaw International Film Festival is screening 190 films, including 132 features, with 102 world, international or regional premieres. Festival leaders say they want Warsaw to be a destination for discovering new filmmakers and films, while raising the city’s profile and strengthening its place in the international film calendar.

The festival opened on 9 October with Jesse Eisenberg’s *The Debut* and closes on Sunday. Its programme includes competitions for first and second features, short films and established filmmakers. The industry programme is also expanding: Warsaw Industry Days received twice as many submissions to its Co-Production Forum this year, and organisers hope to attract projects from across Europe and beyond.