POLISH SHORT FILMS AND ANIMATIONS AT THE CLERMONT-FERRAND FESTIVAL
Polish short cinema is looking to make a particularly strong presence at the upcoming edition of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. At the 48th edition of one of the world’s most important and prestigious events dedicated to short-form filmmaking, a total of eight Polish productions are going to be featured in the festival programme, appearing both in-competition and at key industry showcases.
Recognised as the world’s largest short film festival and France’s second-largest film event after Cannes, Clermont-Ferrand attracts around 160,000 spectators and industry professionals each year. Its position is further reinforced by an extensive industry platform and the Short Film Market – the most important short film market in the world.
Selected from an impressive number of 8,900 submissions, the short fiction film "Dying of the Young Deer", directed by Angelika Cygal, has been chosen for the International Competition. Rooted in folk tradition, local folklore and song, the film is an intimate, deeply personal story inspired by the experiences of the director’s mother. It follows Helka as she leaves her family home, intertwining images of a rural landscape with a universal coming-of-age story marked by loss and memory.
Two Polish animated films have been selected for the Youth Programme, aimed at younger and adult audiences alike. Directed by Małgorzata Rybak, "Experiences and Learning. And Parenting" tells the story of a curious child named “O”, who discovers the world from a child’s perspective, learning through everyday trial and error. Meanwhile, Tomasz Ducki’s "Birds of Paradise" is a subversive allegory about a flock of birds whose harmonious order is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious object, triggering social and technological transformation – and raising questions about the price of civilisational progress.
The film "My Secret Cyberlove" by Bartosz Stankiewicz is going to be presented as part of ESFAA – the European Short Film Audience Award, which brings together outstanding European shorts honoured by audiences at leading festivals. Styled after classic sitcoms from the mid-90s, this tale of a man in love with a sex-robot offers a bitter but satirical take on toxic relationships, patriarchal norms, and anxieties about the future, balancing grotesque humour with social diagnosis.
Every year, festival selection committees award the Short Film Market Picks label to films that have caught their attention. This gives such productions increased visibility in the market catalogue as well as other industry materials. In this edition, 394 titles received the distinction from nearly 9,000 submissions, including four Polish productions. Among them is "The Tuners" by Paweł Chorzępa. The film takes viewers behind the scenes of the world’s most prestigious piano competition, following an elite group of piano tuners whose weeks-long pursuit of perfect sound. Ultimately, their precision and sensitivity determine the instrument on which the winner is going to triumph.
The next film is "No Song in the Air", a fiction short by Joanna Różniak – an intimate portrait of Marek, a freshly divorced middle-aged forensic technician who shares custody of his young son with his former partner. A night call-out to work, accompanied by a young trainee, disrupts his routine and becomes the starting point for a quiet reflection on loneliness, responsibility, and the fragile balance of private life. The selection also includes Katarzyna Kosajda’s "Two Stations Behind", set aboard a train travelling between Łódź and Warsaw. It's the story of a chance encounter between Lucyna, an experienced railway employee, and her former flame Marek, who wants a fresh start in life. Suspended glances and unspoken conversations build an atmosphere of anticipation whether past feelings have a chance to return. The fourth Polish title in the Market Picks is Barbara Synak’s animated film "Territory", a poignant, introspective portrayal of a young woman trapped within her own body. The film evocatively depicts a toxic relationship with eating and corporeality, reflecting the inner chaos, sense of isolation and loss of control that affects people struggling with eating disorders.The final production is an animated film by Mateusz Jarmulski entitled "Fanatic". It tells the story of a fair-haired knight who, driven by a desire for yet another triumph, ventures deep into a mysterious labyrinth. With each step, the futility of his quest becomes increasingly apparent. Absorbed in an absurd confrontation, he loses sight of the real danger. The path to victory ultimately requires him to abandon everything that has defined his identity so far.
One of the festival’s key components is the accompanying film market, which draws industry representatives from around the world. Polish films will once again be prominently represented. The POLISH SHORTS stand, prepared by the Krakow Film Foundation with support from the Polish Film Institute, will serve as an information hub about the Polish short film sector.
For several years, the Euro Connection co-production forum has also been held as part of the market, aimed at producers of short fiction films, creative documentaries, and animated works. This year, the production company WJTeam has been invited to present its profile and body of work as part of the Producers Focus programme.
Such a multifaceted and high-profile presence of Polish films at Clermont-Ferrand stands as clear evidence of the established international position of Polish short cinema and animation. At the same time, it confirms their creative maturity, formal diversity and consistent willingness to engage with demanding artistic and social themes through a bold, contemporary cinematic language.
The complete list of films selected for the festival can be found here.