POLISH FILMS SELECTED FOR THE CLEVELAND FESTIVAL IN THE USA
The short films “Lost & Found”, directed by Wiktoria Kwoka, and “Dad’s Not Home” by Jan Saczek have been selected for the official programme of the 50th Cleveland International Film Festival, taking place from 9 to 18 April 2026. They are the only two Polish short productions chosen from among 4,000 submissions.
The Cleveland International Film Festival is among the largest and most prestigious Oscar-qualifying film festivals in the United States. Its first edition took place in 1977, and over the years the festival has earned recognition from both wide audiences and film industry professionals. The event is held primarily at Playhouse Square, located in the heart of Cleveland’s theatre and cultural district and regarded as the largest performing arts centre in the United States outside New York.
“Lost & Found” tells the story of a teenage burglar who breaks into the home of an older man, not expecting to find him there. To her surprise, she encounters him just as he is attempting to take his own life. Disoriented by her presence, the man makes her an offer: he will let her leave freely if she helps him finish what he has started. The cast includes Oliwia Zalewa and Wojciech Duryasz.
Meanwhile, “Dad’s Not Home”, directed by Jan Saczek and produced at the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School in Katowice, was shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards in the category of Best Live Action Short Film. Last year, the film won a Student Academy Award in the Narrative category, one of the most important distinctions for emerging filmmakers worldwide, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
“Dad’s Not Home” tells the story of two underage brothers who hide from those around them the fact that their father suffers from frontotemporal dementia. Wanting to remain together, the boys take responsibility for the household and for caring for their ill parent, confronting an adulthood for which they are not yet prepared. The film addresses themes of family loyalty, premature maturity, and the fragility of everyday security.
More information about the festival and the other selected productions can be found here.