45th Koszalin Film Debut Festival: Youth and Film

The 45th Koszalin Film Debut Festival “Youth and Film” is coming this June From June 7–13, 2026, Koszalin will host the 45th edition of the Koszalin Film Debut Festival “Youth and Film”—the oldest and one of the most important events in Poland dedicated to film debuts. This anniversary edition will last one day longer than usual and, for the first time, will begin on a Sunday. For over four decades, the festival has remained the most important platform for showcasing young Polish cinema. Filmmakers such as Krzysztof Zanussi, Agnieszka Holland, Xawery Żuławski, Jan P. Matuszyński, and Tomasz Wasilewski have shown their first films in Koszalin. The organizers emphasize that the event is not only a showcase of debuts but also a meeting place for the film community to exchange experiences. The program includes three main competitions: Feature-Length Debut Films, Feature-Length Documentary Debuts, and Short Film Debuts. There will also be special screenings, industry events, concerts, and meetings with filmmakers as part of the “Honesty for Honesty” series. Thirteen films were selected for the feature-length debut competition out of 20 submissions. The documentary competition will feature 14 productions selected from 27 submissions. The short film competition jury will evaluate 70 films selected from 270 submitted works. Thirteen feature-length narrative debuts will compete for the Grand Jantar Award. The film “La petite mort,” directed by Kaja Zalewska and Martyna Byczkowska, will have its world premiere at the festival. The competition also includes the animated film “The Boy at the Ends of the World” by Grzegorz Wacławek and Marta Szymańska. During the festival, 16 statutory awards will be presented in three main competitions. Additionally, the Teatrotek Competition will take place, showcasing selected productions from the Documentary and Feature Film Studio. The Opening Gala on June 7 will be combined with a screening of the film “Innocent Wizards” accompanied by live music. The program also includes workshops, meetings with filmmakers, outdoor events, and concerts. Performers will include RAT KRU and EABS. The event will conclude with the Closing Gala on June 13 at the Koszalin Philharmonic, during which this year’s Jantar Award winners will be announced. The festival is organized by the City of Koszalin, the 105 Cultural Center in Koszalin, and the Polish Filmmakers Association. Admission to all open events is free.