Polish Film Festival North America Brings Major Celebration of Polish Cinema to NY and NJ

The Polish Film Festival North America (PFFNA) is a rare treat for any film fan! For more than two weeks, New York and New Jersey audiences can watch some of the most popular Polish films of recent times. The festival’s “queen” is, of course, “Lalka” (“The Doll”), whose spectacular success in Poland surprised even the most optimistic experts, but theaters on the East Coast will also show other, equally interesting productions.

***

PFFNA is the largest platform in the United States presenting new Polish cinema. It allows American audiences to see the latest Polish feature films, documentaries and short films, often within a few months of their premieres in Poland. The first edition of the festival took place in 2025 and drew more than 7,000 attendees in eight American cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Miami.

This year’s edition promises to be even more exciting! From Nov. 6 to Nov. 22, Polish-American audiences will have a chance to see more than a dozen outstanding Polish films. Such an opportunity may not come again, so it is worth buying tickets for the November screenings.

The festival’s official opening in New York will take place on Nov. 15 at the SVA Theatre in Chelsea, NY.

We have prepared an overview of the best films that can be seen on the East Coast, especially for our readers. Tickets can be purchased on the website: www.mojbilet.com.

LALKA (THE DOLL)

Social drama

Directed by Maciej Kawalski

There is no better proof that classic Polish literature can still fire the imagination than the success of the latest screen adaptation of Bolesław Prus’s “Lalka.” Maciej Kawalski’s film has become a true box-office phenomenon. Since its premiere on Sept. 30, 2026, it has drawn more than two million viewers to theaters in Poland, breaking attendance records and becoming one of the biggest Polish hits in recent years. There has not been this much interest in a domestic production in a long time!

The story of Stanisław Wokulski and Izabela Łęcka, familiar to generations of schoolchildren, returns in an especially spectacular form. Viewers are transported to 19th-century Warsaw, a city full of contrasts, social ambition, elegant salons and big dreams. At the heart of the story, of course, is the merchant’s unhappy love for an aristocrat, but the film also touches on timeless themes: social divisions, money, a person’s place in society and the desire to rise.

The fantastic Marcin Dorociński plays Stanisław Wokulski, while Izabela Łęcka is played by Kamila Urzędowska, known among other things for the Oscar nomination of “Chłopi” (“The Peasants”). On screen we will also see a veritable constellation of Polish film stars: Marek Kondrat as Ignacy Rzecki, Agata Kulesza, Andrzej Seweryn, Maja Komorowska, Cezary Żak and Mateusz Damięcki.

A huge asset of the production is its visual sweep. The sets, costumes, cinematography and attention to historical detail make 19th-century Warsaw literally come alive on screen. The director does not forget about humor and emotion, so the classic story does not feel like a school assignment but becomes an attractive spectacle for the modern viewer.

The success of “Lalka” shows that Poles still want to watch Polish cinema, and that a well-told story can bring generations together. It is a film both for those who remember Prus’s novel well and for those who are only now getting to know Wokulski’s fate. It is worth taking the opportunity to see this most talked-about Polish film of 2026 on the big screen!

Screenings: Nov. 7 (Hawthorne Theatres, NJ), Nov. 8 (Rutgers Cinema, NJ), Nov. 12 (Sacred Heart University Community Theatre, Fairfield, CT), Nov. 15 (SVA Theatre, NY), Nov. 15 (South Bay Cinemas, NY), Nov. 15 (Picture Show at SouthCoast Marketplace, Boston, MA), Nov. 16 (Picture Show at Berlin, Berlin, CT), Nov. 21 (Hawthorne Theatres, NJ), Nov. 22 (Bellmore Movies & Showplace, NY).

JAK ŻYĆ, ŻEBY NIE ZWARIOWAĆ (HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT GOING CRAZY)

Comedy of manners

Directed by Tomasz Konecki and Iwona Ogonowska-Konecka

Can you lose almost everything and still find the strength to start over? The Polish comedy “Jak żyć, żeby nie zwariować” answers that question, taking a tongue-in-cheek look at everyday problems, family complications and unexpected turns in life.

The main character is Anka, a woman whose life seems perfectly in order. She has a family, a job and a comfortable apartment. Soon, however, it turns out that stability can be far more fragile than it appears. One problem after another forces her to reassess her life so far and consider what she really wants.

Magdalena Popławska plays the lead, joined by Piotr Rogucki, Barbara Wypych, Dorota Kolak and Krzysztof Stelmaszyk, among others. The film is directed by Tomasz Konecki, known for comedy hits such as “Lejdis” and “Testosteron,” and Iwona Ogonowska-Konecka.

The film combines situational humor with a more reflective look at human relationships. Its greatest asset is a theme close to many viewers: the attempt to find oneself in a world where not everything goes according to plan. It is a story about independence, courage and second chances, a reminder that sometimes it is only when our old order collapses that we begin to truly live.

“Jak żyć, żeby nie zwariować” is for those who look to the movies for both entertainment and stories in which they can find a piece of their own lives.

Screening: Nov. 7 (Hawthorne Theatres, NJ)

PRZEZ ŚCIANĘ (THROUGH THE WALL)

Historical melodrama

Directed by Maciej Sobieszczański

Can you fall in love with someone you have never seen, cannot touch and whose voice you do not even know? Maciej Sobieszczański’s “Przez ścianę” is an extraordinary story of a love born in one of the darkest periods of Poland’s postwar history. The film is based on true events and is a reminder that even in the most inhumane conditions, people can keep hope alive.

The action begins in 1947. Wiesława Pajdak, arrested for her activities in the anti-communist underground, is sent to a prison in Warsaw’s Mokotów district. Soon Jerzy Śmiechowski is placed in the neighboring cell. A wall separates the two young people, but one night they manage to make contact using Morse code. So begins an acquaintance that will change their lives forever.

Maria Dębska and Jakub Gierszał star, joined on screen by Agnieszka Grochowska and Arkadiusz Jakubik, among others. Director Maciej Sobieszczański relies on economical means of expression, an atmosphere of tension and emotions that need few words. The cinematography by Jolanta Dylewska, which builds a raw, unsettling picture of prison reality, is especially notable.

“Przez ścianę” is cinema that reminds us that history is not made only of dates, battles and political decisions. It is also made by individual people, their feelings, dreams and attempts to preserve their own humanity. The film won the Golden Lions at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, as well as several other awards. It is a pick for viewers who appreciate ambitious historical cinema and moving stories about the power of human bonds. It is worth seeing on the big screen.

Screening: Nov. 15 (SVA Theatre, NY)

PRZEPIS NA ŚWIĘTA (A RECIPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS)

Romantic comedy

Directed by Magdalena Nieć

The smell of freshly baked gingerbread, holiday decorations, family gatherings and, of course, love: this is a pick for everyone who does not want to wait until December to feel the Christmas spirit. “Przepis na święta,” directed by Magdalena Nieć, is a warm romantic comedy that reminds us that the most important things in life cannot be bought or planned.

The main character is Ida, a young woman whose greatest passion is baking. She dreams of her own pastry shop and is not afraid to follow her dreams. A pre-Christmas meeting with Piotr, a handsome bank director, becomes the start of an entirely new chapter in her life. But the man has much more on his mind than his professional duties. An unexpected family challenge appears in his daily life. Fate causes the characters’ paths to cross again.

Zofia Jastrzębska and Piotr Stramowski star in the leading roles. Also appearing on screen are outstanding Polish actors Danuta Stenka, Adam Woronowicz, Sonia Mietielica and Wiktor Wieczorek. The film is directed by Magdalena Nieć, known among other things for the family productions “O psie, który jeździł koleją” and “Detektyw Bruno.”

The film is an ideal choice for couples and entire families alike. It does not lack humor, romantic mishaps and, of course, culinary inspiration. The holiday setting is more than just a pretty backdrop: it is a reminder of the importance of closeness, acceptance and mutual understanding.

If you are looking for a film that will make you want to go home, cook something delicious and spend time with your loved ones, “Przepis na święta” will hit the mark. Sometimes the best gift is simply the presence of another person.

Screenings: Nov. 21 (Hawthorne Theatres, NJ), Nov. 22 (Rutgers Cinema, NJ)

NASZA REWOLUCJA (OUR REVOLUTION)

Biographical drama

Directed by Piotr Domalewski

Great history is often told through the prism of political leaders, important speeches and landmark events. Piotr Domalewski’s “Nasza rewolucja,” however, offers a somewhat different view of the fight for freedom. Rather than focusing solely on politics, the filmmakers take viewers into the private world of two people who decided to devote their lives to a cause greater than themselves.

The film’s protagonists are Jacek Kuroń and his first wife, Grażyna, known as Gaja. Their story unfolds during the turbulent years of opposition activity in communist Poland. Jacek becomes involved in the fight against the system, and their apartment becomes an important meeting place for people connected with the democratic opposition. Political commitment, however, does not leave family life untouched. The film asks how to reconcile great ideals with everyday life, love and the need for closeness.

Arkadiusz Jakubik plays Jacek Kuroń, while Magdalena Popławska plays Grażyna Gaja Kuroń. Both actors take on the demanding task of portraying figures who played an important role in Poland’s recent history. Particularly interesting is the effort to restore the memory of Grażyna Kuroń, a woman whose activity and personal story have not always found their rightful place in accounts of the democratic opposition.

Director Piotr Domalewski, creator of the award-winning “Cicha noc” (“Silent Night”) and the film “Hiacynt” (“Hyacinth”), once again takes up the subject of human relationships, this time set in a historical context. “Nasza rewolucja” is not merely a history lesson. It is also a story about the price of commitment, responsibility and a love put to a severe test.

The film may interest both people who remember the days of Solidarity and younger viewers who would like to better understand what the fight for a democratic Poland looked like from the perspective of its participants’ private lives. It is a good opportunity to look at history not only through the prism of great events, but above all through the people who made it.

Screening: Nov. 22 (Rutgers Cinema, NJ)

Photo: dreamstime

Source: Nowy Dziennik