We invite you to take part in the pitching session as part of the 23rd Węgiel Film Festival!

As part of the 23rd edition of the Węgiel Film Festival, which will take place on April 22–25, 2026, we invite creators developing short film projects to participate in the pitching event.

Pitching is an opportunity to present your film idea, confront it with an audience, and meet potential collaborators. It is a space for creators who are in the development stage or already working on a project and want to take the next step toward its realization.

Applications are open in two categories:

▪ fiction short film in development,

▪ documentary short film (Work in Progress).

📍 Location: Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School, University of Silesia in Katowice

🗓️ Application deadline: March 6, 2026

📢 Results announcement: March 9, 2026

FORM FOR DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

FORM FOR FICTION PROJECTS

26 January 2026

We’re excited to share some fantastic news!

Our lecturer, Dr Anna Huth, together with her platform team4set, has been selected among the 12 chosen startups for this year’s EFM Startups edition as part of the European Film Market (EFM)!

EFM Startups is a five-day platform (February 13–17, during the Berlinale) dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge media technologies, connecting visionary startups with leaders of the film industry, and opening doors to funding and strategic partnerships.

A special highlight this year: for the first time, the EFM Startup Award will be presented, in partnership with Screen International, recognizing one outstanding startup from the 2026 edition.

We are keeping our fingers crossed, that it will be team4set — a platform created by filmmakers for filmmakers — that receives this distinction!

Link to detailed information

So proud — congratulations and full support!

23 January 2026

Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards have been announced. Although “Taty nie ma” (“Dad’s not home”) did not make it into the final five nominees for Best Live Action Short Film, the film’s presence on the Oscar shortlist alone is a huge distinction and proof of its strength—both artistic and emotional.

This short film, directed by student Jan Saczek, has already won the Gold Medal at the Student Academy Awards and has completed an exceptional festival journey.

Dad’s not home | director: Jan Saczek | cinematography: Patryk Roman | production manager: Lidia Le Thanh | produced by: Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School, University of Silesia in Katowice | 2025

Two underage brothers hide from the world the fact that their father suffers from frontotemporal dementia. They must take care of him and manage the household in order to stay together.

For creators who are at such an early stage of their journey, this is an incredible start and a strong foundation for further careers in film. We truly hope this experience opens more doors for them—these are definitely names worth remembering.

Thank you for allowing us to share the emotions and take part in this unique cinematic journey, and we wish you all the best in your future careers.

We invite you to check out the full list of nominees—among them “Hamnet”, nominated in Best Picture category (and more), with contributions from our graduate Stanisław Cuske (camera operator). Congratulations, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed!

FULL LIST OF NOMINEES

Full crew list of Dad’s not home

22 January 2026

With deep sorrow, we received the news of the passing of Dr. Ewa Sałużanka, our Lecturer, a respected educator, and an exceptionally kind person, who for many years was closely associated with the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School of the University of Silesia in Katowice.

She will remain in our memory as a person full of passion, sensitivity, and devotion to her students, who had a real impact on successive generations of creators.
We extend our sincerest condolences to her Family and Loved Ones.

Dean, Lecturers, Staff, and Students
of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School

12 January 2026