32nd Seattle Polish Film Festival is coming in November 8-10 of 2024
see the 2024 schedule
Seattle Polish Film Festival (SPFF) is an annual event showcasing the best of Polish cinema since the early 1990s. The SPFF is produced and presented by the Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association.
The late 1930s, the Polish Highlands. Jędrek Zawrat, a talented mountaineer and descendant of a prominent family of highlanders, likes living on the edge.
It is a suspense-filled psychological drama with elements of a thriller and a spy movie. A film inspired by the true story of a special agent of Cold-War Poland who posed as the son of a German woman to build false family relations and launch a successful espionage career. A story of how big-world politics can devastate the lives of ordinary people.
A female road movie. A touching story about the close relationship between sisters Malgorzata (Magdalena Cielecka) and Lucja (Marta Nieradkiewicz).
Lacking the talent that has been defining her family for generations, Simona Kossak is growing up knowing no warmth from her authoritarian mother. After graduating from the university, she leaves everything behind – her home, tradition and social norms – and accepts the position of a scientist in Białowieża, starting to live her life on her own terms.
Spring of 1794, Poland is in turmoil. General Tadeusz “Kos” Kościuszko (Jacek Braciak) returns to Poland and plans to start an uprising against the Russians by mobilizing the Polish nobility and peasants. He is accompanied by his faithful friend and former slave, Domingo (Jason Mitchell).
Tomek, a banking graduate, moves to the city, rents a creepy villa with eccentric tenants. His dreams of success fade as chaos ensues, raising doubts about his sanity. Will he overcome the madness?
The story of Jerzy and Helena Kulej, the most vibrant married couple of the 1960s in Poland. He is a legendary boxer, a two-time European and eight-time Polish champion, the only Polish boxer to have won two Olympic golds, and though never knocked out in the ring, collapsing many a times in his private life.
A group of farmers organizes a protest outside the house of an MP who, contrary to his earlier promises, voted against their interests. When a human body is discovered in the manure they dump on his front yard, suspicion immediately falls on Jarek, the leader of the protest, even though the deceased was his closest friend.
Seattle Polish Film Festival (SPFF) is an annual event showcasing the best of Polish cinema since the early 1990’s. The SPFF is produced and presented by the non-profit Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association.
SPFF was started in 1992 by Polish community leaders Tom Podl and Dr. Michal Friedrich. Mr. Podl and Dr. Friedrich were inspired by other notable Polish Film festivals in the U.S. and in Poland. They wanted to share this special part of Polish culture with the greater Seattle community. SPFF is the second longest running Polish film festival in the United States. 2017 marked its 25th anniversary.
From 2002 to 2005, local attorney Krys Koper directed the SPFF. Mr. Koper ushered in a new era of procuring high quality films and guests. Under his direction, SPFF presented such films as Revenge and When the Sun was God, as well as classics such as The Promised Land and Woman Alone.
From 2006, local patent attorney Greg Plichta directed SPFF. Under Mr. Plichta's leadership, the SPFF showcased critically acclaimed films alongside independent films, shorts, animations, and documentaries. During this time, the SPFF hosted a wide variety of guests and luminaries from Polish cinema. In 2010, Dr. Michal Friedrich returned to SPFF as the Artistic Director, with Greg Plichta as Managing Director.
As of 2011, former Solidarity activist and local film fanatic Zbigniew Pietrzyk has run SPFF, and in 2012 was joined by his son Michal, a television industry professional, as the Artistic Director. Since then, every edition of SPFF is scheduled to reach new heights in terms of film quality, diversity, and sophistication – in large part due to the generous support of its patrons, and the selfless contributions of its dedicated staff.
After the 2022 festival, Zbigniew Pietrzyk retired as the SPFF Managing Director. In 2023, Zbigniew Konofalski took the role of the Managing Director, with Marlena Szymaszek as the Artistic Director. In 2024, the SPFF is welcoming back Dr. Michal Friedrich, one of the SPFF founding members, as the Managing Director, and Marlena Szymaszek as the Artistic Director. We are looking forward to many more years of successful showcasing of Polish Cinema in Seattle under their leadership.
When you sponsor our cultural exhibition of Polish films your financial support helps cover the costs of film royalties, theater rental, airfare and accommodations for our guests, advertising, and printing. You can participate at different levels, all with added benefits! Review the options for Signature Sponsorship.
