KF Washington DC Polish Film Festival Returns for Its 3rd Edition, March 19–22, 2026
Washington DC’s Polish Film Festival returns Mar 19–22 at Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema with award-winning films, US premieres & Q&As with industry leaders & stars.
“The Festival’s rapid growth reflects both the global strength of Polish cinema and the increasing appetite among American audiences for bold, authentic storytelling from around the world,” said Barbara Bernhardt, Vice President, Kosciuszko Foundation, and the Festival’s Executive Director. “The expanded Festival program and participation by award-winning industry professionals reflects our mission to foster meaningful cultural dialogue through the arts.”
This year’s lineup was curated by the Festival board from the most acclaimed films at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, Poland. Several screenings will also include Q&A sessions with directors and special guests, giving audiences a chance to go behind the scenes and hear directly from the creative voices shaping cinema today.
The Festival lineup includes:
Vinci 2 by director Juliusz Machulski is a sharp art heist thriller blending wit, suspense, and international intrigue.
Franz by director Agnieszka Holland is a visually rich portrait inspired by Franz Kafka, exploring identity, alienation, and the anxieties of modern life.
Travel Essentials by director Kamila Tarabura is a tense, mystery thriller featuring an international journalist who receives a mysterious package. (The film is not in competition).
Photosensitive (Światłoczuła) by director Tadeusz Śliwa is a luminous romantic drama centered on a fearless blind heroine whose resilience challenges conventional narratives of vulnerability.
The Altar Boys (Ministranci) by director Piotr Domalewski is a bold coming of age story navigating faith and moral reckoning within a tightly knit community.
Chopin, Chopin! by director Michał Kwieciński is a sweeping portrait of Frédéric Chopin that captures both his emotional intensity and creative genius.
Home Sweet Home (Dom dobry) by director Wojciech Smarzowski is a psychologically charged drama examining domestic abuse, vulnerability, and fragile relationship boundaries.
Brother (Brat) by director Maciej Sobieszczański is a moving family drama that confronts loyalty, responsibility, and the emotional cost of sacrifice.
Operation Pope (Zamach na papieża) by director Władysław Pasikowski is a gripping Cold War political thriller dramatizing the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II.
The Festival opens in style on Thursday, March 19, with a Gala Reception and then features screenings Friday, March 20, through Sunday, March 22 at Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema.
Individual film tickets ($22) and festival passes ($150) are available and Kosciuszko Foundation members receive a 25% discount. For information on the films, showtimes, and to purchase tickets, visit www.kfpolishfilmfest.org
Numerous industry guests will be in attendance throughout the weekend, including Piotr Domalewski (director The Altar Boys), Piotr Sobocinski Jr. (cinematographer Altar Boys), Michal Sobocinski (cinematographer Chopin, Chopin!), Agata Turkot (actor Home Sweet Home). Acclaimed Polish-American actor Dagmara Dominczyk (Travel Essentials, Black Rabbit, Succession) joins as special guest of honor and recipient of the Kosciuszko Foundation’s 2026 Pioneer Award, and will also participate in a Q&A session after the screening of Travel Essentials. The festival concludes on Sunday, March 22, with official jury and audience award presentations.
The KF Washington DC Polish Film Festival is partially financed by the Polish Film Institute.
The Festival is also partially financed by the Department for Cooperation with Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
Additionally, on March 15, the Kosciuszko Foundation along with Poland’s Embassy, the National Gallery of Art, and the Wajda Film Center, presents Wajda Day honoring Oscar-winning director Andrzej Wajda.
The program includes a screening of his award-winning film “Afterimage,” an exhibition about Wajda’s work, and a panel discussion. For more information and complimentary admission visit: www.nga.gov/calendar/afterimage-powidoki
