Schedule

Introduction

Over the years, two competitions have remained the core of the Festival program: the Main Dramatic Competition “Making Way” and the Polish Feature Film Competition. The first of the two sections is a showcase of ten directing debuts and second films from all over the world competing for the Andrzej Wajda Krakow Film Award of USD 25,000. In the Polish Feature Film Competition ten most interesting Polish titles have a chance to win the Dominika Kulczyk & dFlights Award of PLN 100,000. Other awards include those for Best Actress, Best Actor and Mastercard Rising Star for acting debut. The winners are selected by members of two juries comprised of outstanding international filmmakers and experts.

In 2023, during the upcoming 16th edition of the Festival, the Mastercard OFF CAMERA audiences will see films screened in regular, well-known and popular sections: American Indies – dedicated to daring, uncompromising and fascinating American cinema and Best of Fests – showcasing interesting productions awarded at international film festivals, that the Polish audience will have an opportunity to see on the silver screen, often for the first time.

You can also expect a multitude of amazing novelties: with four completely fresh film sections, the Festival audience will go on an unforgettable journey through film genres, conventions, phenomena and trends. On top of that, join us for numerous meetings with guests, film directors, special screenings, workshops, discussions and accompanying events.

Schedule

Contests and sections

Main Dramatic Competition “Making Way”

The international competition for the Andrzej Wajda Krakow Film Award is the main section of the Mastercard OFF CAMERA Festival. Festival audiences will be the first in Poland to see the debuts and second films of the most talked-about artists from around the world. These are the films that delighted audiences at the biggest film events, including festivals in Toronto, Locarno, Rotterdam and Sundance.

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Polish Feature Film Competition

Our Polish Feature Film Competition is dedicated to those Polish titles that opened throughout the past year and stroke us as most interesting, original and universal. Ten feature films will compete for the Dominika Kulczyk & dFlights Award in the Polish Feature Films contest: PLN 100 000.

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Hello, Adventure!

It’s a concept as old as cinema itself: films can be a way for audiences to feel like they’re taking part in the on-screen characters’ incredible adventures, which they’ll probably never get to experience in real life.

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The Kings of the World_Mastercard OFF CAMERA 2023_mat_promo_2

American Indies

American cinema has always been very much about stories. Stories that stimulate the imagination, are bold and, above all, diverse. Sometimes tongue-in-cheek, at other times a little more serious, they portray characters entangled in various traps, the ups and downs of life overseas. Although the protagonists’ reality is changing as dynamically as the American landscape, they will not hesitate to fulfil their dreams, cross borders and live their own lives.

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Best of Fests

In this section, we will see the latest films by recognised directors, but also productions of budding filmmakers who captured the attention of audiences and critics around the world. These films, highly appreciated by our programmers, often combine commercial potential with an independent, creative spirit and rebellious nature.

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Herstories

There’s no question that we’re still stuck in a thoroughly patriarchal and chauvinistic society. While the last few years have brought on a lot of positive cultural change, spearheaded by the #metoo and #timesup movements, women still find themselves sidelined: at work, in the family, and ultimately on the big screen.

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Techno Party

Technology is an essential part of modern life, affecting almost every aspect of our existence. It’s difficult to imagine everyday life without a smart-phone, a computer, or access to the Internet. Rapid advances in technology also contribute significantly to the development of medicine, and artificial intelligence may soon revolutionize the labor market.

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We are family

According to the well-known saying, you can’t choose your family (though we will come back to that later). This „basic social unit”, as it is commonly defined, has been an inexhaustible source of cultural and cinematic inspiration for decades. Intricate, dramatic and amusing family stories are dressed up by directors in a variety of conventions and genre schemes.

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