Guests are coming! Who will visit Świdnica?

The 10th Spektrum Film Festival is not only about film screenings but also about meetings with the people behind contemporary cinema. From October 22 to 27, the Świdnica Cultural Center will host directors as well as actors and actresses featured in the films presented at Spektrum. Among the festival guests will be Sandra Drzymalska, Mateusz Kościukiewicz, Andrzej Jakimowski, Agnieszka Dulęba-Kasza, Jakub Piątek, and Artur Paczesny, among others.

Mateusz Kościukiewicz – the lead actor in the film In the Name of... (dir. Małgośka Szumowska)

His breakthrough role was his unforgettable performance in Wszystko co kocham by Jacek Borcuch, for which he received the Polish Film Award Eagle. He also showcased his talent in Matka Teresa od kotów and Bejbi Blues. In Świdnica, he will meet with the audience after the screening of In the Name of…, which tells the story of an impossible love involving a priest. It is a poignant tale of a man entangled in an intimate drama.

Sandra Drzymalska – he lead actress in the film Simona Kossak (dir. Adrian Panek)

She is a Polish actress who gained recognition for her prominent roles in The Return by Magdalena Łazarkiewicz and the Netflix series Sexify. She has appeared in Filip by Michał Kwieciński, IO by Jerzy Skolimowski, Sole by Carlo Sironi, and most recently in Biała odwaga by Marcin Koszałka. In Simona Kossak, Sandra Drzymalska portrays the titular character, the renowned Polish biologist.

Andrzej Jakimowski – director of Song of goats

Song of goats is the story of Andrzej (played by Mateusz Kościukiewicz), a photographer from Silesia who arrives on a small Greek island to inherit a legacy from his uncle. Upon arrival, he discovers that his uncle bequeathed him a stone cabin and a plot of land situated in the shadow of a volcano. The plans and decisions that once seemed obvious become complicated when Andrzej meets Lena. The beautiful Greek woman completely captivates him, and what happens next will change his perspective on life and force him to ask the question: what is truly the most important thing in life? After the screening, there will be a discussion with the film’s director, Andrzej Jakimowski.

Jakub Piątek – director of Pianoforte

A Polish documentary filmmaker, Jakub Piątek, who won the Polish Film Award Orzeł for Best Documentary in 2024 and was nominated for the International Emmy Awards in 2024 for the film Pianoforte, will visit Świdnica to share insights into the making of this exceptional work that focuses on the Chopin Competition. Every five years, this prestigious competition attracts the most renowned pianists from around the world. Pianoforte provides a unique opportunity to observe the participants’ struggles, their grueling behind-the-scenes preparations, and to discover their vibrant and personal personalities. It is an engaging story about maturation, rebellion, and music set against a backdrop of immense expectations, keeping the audience in suspense throughout the screening.

Artur Paczesny – the lead actor in the film Next to Nothing (dir. Grzegorz Dębowski)

Artur Paczesny made his cinematic debut in 2021 as a prisoner in Żeby nie było śladów directed by Jan P. Matuszyński. He is also well-known to the general public from series such as Prawo Agaty, Wojenne dziewczyny, Święty, Skazana, and Minuta ciszy. He will visit Świdnica in connection with the film Next to Nothing, where he plays the main character, Jarek. Jarek is a down-to-earth farmer who is not afraid of hard work or confrontation with authority. When a local politician betrays the interests of the community, Jarek becomes the leader of the protest and organizes a demonstration outside the politician’s home. He is unaware that he will soon find himself at the center of a dark conspiracy that threatens his loved ones and puts his dream future in jeopardy.

Agnieszka Dulęba-Kasza – lead actress in the film Seasons (dir. Michał Grzybowski)

An actress born in Łódź, where she currently resides. For many years, she was professionally involved in theater in Kalisz and has recently expanded her work to Warsaw (Teatr Capitol and Teatr Impro). In Seasons, which the Świdnica audience will watch on Tuesday, Agnieszka Dulęba-Kasza plays the lead female role. Seasons is a smart comedy about a crisis in an actor’s marriage, set within the absurd world of theater. It humorously portrays a universal story about love and human relationships.

Kamila Tarabura – director of Rzeczy niezbędne

A director and screenwriter, Kamila Tarabura created the Netflix series Absolutni Debiutanci. She later co-directed, alongside Agnieszka Holland and Katarzyna Warzecha, the award-winning Zielona granica, honored at the Venice Film Festival. Tarabura will visit Świdnica in connection with her feature debut, Rzeczy niezbędne, starring Dagmara Domińczyk and Katarzyna Warnke. The film won the Sapphire Lions at this year’s Gdynia Film Festival and tells the story of two women—Ada and Roksana—who reconnect after years to solve a shared mystery.

Maria Zbąska, Zofia Chabiera, Marcin Sztabiński – director and lead actors of It's Not My Film

Maria Zbąska is not only a film director but also an acclaimed photographer, with her work featured in outlets like National Geographic. Her feature debut, It’s Not My Film, is a modern and cleverly humorous story about love. In an era when everything feels disposable and replaceable, Wanda and Janek attempt to repair a relationship that still holds some hope. Both the director and the film’s lead actors, Zofia Chabiera and Marcin Sztabiński, will visit Świdnica to discuss their remarkable performances.

Vojtěch Strakatý, Eliška Bašusova, Anna Tomanova, Stanislav Adam – director and the film crew of After Party

After Party tells the story of carefree 23-year-old Jindřiška, who discovers that her father is deeply in debt when bailiffs arrive at their home. In a single day, her world falls apart, forcing her to choose between helping her father or saving herself before it’s too late. Following the screening of this genre-blending film, there will be a Q&A session with the creators, including the director, actresses, and cinematographer.