International Warsaw Film School Students Shine at Festivals Worldwide
Films created by Warsaw Film School’s international students are travelling far beyond the School’s campus, earning selections and awards at festivals across Europe, Asia and the United States. From deeply personal stories to films addressing war, displacement, illness and identity, these productions demonstrate how international collaboration can transform individual experiences into cinema that resonates across borders.
The students behind the films come from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Georgia, Hong Kong, Kurdistan, Latvia, Palestine, Türkiye and Ukraine. Working together in Warsaw, they have created films that are now reaching audiences all over the world.
“Bowman”
Written and directed by Turkish student Burak Diken, with cinematography by Georgian student Ana Jgarkava, Bowman tells the story of a relationship transformed by aphasia. The film explores communication, illness and the changing bond between a father and his son.
The film was selected for the Let’s Include showcase at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival in India. It was also presented at the Integration You and Me European Film Festival in Poland and the Digital Film Festival İstanbul in Türkiye.
“Cadillac for Zosia”
Directed by Aliaksei Sivakou and shot by Polina Talai, both from Belarus, Cadillac for Zosia has been presented at festivals in Poland and Italy.Its festival journey has included the Sopot Film Festival, La Guarimba International Film Festival and the Summer Film Academy in Zwierzyniec. These selections have enabled the film to reach audiences at events with very different identities - from an internationally recognised short-film festival in southern Italy to major Polish celebrations of independent and arthouse cinema.
“Grandpa’s Fur”
Bulgarian director Teodor Stoilov collaborated with Finnish student Nellie Ralaja on Grandpa’s Fur, another Warsaw Film School production building an international festival presence.
The film has been shown at the Amsterdam Student Film Festival in the Netherlands, Sofia Short Fest and The Quarantine Film Festival in Bulgaria, as well as the Alexandre Trauner Art/Film Festival in Hungary.
Its journey reflects the importance of student cinema as a space for both artistic development and international exchange, allowing emerging filmmakers to introduce their work to audiences and industry professionals in several European countries.
“Lika”
Directed by Croatian student Filip Dučić, with cinematography by Latvian student Zhan Zharoff, Lika has developed a particularly strong presence on the Polish and Croatian festival circuits.
The film was selected for the Lubuskie Film Summer, the ZOOM International Film Festival and the Two Riversides Film and Art Festival in Poland. It was also presented at the prestigious Pula Film Festival in Croatia.
Created by filmmakers from two different countries while studying in Warsaw, Lika is a compelling example of the creative partnerships that emerge within Warsaw Film School’s international community.
“Liminal”
Liminal, directed by Ege Yılmaz and shot by Fırat Ulutaş, both from Türkiye, has achieved an outstanding festival run and received several awards.
The film won third place in the Short Film Competition at the 30th Filmfestival Türkei Deutschland in Germany, received a Special Mention at the Fenerbahçe University National Short Film Festival and was named Best Student Film at the Tayf International Short Film Festival. It also received the Best Film award at the Bursa Altın Çınar Short Film Festival.Its extensive festival journey has also included:
With screenings across Türkiye and Germany, Liminal has become one of the most widely presented recent films created by Warsaw Film School’s international students.
• AFSAD International Short Film Festival;
• Bitlis Beş Minare Film Festival;
• International Frankfurt Turkish Film Festival;
• Sivas International Film Festival;
• Haliç University Altınboynuz Short Film Festival;
• Işık University Kıyıdan Perdeye Short Film Festival;
• Yıldız Cinema Festival;
• Hisar Short Film Selection 2026;
• Çatı Student Film Festival;
• Teos Short Film Days in İzmir;
• Çalı Village Films Festival;
• Lycian Way International Film Festival.
“Lullaby”
Directed by Azerbaijani student Ayan Mammadova, Lullaby has already earned significant recognition on the international festival circuit.
Following its presentation at the Lachin International Film Festival in Azerbaijan, the film won the Grand Prix at the Kotka Human Rights Film Festival in Finland.
The award highlights the ability of student cinema to engage with urgent social and human questions while communicating with audiences from different cultural backgrounds.
“One Man’s Mission”
Directed by Kurdish student Kaiwan Shaban, One Man’s Mission was selected for two Polish festivals: the Koszalin Debut Film Festival “Youth and Film” and the Przeźrocza Film Festival.
Both events are important platforms for original voices and emerging filmmakers. The selections brought Shaban’s work into conversation with contemporary Polish cinema while demonstrating the increasingly international character of films produced at Warsaw Film School.
“Qaher”
Directed by Palestinian student Nada Khalifa, with cinematography by Hong Kong student Oscar Lui, Qaher has reached audiences across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the United States.The film has been presented at:
• Iraq International Youth Film Festival in Iraq;
• Festival du Film Palestinien de Strasbourg in France;
• Chicago Palestine Film Festival in the United States;
• Corti da Sogni – Antonio Ricci International Short Film Festival in Italy;
• Ivy Film Festival in the United States;
• Julien Dubuque International Film Festival in the United States;
• Brussels Short Film Festival – Next Generation Competition in Belgium;
• Houston Palestine Film Festival in the United States;
• Hab Dich Lieb Filmnacht in Germany;
• Annaba Mediterranean Film Festival in Algeria;
• Golden Baklava International Student Film Festival in Türkiye;
• Kaş International Short Film Festival in Türkiye.
The film’s remarkable geographical reach illustrates how a story developed in the international environment of Warsaw Film School can enter dialogues with communities and audiences around the world.“Sounds of War”
Directed by Ukrainian student Anna Dubyna, Sounds of War was presented at the Lachin International Film Festival in Azerbaijan.The film adds another important voice to Warsaw Film School’s growing body of student work shaped by contemporary history, conflict and personal experience. Its international screening also demonstrates how cinema can carry individual stories across national borders and create space for understanding and reflection.
A film school without bordersThe achievements of these films are more than a collection of festival selections. They reflect the character of Warsaw Film School as a place where students from different countries, cultures and cinematic traditions meet, exchange ideas and form creative teams.International students do not simply study alongside one another - they direct, shoot and develop films together, learning how to communicate across languages and transform different perspectives into a shared cinematic vision.Every selection introduces a young filmmaker to a new audience. Every award confirms that stories created by students in Warsaw can resonate in Bengaluru, Amsterdam, Sofia, Pula, Strasbourg, Brussels, Chicago, Houston and beyond.
Together, these successes show that the international community of Warsaw Film School is not defined only by the number of countries represented on campus. Its true strength can be seen on screen—and in the growing presence of its students’ films at festivals around the world.