Poland's biggest and best film festival is back in Wrocław for another year and starts in just 7 days time. As you'd expect then, Wrocław Uncut are at hand to give you the lowdown on what'll be happening throughout the festival's ten event-packed days.
What is the T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival?
Now into its 15th edition, the festival is a celebration of cinema from around the world, with the focus primarily on independent, art house movies. The festival creates excellent opportunities for people to meet, discuss and exchange ideas, find co-producers and discover new talent. According to the organisers, more than 600 film professionals visit the festival every year. As well as film, the festival also incorporates a variety of alternative music, performed live on stage at the picturesque courtyard inside the military museum.
This year's festival, which takes place between July 23rd and August 2nd, will feature over 340 films screened either at Kino Nowy Horyzonty or on Wrocław's Market Square.
What can I see for free on the Rynek?
Each year a giant projection screen is put up in our city's iconic market square, with a selection of both classic and contemporary cinema screened for everybody to enjoy. Just as with the other films on the program, the screenings will come with both Polish and English subtitles.
This year ten films will be screened for free on the market square, starting with the Argentinean production Relatos Salvajes next Friday at 10pm. The full list of Rynek screenings, including descriptions in English, can be found here.
What concerts are there?
Alongside film, the New Horizons Festival also provides a platform for alternative musicians to showcase their talent. Every evening during the festival, the military museum courtyard is turned into the 'Arsenal Festival Club', creating an intimate backdrop for a series of unique live gigs. Complimenting the live performances are a selection of renowned local DJs, who will warm up the crowd and also get the after party started once the main acts take their bows.
Things do get underway rather late, with the supports acts on stage at 10pm - so be prepared for a lack of sleep if you're working the next day! The list of performances and resident DJs can be found in English here.
What films should I see?
With almost two hundred full length feature films to choose from, spanning all genres and eras, there's bound to be something to suit your fancy. For a list of the festival's highlights, click here.
How can I find more information and screening schedules?
There are plenty of ways to find out what's going on and when, regardless of whether your Polish is good or not. The festival website contains just about everything you need to know in English. Those with smartphones can also use the New Horizons festival app, which is available on for Android, IOS and Windows Phone. Another option is to pick up a copy of the festival program from Kino Nowy Horyzony, or to simply download it from here.
How much are the tickets, and how can I buy them?
Most adult tickets will cost 20zl, with child tickets priced at 12zl. Anyone with an Urban Card or Kino Nowy Horyzonty Card can get their standard tickets for for 18zl, while T-Mobile customers can also get the same 2zl discount. The discounts are only available for tickets purchased online.
Those who plan on seeing several films may fancy taking up either the 10 or 20 movie package, which are described in full in English here. It is also important to remember that selected special screenings have different ticket prices. Information on those can be found on the same page.
To buy tickets, you can use the festival's online booking system or simply get your tickets at the desk inside Kino Nowy Horyzonty cinema.
What else is going on?
Another addition to the festival in recent years has been the artificial beach area on Pl Solny, which functions as a chill out zone. Complete with deck chairs, umbrellas and a sales point for refreshments, the chill out zone also features a stretch of water for wannabe surfers to glide up and down on.
Other accompanying activities include an exhibition at Galeria Versus, festival brunch at Ślepy Zaułek and an audio project under the name of 'Black Sun'. On top of that, film lovers can borrow DVDs and books related to cinema at the Kino Now Horyzonty library, whose staff will also run 4 special meetings.