The year 2025 was all about diversity. The slogan of the 12th WAMA Film Festival became a guiding idea across all our activities—from film festivals and competitions, through educational and industry projects, to international cooperation and supporting young people in their professional development.
It was a truly intense year. We organized four film festivals in three different cities, featuring eight film competitions and over 300 film screenings. Our program ranged from dramas to comedies, Polish and international titles, short and feature-length films, creating space for both established filmmakers and emerging voices.
Education remained at the heart of our work. Over the year, we ran six film education programs, where participants, guided by experienced industry professionals, explored the fundamentals of directing, screenwriting, cinematography, acting, and editing, all while developing their own creative voices.
Beyond the workshops, we also supported young filmmakers through professional initiatives. In 2025, we held the 21st edition of the Jan Machulski Awards, alongside new editions of the SCRIPTMARKET.PRO and INTERFILMLAB projects—platforms that give young creators space to develop their ideas and strengthen the competitiveness of the Polish film industry.
These efforts extended beyond Poland through international collaboration. Through three Erasmus+ youth exchanges, we brought together nearly 150 participants from nine European countries, fostering networking and long-term collaboration within the international film community.
Expanding into Media Education
The rapidly changing media landscape makes the ability to navigate information critically more important than ever. To meet this challenge, we expanded beyond traditional film education with new media-focused projects. We coorganized the Polish–Lithuanian youth exchange “Verify and Act,” focused on developing critical thinking and responsible media use, and conducted the “Ideas Laboratory” workshops in cooperation with the PaT program. As part of this initiative, a youth reporting team was formed, producing their own micro film projects that combined creative practice with hands-on experience and reflection on the role of media in society.
Empowering Young Professionals
Supporting young people in gaining professional experience and qualifications was a key part of our work. Once again, we participated in the National Centre for Culture’s “Practice in Culture” program, hosting eight interns who helped organize events, carried out original graphic projects, and developed skills in communication and social media. In addition, 40 volunteers supported our festivals and projects, without whom many of our activities would not have been possible.
We also wrapped up the two-year project “Atelier A35,” which supported the professional growth of those pursuing careers in the creative industries. Through innovative workshops, lectures, conferences, and creative meetings, the project helped young educators and cultural animators develop practical skills and managerial competencies, boosting their competitiveness in the job market.
We would like to thank our partners, creators, volunteers, audiences, and workshop participants for joining us in 2025. Thanks to you, FILMFORUM continues to be a vibrant meeting place for diverse voices and sources of inspiration. Building on this experience, we are heading into 2026 with even more energy and fresh ideas.